Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BKTI either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. BK Technologies ( BKTI ) it's a story of significant margin expansion thanks to its new BKR 9000 radios and the development of proprietary sof ...

Core Insights - Nike is set to release its fiscal third quarter results on March 20, which will provide insights into the consumer discretionary sector [1] - The stock is currently 7% above its 52-week low of $68 and significantly below its one-year high of $101, indicating ongoing market challenges [2] - Nike faces increased competition from brands like Adidas, Under Armour, and Lululemon, necessitating innovation in its product line [3] Financial Performance Expectations - Nike's Q3 sales are expected to decline by 10% to $11.12 billion compared to $12.43 billion in the same quarter last year, with Greater China sales projected to drop 13% to $1.81 billion [5] - The company's Q3 EPS is anticipated to fall to $0.28 from $0.98 a year ago, although it has exceeded EPS consensus estimates for six consecutive quarters with an average surprise of 29.82% [6][7] Market Position and Stock Performance - Nike's stock has decreased by 3% in 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's decline of 5%, and has plummeted 27% over the past year compared to the broader market's increase of 7% [9] - Over the last decade, Nike has gained 43%, outperforming Under Armour but trailing behind the benchmark, Adidas, and Lululemon [10] Valuation Metrics - Currently, Nike trades at a forward earnings multiple of 35.6X, which is a premium compared to the benchmark's 21.1X and the industry average of 11X, yet below its decade-high of 51.1X [11] Future Outlook - Nike's total sales are expected to decline by 10% this year but are projected to stabilize and rise by 1% in fiscal 2026 to $46.59 billion, with EPS expected to rebound to $2.25 in FY26 [6][8] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), with future performance dependent on meeting or exceeding Q3 expectations and providing guidance that indicates a return to growth [13][16]

Core Viewpoint - Nasdaq's Q4 2024 earnings report showed adjusted earnings per share of 76 cents, surpassing estimates and reflecting a 5% year-over-year improvement driven by higher revenues and reduced expenses [2][3]. Financial Performance - Nasdaq's net revenues reached $1.2 billion, a 10% increase year-over-year, although it slightly missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.1% [3]. - Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) grew by 7% year-over-year, while Annualized SaaS revenues increased by 14%, accounting for 37% of ARR [3]. - Market Services net revenues were $268 million, up 8%, primarily due to increases in U.S. equity derivatives and cash equities [4]. - Solutions business revenues rose 10% year-over-year to $949 million, driven by strong growth in Index and Financial Technology [4]. Expense Management - Adjusted operating expenses were $710 million, down 7% from the previous year, attributed to lower merger costs and administrative expenses, despite some increases due to the acquisition of Adenza [5]. - The operating margin remained flat at 55% year-over-year [6]. Annual Highlights - For the full year 2024, adjusted earnings per share were $2.82, unchanged from the previous year, but slightly above estimates [7]. - Total net revenues for 2024 were $4.6 billion, a 19% increase year-over-year, with Solutions revenues up 25% [8]. - Market Services net revenues totaled $1 billion, reflecting a 3% increase [8]. Cash Flow and Capital Deployment - As of December 31, 2024, Nasdaq had cash and cash equivalents of $592 million, a 30.6% increase from the end of 2023, while long-term debt decreased by 10.6% to $9.1 billion [10]. - The company returned $138 million to shareholders through dividends in Q4 2024 and repurchased $181 million of senior unsecured notes [11]. Future Guidance - Nasdaq anticipates 2025 non-GAAP operating expenses to be between $2,245 million and $2,325 million, with a non-GAAP tax rate forecasted between 22.5% and 24.5% [12]. Market Sentiment - Estimates for Nasdaq have been trending upward, indicating a positive outlook, with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) suggesting an expectation of above-average returns in the coming months [15].