NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2025, 10:32 a.m. ET — Market closed (weekend)
Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE) heads into the final trading days of 2025 with investors balancing a familiar mix of brand strength and near-term operational pressure—especially in China and on margins—while recent insider buying has added a fresh layer of intrigue for Monday’s reopen.
With U.S. equity markets closed for the weekend, Nike shares will next have a chance to react when trading resumes Monday. On the calendar, the market is also approaching a holiday-shortened week ahead of New Year’s Day, a backdrop that can amplify volatility in both directions when liquidity is thinner than usual. [1]
Nike stock price: where NKE stands heading into the next session
Nike last traded at $60.93 (as of Friday’s close), after a volatile stretch that followed its mid-December earnings report. [2]
That price level matters because Nike has recently been searching for a floor after a sharp post-earnings selloff. Reuters previously reported Nike closed at $58.71 on Dec. 19—its lowest close in seven months at the time—highlighting how quickly sentiment can swing around the turnaround narrative. [3]
Latest Nike stock news (last 24–48 hours): commentary rises as headline flow slows
Over the past 24–48 hours, Nike-specific “hard news” (new filings, corporate announcements) has been relatively light, but fresh market commentary has been active—particularly on financial TV and in investor analysis.
What moved the conversation most in the last 48 hours:
- CNBC’s “Halftime Report” featured Requisite Capital’s Bryn Talkington discussing why she’s buying Nike (and On Holding) in her latest retail moves—an example of how portfolio managers are starting to revisit NKE after the December reset. [4]
- Jefferies Managing Director Randy Konik told CNBC that “Nike is going to get its act together,” reinforcing the bull case that new leadership and product/wholesale fixes can stabilize the story into 2026. [5]
- A Seeking Alpha analysis published Sunday morning framed Nike as being on a “long and winding road to recovery,” arguing the stock could re-rate if turnaround traction becomes visible (while also noting China remains a key drag). [6]
- A MarketBeat weekend piece pointed to continued institutional positioning (based on filings) and summarized how analysts’ targets have been shifting after Nike’s recent results. [7]
In short: the weekend narrative around Nike has turned into a debate between “capitulation is creating opportunity” and “the reset still costs real money.” [8]
The real catalyst investors are still digesting: insider buying by Tim Cook and Robert Swan
The most concrete recent development for Nike stock remains the high-profile insider buying disclosed last week—notably from Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is also a long-time Nike board member and lead independent director.
SEC filings show Cook bought 50,000 shares at $58.97 (transaction date Dec. 22, 2025), taking his holdings to 105,480 shares. [9]
A separate SEC Form 4 shows Nike director Robert Holmes Swan bought 8,691 shares at $57.54 on the same date (Dec. 22). [10]
Reuters reported the purchase “nearly doubled” Cook’s personal stake and quoted Baird Equity Research analyst Jonathan Komp calling the move a positive signal for progress under CEO Elliott Hill and Nike’s “Win Now” actions. Reuters also cited Ancora Advisors portfolio manager David Sowerby, who characterized Cook’s insider buying as a “modest positive,” while describing why his firm sold Nike previously. [11]
Why insiders matter here: Nike is in a phase where investors are questioning both the timing and cost of the turnaround. Insider buying doesn’t fix fundamentals, but it can influence sentiment—especially when it comes from a globally recognized executive and long-standing board member. [12]
Forecasts and fundamentals: what Nike guided—and what Wall Street is watching
Nike’s most recent earnings cycle (reported mid-December) set the near-term tone:
- Reuters reported Nike’s second-quarter revenue was $12.43 billion, above the LSEG-compiled estimate of $12.22 billion, while adjusted EPS was 53 cents vs. 38 cents expected. [13]
- The same Reuters report said gross margin fell 300 basis points and Nike expected margin pressure to continue, as the turnaround involves discounting older inventory and leaning back into wholesale—both of which can compress margins in the short run. [14]
- Nike also flagged tariffs as a major headwind, with CFO Matthew Friend reiterating expectations that U.S. tariffs on key manufacturing regions would cost Nike $1.5 billion this year, per Reuters. [15]
- On outlook, Reuters reported Nike expected third-quarter revenue to be down in the low-single digits (covering the December holiday period). [16]
China: the center of gravity for the bear case
The sharpest pressure point remains Greater China. Reuters reported China sales fell for the sixth straight quarter (down 17%), and quoted Morningstar analyst David Swartz saying the ongoing weakness is a concern. [17]
In a separate Reuters piece on Nike’s China challenges, CEO Elliott Hill said Nike needed to “reset” its approach in China, while Reuters cited Bokeh Capital Partners CIO Kim Forrest, who suggested broader brand and design missteps have compounded the problem. [18]
Analyst outlook: price targets, rating debates, and the marketing “spend up” thesis
Nike’s analyst landscape now looks like this: the Street is still split between patience for a brand reset and frustration over how long it may take.
