Five Metals. One Small Cap.

Unsubscribe

A message from i2i Marketing Group, LLC

The AI Metals Trade Is Moving – This One’s Still Quiet

AI may be digital.

But the materials behind it are physical.

Copper for data centers.
Nickel for batteries.
Titanium for aerospace and defense.

Copper recently pushed to record highs. Nickel projections are strengthening. Governments are emphasizing domestic supply.

One U.S. explorer controls exposure to all three – and more – at a time when demand is accelerating.

If critical mineral momentum continues, early positioning can matter.

Some cycles begin exactly this way.

This is the age of physical assets, not digital assets.

Meet the U.S. microcap advancing critical assets >

Just For You

Just Buy It? Barclays Thinks Nike Is Ready to Run

By Jeffrey Neal Johnson. Publication Date: 3/12/2026. 

Black Nike Air sneaker with a large white swoosh resting on asphalt pavement, representing Nike’s athletic footwear brand.

Key Points

  • NIKE’s strategic reset in North America is proving successful, with a revitalized wholesale channel signaling renewed confidence from retail partners.
  • The company’s innovation pipeline is accelerating, with exciting new footwear and apparel platforms set to fuel the next phase of its market recovery.
  • Following a period of underperformance, Wall Street analysts now see significant upside potential in the stock as the company’s turnaround gains traction.
  • Special Report: Every morning, an AI ranks 357 stocks for you (From TradingTips)

For months, investors have watched Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE), a titan of the consumer discretionary sector, struggle to find its footing — testing the patience of even its most loyal shareholders. The stock’s persistent underperformance has been a dominant storyline. Now a catalyst has sent a clear signal: a decisive Overweight upgrade from Barclays has injected fresh optimism, suggesting the tide may finally be turning. That external validation echoes CEO Elliott Hill’s characterization of Nike as being in the “middle innings” of a comeback — executing a strategic recovery rather than only beginning to address its problems.

The Comeback’s Home-Field Advantage

Before a global comeback can take hold, a company must first win at home. For Nike, the latest financial results from its North American segment provide compelling evidence that the turnaround is real. The region posted 9% revenue growth in the second quarter, driven chiefly by a 24% increase in wholesale revenue.

This makes me furious (Ad)

I Called Black Monday. Now I’m Calling March 26!

I predicted the 1987 crash six weeks early. I called the fall of the Berlin Wall. I pinpointed the exact bottom in 2009.

Now I’m staking my reputation on March 26, 2026 – the day I believe Elon will announce the SpaceX IPO.

Bloomberg is calling it “the biggest listing of ALL TIME.”

A $1.5 TRILLION valuation… the “wealth-building” moment of the decade.

Today, I’ll show you how to get in before the big announcement.Click Here to See How to Secure Your “SpaceX Access Code”

This is more than a single data point; it shows the recovery has a firm foundation. That wholesale growth reflects a strategic channel reset away from the previously stronger direct-to-consumer emphasis. By re-engaging key retail partners, Nike is better managing inventory and reaching a broader customer base.

Strong wholesale performance also signals the painful period of excess inventory is largely behind Nike. Retail partners are not only clearing old stock but are confidently placing larger orders for new products.

Management has reinforced this view with commentary about an improving order book for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.

That operational improvement is translating into better financial outcomes. With less excess inventory to clear, Nike is running fewer promotions and seeing stronger demand at full price. For investors, that combination — a healthy wholesale channel plus full-price demand — is the core formula for sustainable revenue growth and a recovery in gross margins.

From Inventory Cleanup to Innovation Rollout

With retail channels reset and shelves ready for new product, the focus turns to what will drive the next growth phase. Nike’s Sport Offense — a strategic framework to accelerate athlete-centered innovation — is intended to do precisely that. The company is positioned to supply partners with exciting, higher-margin products that helped build the brand.

