Nike's 0.76% Rally on $750M Volume (126th in Liquidity) Amid Analyst Split on Turnaround and Valuation

On August 15, 2025, NIKE (NKE) closed with a 0.76% gain, trading on $750 million in volume—ranking 126th among stocks by daily liquidity. The move followed mixed analyst commentary and operational updates. Jim Cramer recently highlighted NIKE’s ongoing turnaround, noting a 22% rebound in shares since late June driven by better-than-expected Q4 fiscal results. However, analysts remain divided, with institutions like Bank of America and Citigroup lowering price targets to $110 and $100, respectively, citing cautious outlooks on wholesale restocking cycles and margin pressures.

Recent developments include the permanent closure of NIKE’s flagship Portland store, attributed to rising retail theft costs, and a lawsuit from Odell Beckham Jr. expected to go to trial in July. Meanwhile, Bernstein and Guggenheim maintained “Buy” ratings, emphasizing resilience in China’s market recovery and gross margin stability. Institutional investors showed mixed activity, with some trimming positions while others, including DnB Asset Management, increased holdings. The stock’s valuation dip has sparked debate over its long-term growth potential amid broader market uncertainty.

The backtested strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily volume and holding for one day yielded a $2,550 profit from 2022 to the present. The maximum drawdown reached -15.4% on October 27, 2022, reflecting heightened volatility during that period, though the overall performance remained positive.