GAIN: Nike NKE $33 strike 0DTE puts
Author executed a profitable short put trade at $33 strike expiry, positioning for further downside toward sub-$30 levels. Suggests momentum for Nike's decline continues.
Past performance does not predict future results. Informational only, not investment advice.
Author executed a profitable short put trade at $33 strike expiry, positioning for further downside toward sub-$30 levels. Suggests momentum for Nike's decline continues.
Nike missed revenue, guided for high-single-digit FY2027 revenue decline, and faces headwinds including 26% China sales drop and delayed turnarounds. Despite already trading near 13-year lows, the stock lacks a clear catalyst to recover to $50+ and could plausibly decline further toward $20 as management continues restructuring without near-term recovery catalysts.
Nike is a decaying brand and value trap; author is long a put position betting on downside move before October expiration.
Nike is a dead stock with no fundamental improvement in sight despite potential earnings beat. Even a temporary 10-15% pump would not reverse the longer-term decline, and the author expects the stock to eventually reach $20 over the next 1-2 years.
Nike faces structural headwinds with flat FY2026 revenue, declining direct sales and Converse division, and a stalled turnaround story. The stock has fallen from $100+ to $30s despite market strength, and analyst downgrades signal further downside toward $20 as the brand strength argument weakens amid competitive pressure and changing consumer preferences.
Nike faces structural headwinds including China competition, tariff pressures, weak brand turnaround, and stressed North American consumers, likely resulting in a further 45% earnings decline. The author argues the stock could fall 45% further from its 12-year low to $15 or below, driven by normalized valuations and deteriorating fundamentals rather than genuine value opportunity.
Mbappe's departure from Nike to On represents a significant loss of a marquee athlete endorsement, signaling continued erosion of Nike's competitive position and brand strength in the premium athletic market.
Nike's job postings have increased 15% since December to their highest level since spring 2025, despite the stock collapsing from $62 to $38. Elevated hiring activity and spiking Reddit mentions suggest management is executing a turnaround strategy rather than simply backfilling departures, indicating confidence in recovery.
NKE's core business and brand strength remain intact despite current C-suite challenges. Leadership transitions will restore execution, competitive positioning in athleisure is defensible, and the stock is approaching a floor around $25.
Nike has been heavily beaten down but remains a fundamentally strong company with high probability of a meaningful comeback, making it an attractive conviction double-down opportunity for value investors.
Nike has formed simultaneous bullish divergences on daily and weekly RSI at multi-decade lows, suggesting seller exhaustion and institutional accumulation. Forced S&P 100 index liquidation is likely creating artificial selling pressure that smart money is absorbing, while declining volume and OTM call accumulation point to a potential short-covering rally.
Nike is beaten down and overlooked despite its cultural impact and cyclical nature of fashion trends. The author believes the stock's decline from the S&P 100 has created an asymmetric risk-reward opportunity as brands and trends cycle back into favor over 5-10 year horizons.
Nike is undergoing a strategic turnaround toward performance-focused products with improved organizational structure, but faces serious competition from Hoka and On and uncertain execution. At current valuation of 21x adjusted earnings and 27x P/FCF, the stock offers insufficient margin of safety; the author rates it a Hold and would only consider a cautious 5% position below $35 per share.
Nike's management prioritized short-term efficiency (DTC push, wholesale pullback, cost cuts, buybacks) over innovation and margin-of-error, leaving the company unable to adapt as consumers shifted to competitors like Hoka and On. While the brand retains value, rebuilding wholesale relationships, innovation culture, and youth appeal will take years; the stock may not have bottomed.
Nike shows mixed signals: revenue stabilization and margin improvement suggest early turnaround, but free cash flow has collapsed and the dividend is no longer covered by operating cash. Street expects recovery by FY2028, but key question remains whether the worst is priced in at $40 or upside exists.
Nike's strategic pivot back to core athletics and away from lifestyle fashion, combined with renewed focus on traditional retail (Foot Locker shelves) over DTC, will drive a turnaround. The author is positioning for significant upside on this operational reset.
Nike's 4.1% true FCF yield doesn't meet the author's screens, and declining revenue and FCF since 2022-23 signal structural challenges. The company's moat in running has eroded as competitors like Asics and Hoka caught up, making a Jordan-era recovery unlikely in a fragmented market.
Nike has fallen 75% from overvaluation and self-inflicted damage from an aggressive online-only strategy that hurt margins. New CEO Elliott Hill is reversing course and restoring profitability, but the market underestimates management's ability to achieve slight growth with 10%+ operating margins—setting up insider buying as a contrarian opportunity.
Nike's revenue grew 43% over a decade while net income fell 17%, free cash flow collapsed from $6.6B to $2.2B, and operating margins halved. The moat has eroded as competitors (On, Hoka, New Balance) captured market share, evidenced by forced discounting, and the business is reverting to a competitive consumer goods company with no structural protection.
LeBron James's team change and potential final NBA season will drive jersey sales and media interest in the league, with Nike as the official NBA jersey distributor. Historical parallels suggest NKE stock could rise 12% by September 2025 and 35% by mid-2026, supported by broader NBA roster movement and returning viewership.