Early results are encouraging:

  • Running on all cylinders: Performance running, a core segment, has grown by more than 20% for two consecutive quarters — a sign Nike is regaining share with a steady flow of newness. New models such as the Structure 26, a stability shoe aimed at enhanced support, are resonating with consumers.
  • Apparel’s next advance: Nike plans to debut its AeroFit platform — described as “air conditioning for the body” — in national team kits, bringing tangible performance technology to a huge global audience during the World Cup.
  • Basketball bounces back: Consumer excitement is returning to basketball, with strong sell-through for signature shoes and a positive reception for launches like the GT Future, which are driving traffic to retailers.

Perhaps the most concrete indicator of renewed product strength is partner confidence: bookings for the upcoming World Cup are up nearly 40% versus the 2022 event. That suggests Nike is shifting from selling more to selling better — a change that supports improved profitability.

Taking the Winning Formula Global

North America offers a blueprint, but investors remain focused on well-publicized headwinds abroad, particularly in Greater China and within the Converse brand. Those challenges should be seen as the next phase of a now-proven turnaround. Management has acknowledged the difficult results in Greater China, where revenue fell 17%, and has responded with a concrete plan: new leadership reporting directly to the CEO for faster decision-making, targeted investments in key-city retail, and a pivot back to innovation-led, premium positioning rather than competing on price.

Pressure on gross margins has been a major concern. Yet CFO Matthew Friend offered a reframing: excluding the external impact of tariffs, Nike’s underlying gross margins are already expanding. That suggests the core business is healing and profitability is improving as the company executes its plan.

A Discount on a Blue-Chip Rebound

Valuation is the final piece of the investment puzzle. Nike’s stock has had a tough run — down roughly 12% year-to-date and about 25% over the past year. Much of that underperformance reflects the inventory reset and the known challenges in China, creating what many analysts view as an attractive entry point.

The current Wall Street consensus price target for Nike is $74.90, implying more than 30% upside from current levels. On a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 27.33, the stock trades at a valuation that anticipates a meaningful earnings rebound.

The argument is straightforward: since the market has largely priced in the negative news from the Converse reset and the multi-quarter timeline for China’s recovery, continued progress in North America and early signs of stabilization internationally could prompt a re-rating as investors begin to price in the turnaround’s success.

Lacing Up for the Next Leg of Growth

The Barclays upgrade looks like more than a fleeting headline; it is external validation of a recovery that is beginning to show up in the numbers. North America provides clear proof of concept, and a rejuvenated innovation pipeline is supplying the fuel. The stock’s current valuation may present an opportunity.

While the global turnaround is still in the middle innings, the critical phase — resetting the core market — is largely complete. Investors will be watching Nike’s third-quarter earnings reporton March 31 for continued margin improvement and any signs of stabilization in China. Those results will be key indicators that this comeback is not only on track but beginning to hit its stride.

Thank you for subscribing to Insider Trades Daily, which covers the most recent insider buying and selling activity from Wall Street CEO’s, CFO’s, COO’s and other insiders.

This email content is a paid advertisement from i2i Marketing Group, LLC, a third-party advertiser of InsiderTrades.com and MarketBeat. 


We are not securities dealers or brokers, investment advisers or financial advisers, and you should not rely on the information herein as investment advice. Any investment should be made only after consulting a professional investment advisor and only after reviewing the financial statements and other pertinent corporate information. Further, readers are advised to read and carefully consider the Risk Factors identified and discussed in the profiled company’s SEC and/or other government filings. Investing in securities, particularly microcap securities, is speculative and carries a high degree of risk.


If you have questions about your account, please feel free to email MarketBeat’s South Dakota based support team at contact@marketbeat.com.

If you no longer wish to receive email from InsiderTrades.com, you can unsubscribe.

© 2006-2026 MarketBeat Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
345 N Reid Place, Suite 620, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57103-7078. United States of America..

Unknown's avatar

Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

Leave a Comment