Nike earnings top Wall Street’s expectations, despite inflation in the U.S. and Covid lockdowns in China

Nike on Monday topped Wall Street’s earnings and sales expectations for the fiscal fourth-quarter, as the company overcame a Covid lockdown in China and tougher climate for consumers in the U.S.

Shares rose fell about 2% in aftermarket trading.

The sneaker giant expects first-quarter revenue to be flat to slightly up versus the prior year, as Nike continues to manage disruption in Greater China. It said it anticipates revenue for the full year will grow by low double-digits on a currency-neutral basis.

Chief Financial Officer Matthew Friend said Nike expects elevated ocean freight costs, increased product costs, supply chain investments and higher levels of markdowns in the coming year.

On a call with analysts, he said the company is “optimistic” as it enters the new fiscal year and as production has surpassed pre-pandemic levels and inventory is “flowing again into our largest geographies.”

Here’s how Nike did in its fiscal fourth quarter compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:

• Earnings per share: 90 cents vs. 81 cents expected
• Revenue: $12.23 billion vs. $12.06 billion expected

The company reported net income for the three-month period ended May 31 of $1.44 billion, or 90 cents per share, compared with $1.51 billion, or 93 cents per share, a year earlier.

Sales dropped to $12.23 billion from $12.34 billion a year earlier.

Nike is in the middle of a strategy shift, as the company sells more merchandise directly to shoppers and trims back the amount sold by wholesale partners like Foot Locker. Its direct sales grew 7% to $4.8 billion in the quarter versus the year-ago period. Nike’s wholesale business trends were the opposite. Sales in that division dropped 7% to $6.8 billion.

The strategy, which began about two years ago, is paying off, Friend said.

“In this dynamic environment, Nike’s unrivaled strengths continue to fuel our momentum,” he said in a news release, adding that the company is “better positioned than ever to drive long-term growth while serving consumers directly at scale.”

In North America, Nike’s largest market, total sales fell by 5% to $5.11 billion.

In Greater China, its sales took a bigger hit due to lockdowns. Total sales in the country dropped by 19% to $1.56 billion versus $1.93 in the year-ago period.

The athleticwear and sneaker company faces several key challenges in the coming quarters. As the prices of gas, groceries and more rise, some consumers may skip over discretionary items or trade down to lower-priced brands. Supply chain challenges continue, causing merchandise to move slowly around the globe or get stuck in the wrong spot.

In the three-month period, inventory rose to $8.4 billion — up 23% versus the year-ago period — driven by longer lead times from ongoing disruptions in the supply chain.

Shares of Nike closed on Monday at $110.50, down 2.13%. As of Monday’s close, Nike shares are down about 34% so far this year. It’s underperformed the S&P 500, which is down about 18% during the same period. The company’s market value is $173.9 billion.

Nike said its board authorized a new four-year, $18 billion stock buyback program this month. It will replace the company’s $15 billion share buyback program, which will end in the coming fiscal year.

Read the company’s earnings release here.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.