NIKE vs Target: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026
NIKE · Consumer Cyclical / Footwear & Accessories·Target · Consumer Defensive / Discount Stores
Financial Comparison
| Metric | NKENIKE | TGTTarget |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $79.91B | $53.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $46.51B | $104.78B |
| Revenue Growth | 0.6% | -1.5% |
| Gross Margin | 41.1% | 27.9% |
| Operating Margin | 8.1% | 4.9% |
| Net Margin | 5.4% | 3.5% |
| Return on Equity | 18.0% | 24.0% |
| P/E (Trailing) | 31.6x | 14.4x |
| P/E (Forward) | 23.5x | 13.8x |
| 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
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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
- 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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Open Comparison ToolNIKE 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.
