Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Sep 29
Nike Short Interest Hits Record 87 Million Shares as Revenue Fears Deepen
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Sep 29

Nike Short Interest Hits Record 87 Million Shares as Revenue Fears Deepen

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance · Sep 29

Summary

  • 87 million Nike shares were sold short ahead of Thursday earnings, up from 55 million a year ago, pushing short interest above 7% of float from under 3%.
  • S3 Partners said bearish investors kept adding positions even as the stock fell, leaving shorts with an estimated $1.4 billion in paper gains in 2026.
  • Evercore ISI warned Nike's revenue slowdown could worsen after retailer cancellations or negative Spring 2027 order revisions, with second-half fiscal 2027 sales guidance at risk of being cut.
  • Nike shares have dropped about 27% since its May 28 earnings report, sit near a 52-week low and remain roughly 55% below their year-ago peak.
  • The pressure adds to a broader slide for the brand, which was removed from the S&P 100 last week after an 18-year run and recently lost Kylian Mbappé to Swiss sportswear rival On.

Insights

With short interest near record highs, will Nike’s earnings confirm the bear case or trigger a painful short squeeze?
Can Nike’s running and wholesale momentum outweigh weak guidance, discounting, and fading demand in key categories?
Is Nike’s China reset a necessary fix for long-term relevance, or a billion-dollar drag that could deepen its slowdown?