Daniel Mahncke and Shawn O’Malley break down Nike (ticker: NKE), the global leader in athletic footwear and apparel. With a legacy built on innovation, iconic athlete endorsements, and a brand that resonates across generations, Nike has long been a dominant force in the sportswear industry. But after years of consistent success, the company is now navigating through one of its toughest stretches in decades, facing slowing sales, margin pressure, and growing competition from younger, more trendy brands.

In this episode, you’ll learn why Nike’s once-flawless growth story has recently hit turbulence, how its shift toward direct-to-consumer impacted its wholesale relationships, what the brand is doing to win back market share and reignite innovation, why CEO Elliott Hill is refocusing the company on core sports categories, and whether this could be the reset Nike needs to stage a long-term comeback — plus a whole lot more.

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IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN

00:00 - Intro

01:48 - How Nike went from a small retail store to the biggest brand in sportswear.

12:13 - How Nike’s business is structured.

21:46 - Why Nike’s management decisions caused today’s challenges.

25:46 - How the new competitive landscape looks.

31:55 - Whether Nike still has a moat.

37:47 - Why Nike lost the edge on innovation.

38:55 - What Nike’s new CEO is doing to turn the ship around.

46:11 - How do Nike’s most recent results look.

50:39 - How to think about Nike’s intrinsic value.

57:08 - Whether Shawn & Daniel add NKE to The Intrinsic Value Portfolio.

And much, much more!

*Disclaimer: Slight timestamp discrepancies may occur due to podcast platform differences.

BOOKS AND RESOURCES

Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, The Intrinsic Value Newsletter.
The World Cup 2014 Nike Commercial.
Nike: From Humble Beginnings to Global Domination — We Study Billionaires podcast.
Daniel Mahncke’s last Pitch on Moncler.
Phil Knight's Shoe Dog.
Check out our previous Intrinsic Value breakdowns: AutoZone, Alphabet, Ulta, John Deere, and Madison Square Garden Sports.
Check out the books mentioned in the podcast here.
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Episode 219: Greg Palast