NIKE, Inc. quarterly report, Q4 FY2001

Business Context and Reporting Period

Company: NIKE, Inc.
Filing Type: Form 10-Q (Quarterly Report)
Reporting Period: Quarter and Six Months Ended November 30, 2001 (Fiscal 2002)
Business Overview: NIKE designs, produces, markets, and sells sports and fitness footwear, apparel, and equipment globally. The company operates through geographic segments: USA, Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, Americas, and Other (including Cole Haan and Bauer Hockey).

Key Financial Metrics

Metric (in millions) Q2 2001 Q2 2000 YTD 2001 YTD 2000
Revenues $2,336.8 $2,198.7 $4,950.5 $4,835.5
Net Income $129.3 $119.4 $328.5 $329.6
Diluted EPS $0.48 $0.44 $1.21 $1.21
Gross Margin % 38.3% 39.6% 38.7% 40.0%
Operating Cash Flow (YTD) $457.2 (vs $306.0 YTD 2000)
Cash & Equivalents $459.8 (Nov 30, 2001)
Total Debt (Current + Long-term) $1,223.0 (Nov 30, 2001)

Material Changes vs. Prior Period

  • Revenue Growth: Quarterly revenues increased 6.3% ($2,336.8M vs $2,198.7M). On a constant currency basis, growth was 7.6%. International regions drove growth, accounting for 45.4% of total revenues.
  • Profitability: Net income rose 8.3% to $129.3M. Pre-tax income increased 5.8% to $198.9M. The effective tax rate decreased by 1.5 percentage points.
  • Margins: Gross margin percentage declined from 39.6% to 38.3% due to pricing and mix factors, partially offset by lower selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue.
  • Regional Performance:
    • EMEA: Revenues up 13.8% (10.6% constant currency), driven by a 24.4% increase in footwear sales.
    • Asia Pacific: Revenues up 11.2% (22.5% constant currency), reflecting currency weakness against the USD.
    • USA: Revenues up 2.5%. Footwear sales declined 2.2%, while apparel (+9.9%) and equipment (+14.3%) grew.
  • Balance Sheet: Cash and equivalents increased by $155.8M to $459.8M. Notes payable decreased significantly ($311.7M reduction), while long-term debt increased due to a $250M bond issuance in August 2001.

Guidance, Outlook, and Risks

  • Management Outlook: Despite economic uncertainty following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, management expects earnings growth for the full fiscal year.
  • Impact of 9/11: The attacks negatively affected U.S. revenues, particularly at NIKE-owned retail stores and wholesale equipment sales. Apparel and footwear wholesale were less impacted due to advance ordering.
  • Supply Chain Transition: The company implemented new U.S. supply chain systems in December 2001, leading to early shipments in November and close-out sales to manage inventory levels.
  • Regional Risks: Uncertain economic conditions in Argentina may negatively affect revenues in the Americas region, though the impact is not expected to be significant to consolidated results.
  • Accounting Change: A cumulative effect of an accounting change resulted in a $5.0M loss (net of tax) for the six-month period, reducing YTD net income.
  • Derivatives: The company entered into $250M interest rate swap agreements to hedge a fixed-rate corporate bond, designated as fair value hedges.

Investor Verification Checklist

  • Inventory Levels: Verify the impact of aggressive close-out sales and new supply chain systems on future inventory write-downs or obsolescence.
  • Footwear Sales Trend: Monitor the reversal of the 2.2% decline in U.S. footwear sales to ensure it is not a structural shift.
  • Foreign Exchange Exposure: Assess the sensitivity of future earnings to currency fluctuations, given the significant portion of revenue growth was driven by constant currency adjustments.
  • Debt Structure: Review the terms of the new $250M bond and the effectiveness of the interest rate swaps in managing interest expense volatility.
  • Post-9/11 Recovery: Evaluate the sustainability of retail and equipment sales recovery in the U.S. market in subsequent quarters.