NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) yesterday reported financial results for its fiscal 2010 second quarter ended November 30, 2009. Second quarter revenues decreased 4 percent, from $4.6 billion last year to $4.4 billion in the current year; changes in currency exchange rates had a minimal impact on reported revenue results. Second quarter net income declined 4 percent, from $391 million last year to $375 million in the current year; diluted earnings per share decreased 5 percent to $0.76.

“Nike is at its best when we deliver superior innovative product, connect with consumers through premium experiences and operate with discipline and efficiency. Our second quarter results are another demonstration of our strategy at work,” said Mark Parker, NIKE, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our laser-sharp focus across our portfolio of brands, businesses, categories and geographies gives us the flexibility we need in this economy to gain share, lead the industry, and leverage the power of global sports.”*

Futures Orders

The Company reported worldwide futures orders for Nike brand athletic footwear and apparel, scheduled for delivery from December 2009 through April 2010, totaling $7.0 billion, 4 percent higher than orders reported for the same period last year. Excluding currency changes, reported orders would have decreased 1 percent.*

By geography, futures orders were as follows:

Geography		Reported Futures Orders		Excluding Currency Changes
North America		-4%		-4%
Western Europe		+12%		0%
Central and Eastern Europe		-15%		-20%
Greater China		+4%		+4%
Japan		-10%		-9%
Emerging Markets		+38%		+27%

Geography Highlights

North America

During the second quarter, revenues in North America decreased 4 percent to $1.5 billion. Footwear revenues declined 4 percent to $981 million, apparel revenues decreased 6 percent to $441 million and equipment revenues were up 1 percent to $74 million. Earnings before interest and taxes (commonly referred to as “EBIT”) for North America increased 9 percent to $291 million due to lower selling and administrative expenses and improved gross margins.

Western Europe

Second quarter revenue for Western Europe was down 6 percent to $902 million. Footwear revenue was flat compared to last year at $515 million, apparel revenue was down 15 percent to $323 million and equipment revenue declined 11 percent to $63 million. Second quarter EBIT decreased 5 percent to $175 million as the impact of lower revenue was partially offset by a reduction in selling and administrative expenses.

Central and Eastern Europe

In the second quarter, revenue for Central and Eastern Europe declined 24 percent to $260 million. Footwear revenue decreased 18 percent to $144 million, apparel revenue was down 30 percent to $99 million and equipment revenue declined 32 percent to $17 million. EBIT decreased 36 percent in the second quarter to $64 million due to lower revenue and gross margins, partially offset by reductions in sales and administrative expenses.

Greater China

Revenue for Greater China during the second quarter was down 3 percent to $404 million. Footwear revenue was down 1 percent to $210 million, apparel revenue declined 7 percent to $170 million, and equipment revenue decreased 2 percent to $25 million. Second quarter EBIT decreased 7 percent to $126 million as lower revenues and higher selling and administrative expenses offset improved gross margins.

Japan

Japan second quarter revenues declined 2 percent to $222 million. Footwear revenue was up 6 percent to $104 million, apparel revenue dropped 10 percent to $98 million and equipment revenue was flat compared to the prior year at $21 million. EBIT decreased 19 percent in the second quarter to $45 million mainly due to lower revenues and higher selling and administrative expenses that offset better gross margins.

Emerging Markets

In the Emerging Markets revenue was up 8 percent to $555 million for the second quarter compared to $512 million last year. Footwear revenue increased 12 percent to $370 million, apparel revenue rose 7 percent to $143 million and equipment revenue decreased 13 percent to $41 million. Second quarter EBIT for the Emerging Markets rose 29 percent to $156 million as a result of revenue growth, gross margin improvement and better leverage of selling and administrative expenses.

Other Businesses

For the second quarter, revenue for Other Businesses, which includes Cole Haan, Converse Inc., Hurley International LLC, NIKE Golf, and Umbro Ltd. increased 1 percent to $556 million. EBIT for the second quarter was up 65 percent at $35 million due to lower selling and administrative expenses which more than offset lower gross margin results.

Income Statement Review

In the second quarter of fiscal 2010 gross margins were 44.5 percent compared to 44.7 percent for the same period last year. Gross margins for the quarter were lower than the prior year primarily due to unfavorable year over year foreign exchange impacts and higher discounts related to inventory management efforts.

Second quarter selling and administrative expenses were down 4 percent to $1.5 billion and dropped as a percent of revenue to 33.6 percent compared to 33.7 percent for the same period last year. Selling and administrative expenses for the quarter were lower than the same period last year due to lower demand creation spending and lower personnel costs following restructuring efforts completed last fiscal year.

The effective tax rate for the second quarter was 23.5 percent compared to 24.9 percent for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to the impact from settlements of uncertain tax positions as well as the reduction in our on-going effective tax rate on operations outside the United States.

Balance Sheet Review

At the end of the second quarter, global inventories stood at $2.2 billion, down 10 percent from November 30, 2008. Cash and short-term investments at period-end were $4.0 billion, 47 percent higher than $2.7 billion last year.

Share Repurchase

During the second quarter, the Company repurchased a total of 3,025,000 shares for approximately $194 million in conjunction with the Company’s four-year, $3 billion share repurchase program, approved by the Board of Directors in June 2006. As of the end of the second quarter the Company has purchased a total of 52.5 million shares for approximately $2.9 billion under this program. Once the Company completes its current $3 billion program it will commence a four-year, $5 billion share repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors in September 2008.

Conference Call

Nike management will host a conference call beginning at approximately 2:00 p.m. PT on December 17, 2009, to review second quarter results. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed at www.nikebiz.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, an archived version will be available at the same location through midnight, December 24, 2009.

About NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand.