2026 CNBC Changemakers List Highlights Women Transforming Business
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy NKE?
Source: CNBC
- Rise of Female Leaders: The 2026 CNBC Changemakers list showcases female leaders excelling in AI and traditional sectors, highlighting their significant impact in business and philanthropy.
- Skims and Rare Beauty: Kim Kardashian's Skims reaches a valuation of $5 billion, bolstered by a partnership with Nike, while Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty is valued at nearly $3 billion and actively engages in mental health philanthropy.
- AI Technology Applications: Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati launched Thinking Machines Lab to advance next-gen AI, while Waymo's Tekedra Mawakana expanded autonomous driving into new cities, showcasing innovation in transportation.
- Investment in Women's Sports: Several Changemakers are making strides in women's sports, including Sophie Goldschmidt of U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Susie Wolff of F1 Academy, demonstrating women's leadership in the sports industry.
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Analyst Views on NKE
Wall Street analysts forecast NKE stock price to rise
21 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 61.010
Low
62.00
Averages
76.11
High
110.00
Current: 61.010
Low
62.00
Averages
76.11
High
110.00
About NKE
NIKE, Inc. is engaged in the designing, marketing and distributing of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories and services for sports and fitness activities. The Company's operating segments include North America; Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA); Greater China; and Asia Pacific & Latin America (APLA). It sells a line of equipment and accessories under the NIKE Brand name, including bags, socks, sport balls, eyewear, timepieces, digital devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment and other equipment designed for sports activities. It also designs products specifically for the Jordan Brand and Converse. The Jordan Brand designs, distributes and licenses athletic and casual footwear, apparel and accessories predominantly focused on basketball performance and culture using the Jumpman trademark. The Company also designs, distributes and licenses casual sneakers, apparel and accessories under the Chuck Taylor, All Star, One Star, Star Chevron and Jack Purcell trademarks.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Nike's Key Challenge: Margin Recovery
- Importance of Margin Recovery: Nike achieved a 1% revenue growth in the latest quarter while reducing inventory by 3%, indicating management's success in controlling inventory, which lays the groundwork for future margin recovery.
- Brand Loyalty Risk: The reliance on promotions to clear inventory has led to a 3.1% decline in gross margin to 41.4%, which may weaken brand loyalty and impact long-term profitability.
- Future Growth Potential: If Nike can achieve annual revenue growth of 4% to 6% while gradually improving operating margins, earnings per share are expected to grow significantly faster than revenue, enhancing shareholder returns.
- Execution is Key: In 2026, Nike must restore operating leverage by strengthening full-price sell-through, improving gross margins, controlling operating expenses, and maintaining healthy inventory turnover to ensure revenue stabilization translates into accelerated earnings.
See More
Nike Stabilizes Sales but Must Restore Margins
- Sales Stabilization: Nike has stabilized its sales after consecutive declines, with a 1% revenue increase in the latest quarter and a 3% reduction in inventory levels compared to last year, indicating significant progress in inventory control; however, it must prove the sustainability of its profitability by 2026.
- Margin Challenges: Nike's gross margin fell by 3.1% to 41.4% in the latest quarter, reflecting the erosion of brand loyalty due to reliance on discounts to maintain volume, which compresses profit margins; the future investment case will focus on margin recovery.
- Future Growth Potential: While Nike does not need double-digit revenue growth, achieving a gradual increase in operating margins alongside annual revenue growth of 4% to 6% could significantly accelerate earnings per share, thereby supporting sustained shareholder returns.
- Key Metrics Monitoring: In 2026, Nike must focus on improving several operational metrics, including strengthening full-price sell-through, consistently increasing gross margins, controlling operating expenses, and maintaining healthy inventory turnover, as these factors will collectively determine the company's ability to regain control over demand, pricing, and cost structure.
See More
Los Angeles Rebuilds Hope and Unity After Wildfires
- Community Rebuilding Collaboration: Families in Los Angeles County affected by the 2025 wildfires received support from the LA Clippers, Habitat for Humanity, Nike, and Comcast NBCUniversal, who hosted three home-building events, assisting over 112 households in rebuilding their lives, showcasing strong corporate-community partnerships.
- Volunteer Engagement: Comcast NBCUniversal employee volunteers worked alongside Clippers players, coaches, and community members to construct homes, frame walls, and assemble furniture over several months, emphasizing that rebuilding is a shared responsibility that extends beyond corporate boundaries.
- Project UP Commitment: This rebuilding initiative aligns with Comcast's Project UP, which aims to provide safe and stable housing as a foundation for creating unlimited possibilities, reflecting the company's long-term commitment to community support.
- NBA All-Star Day of Service: During the 18th Annual NBA All-Star Day of Service, two families were recognized as new homeowners, highlighting the importance of teamwork and the significance of rebuilding lives during a global celebration of sports.
See More
Nike's Difficult Turnaround Under CEO Elliott Hill Tests Patience as Stock Declines
- Stock Performance: Nike's shares have dropped over 6% year-to-date, reflecting market disappointment with the company's turnaround efforts under CEO Elliott Hill, who took over in October 2024, as investor expectations for a brand revival remain unmet.
- Earnings Downgrade: Wells Fargo removed Nike from its 'top picks' list and lowered fiscal 2027 EPS estimates significantly below Street expectations, indicating concerns about international growth, particularly in the challenging Chinese market.
- Pressure in China: Nike's Greater China sales declined nearly 17% year-over-year in fiscal Q2 2026, worsening from a 9% drop in Q1, highlighting a long road ahead for recovery amid fierce local competition and discount pressures.
- Innovation and Inventory Cleanup: While Nike shows positive signs domestically and recent innovations are well-received, analysts note that the inventory cleanup is nearing completion, and the company must address multiple challenges in China to achieve a full recovery.
See More
Nike Faces Growth Stagnation and Competitive Pressure
- Performance Decline: Nike's stock price has dropped by 50% over the past three years while the S&P 500 has risen by 70%, indicating significant underperformance in the market, driven by stalled sales growth and declining margins in North America and Europe.
- Revenue Growth Struggles: Despite aiming for $50 billion in revenue by fiscal 2020, Nike only achieved $37.4 billion, primarily hindered by sluggish North American sales, weak demand for Converse products, and pandemic-related impacts, resulting in unmet growth expectations.
- Intensifying Competition: In fiscal 2024, Nike's revenue growth flatlined due to declining sales in North America and fierce currency headwinds, compounded by increased competition from Adidas and On Holding, forcing Nike to rely more on markdowns to drive sales.
- Future Outlook: Analysts project that from fiscal 2025 to 2028, Nike will achieve revenue and EPS growth rates of 3% and 10%, respectively, although its stock remains expensive, with expected gains of less than 10% over the next three years, potentially trailing the S&P 500's average annual return.
See More
Nike Faces Innovation Challenges Amid Turnaround Pressure
- Brand Credibility Crisis: Nike's innovation edge in performance running shoes is diminishing, facing competitive pressure from brands like Asics and Adidas, which could lead to a decline in brand credibility and affect the stability of its overall business model.
- Intensifying Market Competition: With the rise of emerging brands like On Running and Hoka, consumer focus has shifted towards comfort and specialized engineering in running shoes, potentially eroding Nike's market share and impacting its pricing power.
- Profit Compression Risk: Nike's recent margin compression is largely due to inventory imbalances and increased promotional intensity; if it fails to restore pricing power, future gross margin expansion will be constrained, affecting the sustainability of its financial recovery.
- Loss of Innovation Leadership: Nike must regain its technical leadership in performance running to restore pricing power and brand influence; otherwise, its turnaround will continue to face significant challenges.
See More
Nike's Key Challenge: Margin Recovery
- Importance of Margin Recovery: Nike achieved a 1% revenue growth in the latest quarter while reducing inventory by 3%, indicating management's success in controlling inventory, which lays the groundwork for future margin recovery.
- Brand Loyalty Risk: The reliance on promotions to clear inventory has led to a 3.1% decline in gross margin to 41.4%, which may weaken brand loyalty and impact long-term profitability.
- Future Growth Potential: If Nike can achieve annual revenue growth of 4% to 6% while gradually improving operating margins, earnings per share are expected to grow significantly faster than revenue, enhancing shareholder returns.
- Execution is Key: In 2026, Nike must restore operating leverage by strengthening full-price sell-through, improving gross margins, controlling operating expenses, and maintaining healthy inventory turnover to ensure revenue stabilization translates into accelerated earnings.
See More
Nike Stabilizes Sales but Must Restore Margins
- Sales Stabilization: Nike has stabilized its sales after consecutive declines, with a 1% revenue increase in the latest quarter and a 3% reduction in inventory levels compared to last year, indicating significant progress in inventory control; however, it must prove the sustainability of its profitability by 2026.
- Margin Challenges: Nike's gross margin fell by 3.1% to 41.4% in the latest quarter, reflecting the erosion of brand loyalty due to reliance on discounts to maintain volume, which compresses profit margins; the future investment case will focus on margin recovery.
