BTIG's Bullish Stance on Nike (NKE) Supported by Progress on Turnaround and Innovation Drive

Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is one of the best stocks to buy according to Citadel LLC. On October 15, BTIG’s Consumer Retail analyst Robert Drbul initiated coverage of the company, assigning a Buy rating and a $100 price target. The analyst also named Nike as “Top Pick for 2026”, which indicates his strong confidence in the stock.

Drbul was encouraged by Nike’s progress on its turnaround efforts; however, he still believes that there is a lot more ground to cover. For his model, the analyst now pencils in EPS projections of $1.70 and $2.75 for FY26 and FY27, respectively. With the new leadership in place, the analyst believes the company could achieve EPS of $3.50 in FY28 and see its long-term operating margin inch towards 12% or more.

Separately, on October 23, Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) said that it is currently testing the world’s first powered footwear system for running and walking, which it called ‘Project Amplify’. The company is collaborating with bionic footwear company Dephy to develop the product, which will feature a battery-charged motor. While the product is still some years away from reaching customers, such innovations will be crucial for Nike’s turnaround and for regaining lost market share in recent years.

Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) designs, develops, and sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services worldwide. The company is the world’s largest seller of athletic footwear and apparel.

While we acknowledge the potential of NKE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: Goldman Sachs Defense Stocks: Top 10 Stocks to Buy and  13 Best Tech Stocks Under $10 to Invest In.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.