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Nike’s turnaround has not yet delivered a return to growth: revenue fell 4% in FY2027’s first quarter, and the company expects revenue to decline by a high-single-digit percentage for the full fiscal year. Gross margin improved and costs fell, but net income also declined. The clearest reading is that profitability measures are showing some progress while sales remain under pressure—not that the recovery is complete.

What Nike’s latest results say about the turnaround

For the quarter ended August 31, 2026, Nike reported revenue of $11.2 billion, down 4% year over year on a reported basis and 5% on a currency-neutral basis. NIKE Brand revenue was $11.0 billion, down 4% on both bases. North American growth partly offset declines in Greater China and EMEA. These figures point to an uneven recovery, not a broad-based rebound. Nike’s FY2027 first-quarter results were released October 1, 2026.

Channel performance also shows why a single company-wide figure can hide important differences:

Business or channel FY2027 Q1 result
NIKE Direct $4.1 billion, down 8% reported and 9% currency-neutral
NIKE Brand Digital Down 13%
Owned stores Down 5%
Wholesale $6.8 billion, down 1%
Converse $263 million, down 28%

The declines in Direct and Converse are particularly relevant: improved margins cannot by themselves establish that customer demand or the sales mix has recovered.

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#1 Best Overall
Nike Men's Run Swift 3 Road Running Shoes, White/Black-Summit White-Glacier Blue, 10.5
  • Mesh on upper adds breathability.
  • Flywire cables provide a supportive feel when you tighten the laces.
  • Plush foam midsole cushions each step.
  • Grooves on the rubber outsole help your foot move naturally.
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Are profitability and cost control improving?

There are constructive signs. First-quarter gross margin rose 60 basis points to 42.8%, primarily because warehousing and logistics costs were lower. Selling and administrative expense fell 3% to $3.9 billion, while operating overhead fell 6% to $2.7 billion. But net income was $0.7 billion, down 2%, and diluted earnings per share were $0.48. The combination suggests better cost and margin management without a clear recovery in overall earnings growth.

Why the FY2026 fourth-quarter margin jump needs context

Nike’s FY2026 fourth-quarter gross margin rose 890 basis points to 49.2%. The company attributed approximately 900 basis points of benefit to an expected recovery of U.S. IEEPA tariffs. Fourth-quarter diluted EPS of $0.72 included a $0.52 benefit related to that expected recovery. Those figures should not be read as a clean measure of recurring operating improvement.

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Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/White, 12
  • Mesh on upper adds breathability.
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  • Waffle outsole is a made of a durable, flexible material that helps keep you on the move.
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The full-year figures offer a less dramatic comparison: FY2026 revenue was $46.4 billion, flat on a reported basis and down 2% currency-neutral; gross margin was 42.9%, up 20 basis points; net income was $3.1 billion, down 3%. The annual result reinforces the distinction between margin improvement and a sales or profit rebound. Nike’s FY2026 fourth-quarter and full-year results were released June 30, 2026.

What Nike expects next—and what it does not promise

Nike expects FY2027 revenue to decline by a high-single-digit percentage. Its adjusted diluted EPS outlook is $1.15 to $1.35, excluding approximately $0.15 of Pace-related restructuring expense. Nike identifies adjusted EPS as a non-GAAP measure, so it is not interchangeable with reported diluted EPS. The revenue outlook is the most direct timing signal available: the company is not guiding to a return to growth in FY2027.

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Rank #3
Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/White, 10
  • Mesh on upper adds breathability.
  • Foam midsole delivers a soft ride.
  • Flex grooves create a cushioned effect for your run.
  • Waffle outsole is a made of a durable, flexible material that helps keep you on the move.
  • HM9594-004

Nike has not specified a quarter in which it expects growth to resume in the results cited here. The guidance also does not establish how long the turnaround is delayed relative to an independent consensus; it reports management’s current outlook, not a measurable delay against a stated prior recovery date. Any more precise return-to-growth date would go beyond the available guidance.