- Yahoo Finance data (as captured in recent market summaries) has pointed to a 1-year average target estimate around $77.24. [19]
- MarketBeat summarized Nike’s sell-side stance as “Moderate Buy” with a consensus target around $75.84, while also listing multiple firms that cut targets after earnings (including Needham, Baird, Daiwa, Argus, and others). [20]
Meanwhile, some of the most actionable “forecast” discussion isn’t just about price targets—it’s about whether Nike’s spending choices will rebuild demand without wrecking profitability.
A Reuters analysis ahead of earnings reported LSEG data projecting Nike’s marketing/demand creation investment could top $5 billion in 2026 (up from $4.68 billion in fiscal 2025). Reuters quoted Mari Shor, senior equities analyst at Columbia Threadneedle, calling the increased marketing focus a bullish sign that Nike feels better about product—while also acknowledging it’s a real investment. Reuters also cited Morningstar’s David Swartz on product innovation and expectations. [21]
What investors should know before the next session
Because the market is closed right now, the key for Nike shareholders is what can move NKE between now and Monday’s open—and what could drive the first real price discovery of the week.
1) Know the next trading window
Nike trades on the NYSE. Regular session trading runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, with extended trading sessions available on some venues (and brokers) around those hours. [22]
2) Expect a holiday-affected week and potential liquidity effects
New Year’s week brings schedule changes—stocks are closed on New Year’s Day (Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026), per NYSE calendars and related exchange guidance. [23]
Holiday-adjacent sessions can sometimes exaggerate moves, especially for widely held consumer discretionary names like Nike, where positioning can be crowded.
3) Watch macro headlines that can spill into consumer discretionary stocks
While Nike-specific catalysts may be quieter this week, Investopedia’s week-ahead preview highlighted key U.S. releases (including pending home sales, Case-Shiller home prices, jobless claims, and Fed minutes) that can shift rate expectations and risk appetite—often impacting consumer and retail stocks. [24]
4) The near-term “battle lines” for Nike stock: sentiment vs. margins
Into Monday, the tug-of-war looks straightforward:
- Bull case (near term): high-profile insider buying + “turnaround leadership credibility” + potential for re-rating if demand stabilizes. [25]
- Bear case (near term): margin pressure from discounting/wholesale mix, tariff costs, and continued China weakness—meaning even “better-than-feared” quarters may still disappoint investors looking for clean recovery signals. [26]
Bottom line
Nike stock enters Monday’s session in a classic reset phase: a globally dominant brand, a CEO-led operational turnaround, and credible insider buying—but also real, quantifiable pressure on margins and a China recovery that has not yet stabilized.
For investors, the most important thing before the next session is to separate signal from noise: insider purchases and bullish TV commentary can buoy sentiment, but the stock’s next sustained move will still hinge on whether Nike can improve product momentum and China performance while keeping profitability from eroding further. [27]
References
1. www.nyse.com, 2. seekingalpha.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. www.youtube.com, 5. www.youtube.com, 6. seekingalpha.com, 7. www.marketbeat.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.sec.gov, 10. www.sec.gov, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. uk.finance.yahoo.com, 20. www.marketbeat.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. www.nyse.com, 23. www.nyse.com, 24. www.investopedia.com, 25. www.reuters.com, 26. www.reuters.com, 27. www.reuters.com
