10 Best Sporting Goods Stocks To Invest In Now

1. NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 75

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) deals in the development and sale of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and related products. The company operates globally in the sports performance, casual wear, and lifestyle markets. It is known for its iconic brand and innovation-driven approach.

Recently, the company made changes to its management, the most notable of which was the rehiring of experienced professionals such as Elliott Hill and Tom Peddle as CEO and VP of Marketplace Partners respectively. This shows NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)’s seriousness in its turnaround efforts. In November, the company saw strong growth in both digital and physical traffic, especially during the quarter’s major consumer events. In North America, Black Friday week was the busiest demand week ever on NIKE Digital, with sales increasing by double digits. In Greater China, the company’s performance during 11/11 exceeded expectations.

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is also speeding up its product design and launch process to address slow innovation, which has affected growth in recent quarters. New products like the Pegasus 41 launched in July and the Air Max Dn in March 2024 are early signs of this effort. The company is aiming for a significant reduction in weeks of supply for its classic footwear franchises during the next few seasons. This will result in lower summer order books compared to the previous year. To support key product launches and upcoming sports events, brand marketing activity is being increased. Investment in sports marketing is also growing, supported by long-term partnership renewals.

Although the company faces some short-term challenges, analysts are cautiously optimistic about its future. With its strong brand and market position, Nike is expected to see gradual improvement, with 2025 being a year of transition and growth likely picking up in 2026.

Overall, NKE ranks first among the top 10 best sporting goods stocks to invest in now. While we acknowledge the potential of the best sporting goods stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NKE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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