NKE vs TSLA: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: TSLA, with $94.8B of yearly revenue, about 2.0× NKE's $46.4B.
  • More profitable: NKE keeps 7 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 4 cents at TSLA.
  • More cash from each sale: TSLA turns 16 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.

Tesla (TSLA) is the larger business by reported revenue: $94.8B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 2.0× NKE's $46.4B (fiscal year ended May 2026). NKE's net margin was 6.7% and TSLA's 4.1%. The SEC classifies them differently (Rubber & Plastics Footwear; Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies); what connects them is shared exposure to the Tariffs & trade 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.

Sector
Consumer Discretionary
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
NKE May 31 · TSLA December 31
Reviewed
Jul 15, 2026

NKE vs TSLA: quick comparison

Company factNKETSLA
CompanyNIKE, Inc.Tesla, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENASDAQ
HeadquartersBeaverton, OregonAustin, Texas
Founded19642003
SEC industryRubber & Plastics FootwearMotor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies
Fiscal year-endMay 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-07-1510-K/A · 2026-04-30

NKE vs TSLA: audited financials

  • Scale: TSLA's $94.8B of revenue is about 2.0× NKE's $46.4B.
  • Net margin: NKE kept 6.7% of revenue as net income versus 4.1% at TSLA.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled NKE 6.2% of revenue, or 0.92× net income; TSLA 15.6% of revenue, or 3.83× 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 5 months apart (2026-05-31 for NKE, 2025-12-31 for TSLA), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

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

Where NKE and TSLA overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Tariffs & trade.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: NKE files as Rubber & Plastics Footwear; TSLA as Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: NKE's year ends May 31 and TSLA's December 31, about 5 months apart.
  • Only NKE maps to International markets.
  • Only TSLA maps to Artificial intelligence.
  • Scale: TSLA reported about 2.0× the annual revenue of NKE.

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.

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.

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA)

Tesla is the leading maker of battery-electric vehicles and a producer of energy-storage and solar products. Its ambitions in autonomy, robotics, and AI make it one of the most closely watched and volatile large-cap stocks.

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 TSLA

  • Vehicle deliveries, pricing, and automotive gross margin
  • Energy storage deployments and Megapack demand
  • Automotive regulatory credit sales under changing emissions rules
  • Robotaxi service expansion and FSD (Supervised) subscription uptake

The investment question

You now know TSLA reports about 2.0× NKE'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 “Direct-to-consumer digital sales trends relative to the wholesale channel” at NKE and “Vehicle deliveries, pricing, and automotive gross margin” at TSLA, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC 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 TSLA's ends December 31. 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 60 matched transaction rows for TSLA. 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.

NKE vs TSLA FAQs

Are NKE and TSLA direct competitors?

Not necessarily. NIKE files as Rubber & Plastics Footwear and Tesla as Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies. The pair is compared because both map to the Tariffs & trade research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is NKE or TSLA the bigger company by revenue?

Tesla (TSLA) is the larger business by reported revenue: $94.8B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 2.0× NKE's $46.4B (fiscal year ended May 2026). NKE's net margin was 6.7% and TSLA's 4.1%. The SEC classifies them differently (Rubber & Plastics Footwear; Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies); what connects them is shared exposure to the Tariffs & trade 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 TSLA?

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 TSLA 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 Tesla, 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 2026-11-09. 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 TSLA 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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