- Future Growth Potential: While Nike does not need double-digit revenue growth, achieving a gradual increase in operating margins alongside annual revenue growth of 4% to 6% could significantly accelerate earnings per share, thereby supporting sustained shareholder returns.
- Key Metrics Monitoring: In 2026, Nike must focus on improving several operational metrics, including strengthening full-price sell-through, consistently increasing gross margins, controlling operating expenses, and maintaining healthy inventory turnover, as these factors will collectively determine the company's ability to regain control over demand, pricing, and cost structure.
See More
Los Angeles Rebuilds Hope and Unity After Wildfires
- Community Rebuilding Collaboration: Families in Los Angeles County affected by the 2025 wildfires received support from the LA Clippers, Habitat for Humanity, Nike, and Comcast NBCUniversal, who hosted three home-building events, assisting over 112 households in rebuilding their lives, showcasing strong corporate-community partnerships.
- Volunteer Engagement: Comcast NBCUniversal employee volunteers worked alongside Clippers players, coaches, and community members to construct homes, frame walls, and assemble furniture over several months, emphasizing that rebuilding is a shared responsibility that extends beyond corporate boundaries.
- Project UP Commitment: This rebuilding initiative aligns with Comcast's Project UP, which aims to provide safe and stable housing as a foundation for creating unlimited possibilities, reflecting the company's long-term commitment to community support.
- NBA All-Star Day of Service: During the 18th Annual NBA All-Star Day of Service, two families were recognized as new homeowners, highlighting the importance of teamwork and the significance of rebuilding lives during a global celebration of sports.
See More
Nike's Difficult Turnaround Under CEO Elliott Hill Tests Patience as Stock Declines
- Stock Performance: Nike's shares have dropped over 6% year-to-date, reflecting market disappointment with the company's turnaround efforts under CEO Elliott Hill, who took over in October 2024, as investor expectations for a brand revival remain unmet.
- Earnings Downgrade: Wells Fargo removed Nike from its 'top picks' list and lowered fiscal 2027 EPS estimates significantly below Street expectations, indicating concerns about international growth, particularly in the challenging Chinese market.
- Pressure in China: Nike's Greater China sales declined nearly 17% year-over-year in fiscal Q2 2026, worsening from a 9% drop in Q1, highlighting a long road ahead for recovery amid fierce local competition and discount pressures.
- Innovation and Inventory Cleanup: While Nike shows positive signs domestically and recent innovations are well-received, analysts note that the inventory cleanup is nearing completion, and the company must address multiple challenges in China to achieve a full recovery.
See More
Nike Faces Growth Stagnation and Competitive Pressure
- Performance Decline: Nike's stock price has dropped by 50% over the past three years while the S&P 500 has risen by 70%, indicating significant underperformance in the market, driven by stalled sales growth and declining margins in North America and Europe.
- Revenue Growth Struggles: Despite aiming for $50 billion in revenue by fiscal 2020, Nike only achieved $37.4 billion, primarily hindered by sluggish North American sales, weak demand for Converse products, and pandemic-related impacts, resulting in unmet growth expectations.
- Intensifying Competition: In fiscal 2024, Nike's revenue growth flatlined due to declining sales in North America and fierce currency headwinds, compounded by increased competition from Adidas and On Holding, forcing Nike to rely more on markdowns to drive sales.
- Future Outlook: Analysts project that from fiscal 2025 to 2028, Nike will achieve revenue and EPS growth rates of 3% and 10%, respectively, although its stock remains expensive, with expected gains of less than 10% over the next three years, potentially trailing the S&P 500's average annual return.
See More
Nike Faces Innovation Challenges Amid Turnaround Pressure
- Brand Credibility Crisis: Nike's innovation edge in performance running shoes is diminishing, facing competitive pressure from brands like Asics and Adidas, which could lead to a decline in brand credibility and affect the stability of its overall business model.
- Intensifying Market Competition: With the rise of emerging brands like On Running and Hoka, consumer focus has shifted towards comfort and specialized engineering in running shoes, potentially eroding Nike's market share and impacting its pricing power.
- Profit Compression Risk: Nike's recent margin compression is largely due to inventory imbalances and increased promotional intensity; if it fails to restore pricing power, future gross margin expansion will be constrained, affecting the sustainability of its financial recovery.
- Loss of Innovation Leadership: Nike must regain its technical leadership in performance running to restore pricing power and brand influence; otherwise, its turnaround will continue to face significant challenges.
See More
