Yield Theory

Consumer Discretionary stock comparison

F vs NKE: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Ford Motor Company with NIKE, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Consumer
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
1
Updated
2026-07-15

F vs NKE: quick comparison

Company factFNKE
CompanyFord Motor CompanyNIKE, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
HeadquartersDearborn, MichiganBeaverton, Oregon
Founded19031964
SEC industryMotor Vehicles & Passenger Car BodiesRubber & Plastics Footwear
Fiscal year-endDecember 31May 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-1110-K · 2026-07-15

F vs NKE: audited financials

F reported about 4.0× the revenue of NKE in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, NKE converted a larger share of revenue into net income (6.7% versus 3.1%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricFNKE
Revenue$187.3B$46.4B
Net income$5.9B$3.1B
Operating cash flow$21.3B$2.9B
Diluted EPS−$2.06$2.10
Net margin3.1%6.7%

F: FY ending 2025-12-31 · NKE: FY ending 2026-05-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

F and NKE have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Tariffs & trade research theme inside the Consumer Discretionary sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

Ford Motor Company (F)

Ford is one of the oldest US automakers, best known for the F-Series pickups that anchor its profits. It is investing in electric vehicles while managing the costs of that transition against its combustion lineup.

NIKE, Inc. (NKE)

Nike is the world's largest athletic footwear and apparel brand, selling through wholesale partners and a growing direct-to-consumer channel. Its global sourcing footprint gives it heavy exposure to trade and tariff policy.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. F is classified by the SEC as Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies, while NKE is classified as Rubber & Plastics Footwear. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study F when…

  • Real wage growth and consumer confidence
  • Interest rates on autos and big-ticket credit
  • Inventory cycles and promotional intensity
  • The trade-down between premium and value

Study NKE when…

  • Direct-to-consumer digital sales trends relative to the wholesale channel
  • Product and brand momentum across running, basketball, and lifestyle categories
  • Greater China demand and performance relative to North America and EMEA
  • Tariff exposure tied to a manufacturing base concentrated in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

Shared research themes

Tariffs & trade

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.F's fiscal year ends December 31, while NKE's ends May 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 32matched transaction rows for Fand 15 for NKE. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

F vs NKE FAQs

Are F and NKE direct competitors?

Ford Motor Company and NIKE, Inc. sit in the same Consumer Discretionary sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, F or NKE?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this F vs NKE comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Ford Motor Company and NIKE, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

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