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NIKE vs Target: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026

NIKE · Consumer Cyclical / Footwear & Accessories·Target · Consumer Defensive / Discount Stores

Financial Comparison

MetricNKENIKETGTTarget
Market Cap$79.91B$53.14B
Revenue (TTM)$46.51B$104.78B
Revenue Growth0.6%-1.5%
Gross Margin41.1%27.9%
Operating Margin8.1%4.9%
Net Margin5.4%3.5%
Return on Equity18.0%24.0%
P/E (Trailing)31.6x14.4x
P/E (Forward)23.5x13.8x
Free Cash Flow$2.58B$2.59B
Cash$8.34B$5.49B
Total Debt$11.28B$20.29B

Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Green highlights indicate better performance for that metric. Use the interactive tool for real-time data.

Business Model Comparison

NIKE

NIKE, Inc. stands as a leading company in Consumer Cyclical. Generating $46.51 billion in annual revenue (growing 0.6% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $85.89 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Footwear & Accessories landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, NIKE, Inc. continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth investment with s…

Full NIKE analysis →

Target

Target Corporation stands as a leading company in Consumer Defensive. Generating $104.78 billion in annual revenue (growing -1.5% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $54.69 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Discount Stores landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, Target Corporation continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth inves…

Full Target analysis →

SWOT Analysis Comparison

Strengths
NIKE
  • NIKE, Inc.'s gross margin of 41.1% is well above industry averages, reflecting pricing power, operational efficiency, or a high-value product mix. The operating margin of 8.1% demonstrates disciplined
  • A return on equity of 18.0% demonstrates that NIKE, Inc. generates strong returns from shareholder capital, a hallmark of companies with durable competitive advantages.
  • NIKE, Inc. generated $2.58B in free cash flow, providing financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives, return capital to shareholders, or strengthen the balance sheet.
Target
  • Target Corporation maintains a gross margin of 27.9% and operating margin of 4.8%, demonstrating consistent operational execution and cost discipline in a competitive market.
  • A return on equity of 24.0% demonstrates that Target Corporation generates strong returns from shareholder capital, a hallmark of companies with durable competitive advantages.
  • Target Corporation generated $2.49B in free cash flow, providing financial flexibility to invest in growth initiatives, return capital to shareholders, or strengthen the balance sheet.
Weaknesses
NIKE
  • NIKE, Inc.'s debt-to-equity ratio of 80.1 indicates meaningful financial leverage. Total debt stands at $11.28B against $8.34B in cash and equivalents.
  • Revenue growth of 0.6% is below what growth investors typically seek, suggesting market saturation in core businesses or increasing competitive pressure.
Target
  • With a debt-to-equity ratio of 125.5, Target Corporation carries significant debt relative to equity. While manageable given its cash flow, elevated leverage limits financial flexibility and increases
  • Year-over-year revenue declined 1.5%, raising questions about demand for Target Corporation's core offerings and requiring management to articulate a credible recovery path.
  • A net profit margin of 3.5% leaves limited buffer against revenue fluctuations or cost increases. Any significant market downturn could quickly pressure profitability.
Opportunities
NIKE
  • NIKE, Inc. operates in the Footwear & Accessories segment of the broader Consumer Cyclical sector, which represents a $28 trillion global consumer spending market. Even modest share gains in this envi
  • Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for NIKE, I
  • With $8.34B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, NIKE, Inc. is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.
Target
  • Target Corporation operates in the Discount Stores segment of the broader Consumer Defensive sector, which represents a $12 trillion global consumer staples market. Even modest share gains in this env
  • Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for Target
  • With $5.49B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, Target Corporation is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.
Threats
NIKE
  • Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. NIKE, Inc.'s revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession scena
  • Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on NIKE, Inc.'s busine
  • Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri
Target
  • Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Target Corporation's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recessi
  • Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Target Corporation'
  • Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri

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NIKE vs Target: FAQ

Is NIKE bigger than Target?
By market capitalization, NIKE is larger at $79.91B vs Target's $53.14B.
Which has better profit margins — NIKE or Target?
NIKE has higher net profit margins (5.4%) compared to Target (3.5%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
What sectors do NIKE and Target operate in?
NIKE operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector (Footwear & Accessories). Target operates in the Consumer Defensive sector (Discount Stores).
How does NIKE's revenue compare to Target's?
NIKE generates $46.51B in annual revenue (TTM) while Target generates $104.78B. Target is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.