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.
NKE vs SBUX: how the two businesses compare
- Bigger business: NKE, with $46.4B of yearly revenue, about 1.2× SBUX's $37.2B.
- More profitable: NKE keeps 7 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 5 cents at SBUX.
- More cash from each sale: SBUX turns 13 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 6 cents at NKE.
From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.
NIKE (NKE) is the larger business by reported revenue: $46.4B in its fiscal year ended May 2026, about 1.2× SBUX's $37.2B (fiscal year ended Sep 2025). NKE's net margin was 6.7% and SBUX's 5.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Rubber & Plastics Footwear; Retail-Eating & Drinking Places); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry.
Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.
- Consumer Discretionary
- Different
- Separate classifications
- Different
- NKE May 31 · SBUX September 28
- Jul 15, 2026
NKE vs SBUX: quick comparison
| Company fact | NKE | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Company | NIKE, Inc. | Starbucks Corporation |
| Exchange | NYSE | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Beaverton, Oregon | Seattle, Washington |
| Founded | 1964 | 1971 |
| SEC industry | Rubber & Plastics Footwear | Retail-Eating & Drinking Places |
| Fiscal year-end | May 31 | September 28 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-07-15 | 10-K · 2025-11-14 |
NKE vs SBUX: audited financials
- Scale: NKE's $46.4B of revenue is about 1.2× SBUX's $37.2B.
- Net margin: NKE kept 6.7% of revenue as net income versus 5.0% at SBUX.
- Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled NKE 6.2% of revenue, or 0.92× net income; SBUX 12.8% of revenue, or 2.56× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
- Periods: the fiscal years end about 8 months apart (2026-05-31 for NKE, 2025-09-28 for SBUX), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.
| Metric | NKE | SBUX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $46.4B2025-06-01 to 2026-05-31 · SEC filing | $37.2B2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Net income | $3.1B2025-06-01 to 2026-05-31 · SEC filing | $1.9B2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Operating cash flow | $2.9B2025-06-01 to 2026-05-31 · SEC filing | $4.7B2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Diluted EPS | $2.102025-06-01 to 2026-05-31 · SEC filing | $1.632024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
| Net margin | 6.7%2025-06-01 to 2026-05-31 · SEC filing | 5.0%2024-09-30 to 2025-09-28 · SEC filing |
NKE: FY ending 2026-05-31 · SBUX: FY ending 2025-09-28. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
Where NKE and SBUX overlap, and where they don't
Overlap
- Shared research theme: International markets.
Differences
- Different SEC industries: NKE files as Rubber & Plastics Footwear; SBUX as Retail-Eating & Drinking Places.
- Offset fiscal calendars: NKE's year ends May 31 and SBUX's September 28, about 8 months apart.
- Only NKE maps to Tariffs & trade.
Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.
Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)
Starbucks operates and licenses the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world, with China as a key growth and competitive battleground. Its rewards program and mobile ordering drive a large share of US transactions.
What moves each company
Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.
What moves NKE
- 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
What moves SBUX
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for SBUX. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2025-11-14.
The investment question
You now know NKE reports about 1.2× SBUX's revenue, and NKE keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to international markets, including “Direct-to-consumer digital sales trends relative to the wholesale channel” at NKE, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.
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Read the full researchSEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. NKE's fiscal year ends May 31, while SBUX's ends September 28. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 15 matched transaction rows for NKE and 31 matched transaction rows for SBUX. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
NKE primary filings
SBUX primary filings
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.
NKE vs SBUX FAQs
Are NKE and SBUX direct competitors?
Not necessarily. NIKE files as Rubber & Plastics Footwear and Starbucks as Retail-Eating & Drinking Places. The pair is compared because both map to the International markets research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.
Is NKE or SBUX the bigger company by revenue?
NIKE (NKE) is the larger business by reported revenue: $46.4B in its fiscal year ended May 2026, about 1.2× SBUX's $37.2B (fiscal year ended Sep 2025). NKE's net margin was 6.7% and SBUX's 5.0%. The SEC classifies them differently (Rubber & Plastics Footwear; Retail-Eating & Drinking Places); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.
Which is better, NKE or SBUX?
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 NKE vs SBUX 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 NIKE, Inc. and Starbucks Corporation 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 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?
NKE vs SBUX compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.
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