Foot Locker Earnings Show Nike Turnaround is ‘Taking Shape,’ Analysts Say

Nike (NKE) is attempting one of the most closely watched turnarounds on Wall Street, and insight from a key retailer shows it’s making headway, according to one research team.

Oppenheimer analysts spotted signs that Nike is bouncing back in the earnings Foot Locker (FL) released Wednesday. Foot Locker commentary and figures can be viewed as an indicator of Nike’s performance because more than 60% of the athletic wear retailer’s revenue comes from Nike shoes and attire, the analysts wrote in a Thursday research note.

“Recent results and commentary from FL suggest that while dynamics within athleisure remain challenged, turnaround at NKE is taking shape, gradually,” the note said.

Shoppers are snapping up new Nike products, including shoes designed in partnership with basketball legends Sabrina Ionescu and Kobe Bryant, and Foot Locker executives are bullish on coming Nike launches, Oppenheimer said. The retailer is committed to selling key items at full price, the analysts said.

CEO Cites ‘Full Confidence’ in Nike Partnership

“We have full confidence in our partnership and the steps the Nike team is taking for the brand and marketplace longer term,” Foot Locker CEO Mary Dillon said on an earnings conference call Wednesday, according to a transcript from AlphaSense.

Foot Locker executives estimate that comparable sales—which the company defines as transactions conducted online and at stores open for at least a year—will grow about 1% to 2.5% in the fiscal year to Jan. 31, 2026.

The retailer’s leadership said consumers pulled back in February but still responded well to new releases and other “shopping events,” Oppenheimer said. Foot Locker expects promotions to grow less frequent, but acknowledged that the outlook is “murky” in that respect, the analysts said.

Nike shares were up 2.6% intraday Thursday but are still down more than 20% from a year earlier. Foot Locker stock was down 5.3% intraday Thursday.