Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE): Q4 Earnings Preview 2011

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), the world’s largest athletic apparel and footwear maker, is scheduled to release its fiscal third-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Monday, June 27, 2011. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of $1.16 per share on revenue of $5.54 billion. In the year ago quarter, the company reported earnings of $1.06 per share on revenue of $5.08 billion.

Nike, Inc. designs, develops, and markets footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products for men, women, and children worldwide. It is a seller of athletic footwear and athletic apparel in the world. Nike's business operations are divided into four major segments, with Footwear being the leading revenue contributor at 55 percent, followed by Apparel at 26 percent, Equipment with 5 percent, and Other's contributing 14 percent to the total revenue.

In the preceding fiscal third quarter, the Beaverton, Oregon-based company's net income was $523 million, or $1.08 per share, compared to $497 million, or $1.02 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenues rose 7 percent to $5.08 billion from $4.73 billion last year. Analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of $1.11 per share on revenue of $5.16 billion.

Last year, the company unveiled its strategy for long-term growth across its global portfolio of brands and businesses, indicating its main financial objectives through 2015 to include high single-digit revenue growth, mid-teens earnings per share growth, and a return on invested capital of 25%. The company's target included revenues of $27 billion by the end of fiscal 2015 based on growth expectations across its portfolio, like the Nike Brand, Cole Haan, Converse, Hurley, Jordan Brand, Nike Golf and Umbro.

The company continues to contain costs by improving supply chain efficiencies and other cost reduction programs. Nike has performed well in the last year, gaining over 9%, and looks to continue to grow its business by diving into the action sports arena. Action sports like skateboarding are the fastest growing category in the Nike brand, and Nike may look to focus on growing that category further.

The footwear industry is among several in the retail sector benefitting from a recent uptick in in overall employment and consumer spending. The back to school season at the end of summer could be a great opportunity for companies in the footwear sector, especially athletic and casual footwear, to generate sales and hopefully continue momentum into the end of the year. 

Full Disclosure: None.

Nike (NYSE: NKE): Q3 Earnings Preview

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), the world’s largest athletic apparel and footwear maker, is scheduled to release its fiscal third-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Thursday, March 17, 2011. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of $1.11 per share on revenue of $5.16 billion. In the year ago quarter, the company reported earnings of $1.01 per share on revenue of $4.73 billion.

Nike, Inc. designs, develops, and markets footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products for men, women, and children worldwide. It is a seller of athletic footwear and athletic apparel in the world. Nike's business operations are divided into four major segments, with Footwear being the leading revenue contributor at 55 percent, followed by Apparel at 26 percent, Equipment with 5 percent, and Other's contributing 14 percent to the total revenue.

In the preceding fiscal first quarter, the Beaverton, Oregon-based company's net income was $457 million or $0.94 per share, compared with a profit of $375 million or $0.76 per share for the year-ago quarter. Revenues for the second quarter increased 10% to $4.84 billion from $4.41 billion in the same quarter last year. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, second quarter revenues grew 11% from a year earlier.  Analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of $0.88 per share on revenue of  $4.81 billion. 

Last year, the company unveiled its strategy for long-term growth across its global portfolio of brands and businesses, indicating its main financial objectives through 2015 to include high single-digit revenue growth, mid-teens earnings per share growth, and a return on invested capital of 25%. The company's target included revenues of $27 billion by the end of fiscal 2015 based on growth expectations across its portfolio, like the Nike Brand, Cole Haan, Converse, Hurley, Jordan Brand, Nike Golf and Umbro.

The company continues to contain costs by improving supply chain efficiencies and other cost reduction programs.

The footwear industry is among several in the retail sector benefitting from a recent uptick in in overall employment and consumer spending. Improved year over year retail sales in January and better global sales were also a positive for the industry at the start of 2011. The approaching spring sales season could also provide a boost to several companies in the footwear industry. Innovation is proving all important in the footwear industry and those such as Nike Inc. which are spending time on design have been gaining market share. 

Full Disclosure: None.

Nike (NYSE: NKE): Q1 Earnings Preview

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), the world’s largest athletic apparel and footwear maker, is scheduled to release its fiscal second-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Tuesday, December 21, 2010. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of 88 cents per share on revenue of $4.81 billion. In the year ago quarter, the company reported earnings of 76 cents per share on revenue of $4.41 billion.

