, Columnist
Nike Should Watch Its Back
It doesn't seem quite alarmed enough by its worst first half in 15 years.
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Nike CEO Mark Parker and I must have different interpretations of what it means to "raise the bar."
In a statement in Nike's fourth-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, Parker said he was proud Nike had "raised the bar of what's possible." And then Nike disclosed that growth in North America futures orders -- a mechanism that lets retailers order Nike goods several months in advance of delivery -- slowed for the fourth straight quarter, indicating demand for its products continues to wane. Its revenue and gross margin also came in lower than Wall Street expected, sending its stock down 6 percent in after-hours trading.