The BusinessWeek 50 Ranking
48
Nike
Sure, the Lebron James ads are cool, and the Lance Armstrong spot was inspiring. But what has been moving Nike's stock — up 20% in the year ended Feb. 28 — is a focus on nitty-gritty things like supply chain improvements. The Beaverton (Ore.) company posted the highest gross margins last year in its history, 42.9%. Fiscal 2004 net income rose 35%. Demand for pricey basketball and running shoes is surging in the U.S., along with soccer shoes in Europe. With other brands such as Starter, Cole Haan, and Converse picking up steam, new Nike CEO Perez is already ahead of competitors.
Company Info
| 2004 Rank | 35 |
| STOCK INFO | NKE |
| Market Value | $23 BILLION |
| Total Return | (1-yr.) 20.0%
(3-yr.) 52.4% |
| 2004 sales | $13.1 BILLION |
| Sales Growth | (1-yr.) 16%
(3-yr.) 10.8% |
| Net income | $1.1 BILLION |
| Net Income Growth | (1-yr.) 35%
(3-yr.) 21.8% |
| Net Margin* | 8.4% |
| Return on Equity* | 20.5% |
| Industry | CONSUMER DURABLES & APPAREL |
| CORPORATE WEB SITE | |
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*Trailing 12 months
Company data as of 2/28/05 provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat
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Company Snapshot
Nike, Inc. engages in the design, development, and marketing of footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products worldwide. The company produces athletic footwear products for specific athletic use and for casual or leisure purposes. It designs products for running, basketball, children’s cross training, outdoor activities, tennis, golf, soccer, baseball, football, bicycling, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, aquatic activities, hiking, and other athletic and recreational uses. Nike also sells sports apparel, as well as athletic bags and accessory items. The company sells equipments under the NIKE brand name, including sport balls, eyewear, skates, bats, gloves, and other equipment designed for sports activities. The company, through its subsidiaries, produces and sells swimwear, women’s sports bras, cycling apparel, maternity exercise wear, children’s clothing, school supplies, timepieces, and electronic media devices under the NIKE brand. It also sells various plastic products, and plastic injected and metal products to other manufacturers. The company sells dress and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories for men and women under the brand names Cole Haan, g Series, and Bragano. It also manufactures and distributes ice skates, skate blades, in line roller skates, protective gear, hockey sticks, hockey jerseys, licensed apparel, and accessories under the Bauer and NIKE brand names. The company sells its products through a mix of independent distributors, licensees, and subsidiaries in approximately 120 countries worldwide. Nike was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Orgeon.
No. of Employees
24,667
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