Nike, Inc. designs, develops, and markets footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products for men, women, and children worldwide. It is a seller of athletic footwear and athletic apparel in the world. Nike's business operations are divided into four major segments, with Footwear being the leading revenue contributor at 55 percent, followed by Apparel at 26 percent, Equipment with 5 percent, and Other's contributing 14 percent to the total revenue.

In the preceding fiscal first quarter, the Beaverton, Oregon-based company's net income was $559 million or $1.14 per share, compared to $513 million or $1.04 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenues for the first quarter increased 8% to $5.18 billion from $4.80 billion in the same quarter last year. Analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of $1.01 per share on revenue of $5.22 billion.

Companies producing footwear have posted positive results so far this year and hope to continue the trend through the holiday season. Innovation is proving all important in the footwear industry and those such as Nike Inc. which are spending time on design have been gaining market share. As the Christmas season approaches companies have been making sure that their products are easily available. Thus, many have been re-vamping their web offerings as well as opting into new mobile distribution avenues allowing customer to buy, individualize and exchange gift cards from their mobile phones.

On a currency-neutral basis, the company expects FY ’11 growth at the top end of its high-single digit target range. Nike expects reported revenue growth to be lower due to weaker foreign currencies versus last year. For Q2, the company expects revenue growth slightly below reported futures growth. At its last earnings call in September, Nike said that it expects increasing pressure from FX headwinds, rising input costs, and higher freight costs. The company expects full year FY ’11 gross margin about 50 basis points below FY ’10, with relatively flat margins in Q2 and more challenging comparisons in the second half. The company expects FY ’11 demand creation to grow at a mid-single digit rate. The company anticipates Q2 demand creation to grow at a low-single digit rate, with spending below prior year in the second half as compared against the heavy investments in World Cup marketing in Q4 last year. 

Early this year, the company unveiled its strategy for long-term growth across its global portfolio of brands and businesses, indicating its main financial objectives through 2015 to include high single-digit revenue growth, mid-teens earnings per share growth, and a return on invested capital of 25%. The company's target included revenues of $27 billion by the end of fiscal 2015 based on growth expectations across its portfolio, like the Nike Brand, Cole Haan, Converse, Hurley, Jordan Brand, Nike Golf and Umbro.

During the quarter under review, Nike announced the extension of its license agreement with Perry Ellis International (NASDAQ: PERY) in which Perry Ellis will continue to design, produce, manufacture and distribute men's, women's and children's swimwear, performance and casual swimwear products, select apparel and swim equipment within North America under the Nike Swim brand through 2014. Perry Ellis International will maintain distribution through its current account base of sporting goods stores, department stores and specialty swim accounts, while also focusing on growing its accessory and team sales business by adding on additional school and aquatic club programs.

The company has been rewarding its shareholders through stock buy backs and generous dividend hikes. Nike recently raised its quarterly dividend by 15% to 31 cents a share on its Class A and Class B common shares. In terms of stock performance, Nike shares have gained nearly 35% since the beginning of the year. 

Full Disclosure: None.

Twenty Two Notable Dividend Increases

November turned out to be an outstanding month for income investors as a number of companies raised their dividends amid signs of economic recovery. The recent flurry of dividend increases came as a welcome relief for many income investors who look for monthly dividend payments in order to support their retirement income. A company's willingness and ability to pay regular dividends over time-and its power to increase them--provide good clues about its fundamentals. Also, dividends can be reinvested and used to purchase more shares, leading to even larger dividend checks.

Below we highlight 22 companies that rewarded investors by raising dividend.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC): The world's biggest chipmaker recently announced that it will raise its dividend by 12.5 percent to 15.75 cents per share, up from 14 cents, beginning with the dividend that will be declared in the first quarter of 2010. Intel is slated to report its fourth-quarter financial results on January 14, 2010. Analysts, on average, currently forecast a profit of $0.36 per share with revenue estimate of $10.13 billion for the fourth quarter.

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE): The maker of athletic shoes and apparel upped its quarterly dividend by 8 percent to 27 cents per share from 25 cents. The dividend will be paid on Jan. 4 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 7.

Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PRU): The second-largest U.S. life insurer increased its annual dividend by 21 percent to 70 cents a share from 58 cents. The dividend is payable on Dec. 18 to owners of record on Nov. 24.

Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB): The soup maker hiked its quarterly dividend 10% to 27.5 cents a share from 25 cents, effective for the second quarter of fiscal 2010. The dividend will be paid Feb. 1 to shareholders of record on Dec. 30.

Sysco Corp. (NYSE: SYY): The food marketing and distribution firm boosted its quarterly dividend by 4% to 25 cents a share from 24 cents.The new dividend is payable on January 22, 2010, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on December 31, 2009.

Automatic Data Processing (NYSE: ADP): The payroll processing and human resources services company, increased its quarterly dividend by 3% to 34 cents a share from 33 cents. The dividend is payable on January 1, 2010 to shareholders of record at December 11, 2009. The ex-dividend date is December 9.

Baxter (NYSE: BAX): The medical products and services company raised its quarterly dividend 12% to 29 cents a share from 26 cents. The dividend is payable on January 5, 2010, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 10, 2009. The ex-dividend date is December 8. The dividend is payable on January 5, 2010, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 10, 2009.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE: MDU): The company increased its quarterly dividend by 1.60% to 15.75 cents per share from its previous quarterly dividend of 15.5 cents per share. The dividend is payable o January 1, 2010 to stockholders of record on December 10, 2009. .

Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC): The company, which engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of cleaning solutions, increased its quarterly dividend by 8 percent to 14 cents per share. The company has increased its annual cash dividend payout for 38 consecutive years.

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE ABC): The pharmaceutical services company boosted its quarterly dividend by 33% to 8 cents per share from 6 cents per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 7 to stockholders of record on Nov. 23.

Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF): The mining company increased its quarterly dividend more than 100% to 8.75 cents. The dividend is payable on Dec. 1, 2009, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Nov. 20, 2009. The dividend is payable Dec. 1 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 20.

DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV): The provider of adult education raised its annual dividend by 25% to 20 cents a share from 16 cents. The company said that the next dividend, which is paid semiannually, will be paid Jan. 7 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 11.

Vodafone Group (NASDAQ: VOD): The telecom company increased its interim dividend by 3.5 percent to 2.66 pence per share. The final dividend for 2009 was 5.2 pence/share.

Span-America Medical Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAN): The Medical supplies company hiked its quarterly dividend by 11 percent to 10 cents per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 4 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 20.

Brown-Forman (BF-B): The producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands on November 16 lifted its dividend 4.3% to 30 cents per share. Stockholders of record on December 7, 2009 will receive the cash dividend on January 4, 2010.

Bob Evans Farms Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE): The restaurant company lifted its dividend by 13 percent to 18 cents per share from 16 cents. The dividend will be payable on Dec. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 4.

Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD): The precious-metals royalty company, increased the annual dividend for its common stock by 13 percent to 36 cents per share from 32 cents. The first quarterly dividend at that rate will be paid on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 4.

PennantPark (NASDAQ: PNNT): The firm, which specializes in direct and mezzanine investments in middle-market companies, raised its quarterly dividend 4.2 percent to 25 cents per share. The dividend is payable on January 4, 2010 to stockholders of record as of December 24, 2009.

Lancaster Colony (NASDAQ: LANC): The consumer products maker boosted its dividend 5.3 percent to 30 cents per share. The payable is payable December 31, 2009 to shareholders of record on December 10, 2009. The ex-dividend date is December 8.

Laclede Group (NYSE: LG): The company, which distributes natural gas on a retail basis in St. Louis and nearby suburban areas on November 19th raised its quarterly dividend by 1 cent to 39.5 cents per share. The dividend will be payable on January 4, 2010, to shareholders of record on December 11, 2009.

NSTAR (NYSE: NST): The company, which operates a gas and electric utility, upped its annual dividend by 6.7 percent to $1.60 per share from $1.50 per share. A quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share will be paid Feb. 1 to shareholders of record on Jan. 8.

Harsco Corp. (NYSE: HSC): The industrial services company increased its annual dividend by 2.5 percent by by 2 cents to 82 cents per share. A quarterly dividend of 20.5 cents will be paid Feb. 16 to shareholders of record on Jan. 15.

Full Disclosure: None