What the Pace initiative could change

Nike describes Pace as an operating-model transformation intended to accelerate and scale its Sport Offense strategy. The program includes modernizing the global supply chain, establishing a campus in India to build enterprise capabilities, realigning the company to three geographies, and streamlining the organization. Nike also says it is repositioning NIKE Sportswear, Jordan Brand, and Greater China. CEO Elliott Hill said the company has “more work to do” in those businesses and is taking actions to strengthen them for the long term.

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  • Mesh on upper adds breathability.
  • Foam midsole delivers a soft ride.
  • Flex grooves create a cushioned effect for your run.
  • Waffle outsole is a made of a durable, flexible material that helps keep you on the move.
  • HM9594-001

Nike estimates approximately $2.5 billion in cumulative Pace savings through FY2031, alongside approximately $1.0 billion in pretax charges through FY2031. The charges are in addition to approximately $0.3 billion in severance costs recognized in FY2026; Nike expects approximately $0.3 billion of charges in FY2027. The savings estimate is before charges and future reinvestment. Nike says actual amounts may differ materially, and the estimates depend on assumptions including local-law requirements.

These are multi-year estimates, not savings already achieved. They describe a potential efficiency benefit, not a forecast for when revenue will turn positive. Nike also warns that execution can face delays and disruption and that expected benefits may not materialize. The company’s first-quarter release sets out the program’s estimates and forward-looking risks.

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Best Value
Sale
Nike Men's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes, Black/Anthracite, 9.5
  • The mesh upper offers a comfortable, breathable feel.
  • The foam midsole delivers intuitive cushioning through comfort-focused rocker geometry.
  • The outsole has an intuitive Nike design and flex grooves in the forefoot that create a comfortable and cushioned effect as you run.
  • Touch points at the heel and tongue create a natural feel as you take the shoes on and off.
  • HJ9198-002
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How to interpret the turnaround from here

  • Separate sales from margins: Revenue is still declining even as gross margin and selected expense lines improve.
  • Keep growth measures on the same basis: Reported and currency-neutral changes differ; do not compare one basis in one period with the other in another.
  • Watch the channels and regions: Wholesale was down less than Direct, while North American growth contrasted with declines in Greater China and EMEA. Converse also fell sharply.
  • Distinguish recurring results from unusual items and projections: The FY2026 Q4 tariff-recovery benefit affected margin and EPS, while Pace savings are estimates and adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure.

For now, Nike’s own FY2027 revenue outlook weighs more heavily than encouraging cost-control signals when judging growth. Margin improvement may help profitability, but the latest results do not show that it has yet overcome sales weakness.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Nike Men's Run Swift 3 Road Running Shoes, White/Black-Summit White-Glacier Blue, 10.5
Nike Men's Run Swift 3 Road Running Shoes, White/Black-Summit White-Glacier Blue, 10.5
Mesh on upper adds breathability.; Flywire cables provide a supportive feel when you tighten the laces.
$85.00
Bestseller No. 2
Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/White, 12
Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/White, 12
Mesh on upper adds breathability.; Foam midsole delivers a soft ride.; Flex grooves create a cushioned effect for your run.
Bestseller No. 3
Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/White, 10
Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/White, 10
Mesh on upper adds breathability.; Foam midsole delivers a soft ride.; Flex grooves create a cushioned effect for your run.
SaleBestseller No. 4
Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/Cool Grey-University Red-White, 11
Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes, Black/Cool Grey-University Red-White, 11
Mesh on upper adds breathability.; Foam midsole delivers a soft ride.; Flex grooves create a cushioned effect for your run.
$54.99
SaleBestseller No. 5
Nike Men's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes, Black/Anthracite, 9.5
Nike Men's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes, Black/Anthracite, 9.5
The mesh upper offers a comfortable, breathable feel.; The foam midsole delivers intuitive cushioning through comfort-focused rocker geometry.
$56.25

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