Nike, Inc. is a global sportswear and equipment company that designs, develops, and markets footwear, accessories, apparel, and services. The company is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, near Portland, and has around 76,000 employees across the globe. Nike is one of the most popular and successful sports brands worldwide and is a leading company in the sports industry. However, who owns Nike?
The simple answer is that Nike is a publicly traded company, and therefore, it is owned by its shareholders. Anyone can buy shares in Nike and thus own a piece of the company. The company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol ‘NKE.’
One of the founders of Nike, Inc. is Phillip Knight, who started the company as Blue Ribbon Sports back in 1964 with his former track coach Bill Bowerman. Knight and Bowerman originally started the company as a distributor of Japanese-made shoes such as Onitsuka Tiger, which are now known as ASICS. They named the company Blue Ribbon Sports and eventually changed it to Nike in 1971.
Currently, Phillip Knight is one of the largest shareholders of Nike, owning approximately 84.11 million shares, which represents around 9% of the company’s total shares. Knight served as the company’s chairman until 2016 and has been credited with much of Nike’s early success.
Another individual who held a significant stake in Nike was the company’s co-founder, Bill Bowerman. Bowerman passed away in 1999, and his share of the company was sold upon his death.
As a publicly traded company, Nike has a Board of Directors who are elected annually and are responsible for the strategic direction and governance of the company. Currently, the Board includes twelve members, including three women.
In terms of institutional ownership, 83.95% of Nike’s shares are held by institutional investors, and 16.05% is owned by retail investors. Some of the largest institutional investors in Nike include BlackRock, Inc., The Vanguard Group, and State Street Corporation.
In conclusion, Nike is a publicly traded company that is owned by its shareholders. The company was founded by Phillip Knight and Bill Bowerman, and although Bowerman no longer holds a stake in the company, Knight remains a significant shareholder. As one of the most popular and successful sports brands worldwide, Nike’s shares are widely held by institutional investors, making it a popular stock in many investment portfolios.
