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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$64.92BN/A
Revenue (TTM)$46.40B$106.38B
Revenue Growth-1.1%6.7%
Gross Margin43.2%28.1%
Operating Margin12.7%4.5%
Net Margin6.7%3.2%
Return on Equity22.1%22.0%
P/E (Trailing)20.8x18.4x
P/E (Forward)18.8x15.6x
Free Cash Flow$1.89B$3.14B
Cash$9.03B$3.53B
Total Debt$11.04B$19.27B

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?
Both companies are significant players in their respective markets. See the financial comparison table above for current market capitalization data.
Which has better profit margins — NIKE or Target?
NIKE has higher net profit margins (6.7%) compared to Target (3.2%). 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 $46.40B in annual revenue (TTM) while Target generates $106.38B. Target is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.