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NIKE's Classic Franchises Fade: Can Fresh Launches Drive Recovery?
ZACKSยท 2025-08-21 14:45
Core Insights - NIKE Inc. is experiencing a decline in demand for its iconic franchises, leading to a significant revenue headwind of nearly $1 billion in fiscal 2025 [1][8] - The company is focusing on fresh product launches and sport-led innovation to drive recovery, with early sales momentum seen in new products like the Vomero 18 and A'ja Wilson's signature line [2][8] - The success of NIKE's strategy will depend on its ability to scale new franchises quickly and maintain consumer excitement across its product categories [3] Company Strategy - NIKE is intentionally downsizing its classic footwear lines, which saw a decline of over 30% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, to reset brand positioning and innovate its product portfolio [1][8] - The company is aligning its business into sport-specific teams and expanding into women's basketball and global football, aiming to deepen athlete connections [2][3] Competitive Landscape - NIKE faces competition from adidas and lululemon, both of which are also addressing challenges with fading classic franchises through innovation and new product launches [4][5][6] - adidas is focusing on performance-driven products and collaborations, while lululemon is expanding its product innovation engine and diversifying its portfolio [5][6] Financial Performance - NIKE's shares have gained 0.7% year to date, contrasting with a 1.6% decline in the industry [7] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for NIKE is 40.37X, higher than the industry average of 30.25X [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings decline of 21.8% for fiscal 2025, followed by a projected growth of 53.7% in fiscal 2026 [10]