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How to Buy Nike Stock (NKE)

Back to libraryUnknown authorMay 2, 2026
How to Buy Nike Stock (NKE)

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How to Buy Nike Stock (NKE)

You may love the shoes, but you should still take these steps before buying Nike stock.

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Arielle O’Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance and investing for nearly 20 years, and was a senior writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet before becoming an editor. Previously, she was a researcher and reporter for leading personal finance journalist and author Jean Chatzky, a role that included developing financial education programs, interviewing subject matter experts and helping to produce television and radio segments. Arielle has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC's "World News Tonight," and has been quoted in national publications including The New York Times, MarketWatch and Bloomberg News. She is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Arielle O’Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance and investing for nearly 20 years, and was a senior writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet before becoming an editor. Previously, she was a researcher and reporter for leading personal finance journalist and author Jean Chatzky, a role that included developing financial education programs, interviewing subject matter experts and helping to produce television and radio segments. Arielle has appeared on the "Today" show, NBC News and ABC's "World News Tonight," and has been quoted in national publications including The New York Times, MarketWatch and Bloomberg News. She is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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Robert Beaupre leads the SMB team at NerdWallet. He has covered financial topics as an editor for more than a decade. Before joining NerdWallet, he served as senior editorial manager of QuinStreet's insurance sites and managing editor of Insure.com. In addition, he served as an online media manager for the University of Nevada, Reno.

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You don't have to be an athlete to wear Nike products — the company is a household name. That, combined with a history of strong performance, is enough to have many investors wondering how to buy Nike stock.

You don't have to be an athlete to wear Nike products — the company is a household name. That, combined with a history of strong performance, is enough to have many investors wondering how to buy Nike stock.

How to buy Nike stock

How to buy Nike stock

You can buy Nike stock through a brokerage account. You'll need to add money to the account and then search within the brokerage's platform using the symbol "NKE" You can also buy Nike stock through Nike's direct stock purchase plan.

You can buy Nike stock through a brokerage account . You'll need to add money to the account and then search within the brokerage's platform using the symbol "NKE" You can also buy Nike stock through Nike's direct stock purchase plan.

» Check out the best brokerage accounts for stock trading

» Check out » Check out the best brokerage accounts for stock trading

Brokerage firms

Brokerage firms

Brokerage firms
NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on Charles Schwab's website

NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on E*TRADE's website

NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on Vanguard's website

NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on Fidelity's website

Ready to put your money where your feet are? Here's how to buy Nike stock in four steps.

Ready to put your money where your feet are? Here's how to buy Nike stock in four steps.

1. Research Nike stock

1. Research Nike stock 1. Research Nike stock

Maybe you’ve been wearing Nike Air since you were a teenager, or you wear Nike workout gear to the gym on the daily. You’re familiar with the brand, but that doesn’t mean you’re familiar with the company or the kind of details you need to evaluate before buying Nike stock.

Maybe you’ve been wearing Nike Air since you were a teenager, or you wear Nike workout gear to the gym on the daily. You’re familiar with the brand, but that doesn’t mean you’re familiar with the company or the kind of details you need to evaluate before buying Nike stock.

Before you buy any stock, you need to dig into the company and industry fundamentals. That means researching Nike’s management team, revenue, net income and earnings, as well as expectations and anticipated challenges for both the company and the athletic wear industry as a whole. Consider not just what could go well for Nike in the coming months and years, but also what could go wrong and how that could affect the price of the company’s stock.

Before you buy any stock, you need to dig into the company and industry fundamentals. That means researching Nike’s management team, revenue, net income and earnings, as well as expectations and anticipated challenges for both the company and the athletic wear industry as a whole. Consider not just what could go well for Nike in the coming months and years, but also what could go wrong and how that could affect the price of the company’s stock.

Even the most in-depth research won’t predict the future of Nike — or any other company — but it will help you make an educated decision about whether the stock deserves a spot in your portfolio.

Even the most in-depth research won’t predict the future of Nike — or any other company — but it will help you make an educated decision about whether the stock deserves a spot in your portfolio.

» Don’t know where to start? Learn how to research stocks

» Don’t know where to start? » Don’t know where to start? Learn how to research stocks

2. Set a budget for Nike stock

2. Set a budget for Nike stock 2. Set a budget for Nike stock

Individual stocks — even from established, growth companies like Nike — are riskier than diversified investments like index mutual funds.

Individual stocks — even from established, growth companies like Nike — are riskier than diversified investments like index mutual funds .

Why? Because index funds track a market index and hold stock in many — often hundreds — of companies, rather than just one. Over time, companies within an index fund that do well will balance out those that don’t, which makes you less likely to lose your investment.

Why? Because index funds track a market index and hold stock in many — often hundreds — of companies, rather than just one. Over time, companies within an index fund that do well will balance out those that don’t, which makes you less likely to lose your investment.

That’s not to say you can’t also pick and choose individual companies to invest in, like Nike. But when you do, you might consider following a couple rules of thumb:

That’s not to say you can’t also pick and choose individual companies to invest in, like Nike. But when you do, you might consider following a couple rules of thumb:

Limit individual stocks to 10% of your overall portfolio. The rest may be made up of low-cost index funds for easy diversification.

Limit individual stocks to 10% of your overall portfolio. Limit individual stocks to 10% of your overall portfolio. The rest may be made up of low-cost index funds for easy diversification.

Don’t invest short-term money. Investing for retirement in 20 years? Great. Investing for a home you want to buy next year? Put the brakes on. As a general rule, you should never invest money you’ll need within the next five years. With a short time horizon, you’re more likely to have to sell at a loss because you won’t have time to bounce back from market fluctuations.

Don’t invest short-term money. Don’t invest short-term money. Investing for retirement in 20 years? Great. Investing for a home you want to buy next year? Put the brakes on. As a general rule, you should never invest money you’ll need within the next five years. With a short time horizon, you’re more likely to have to sell at a loss because you won’t have time to bounce back from market fluctuations.

Following both of those general rules, set a budget for how much you want to invest in Nike. It’s OK, and even wise, to start small with one or two shares; you can always add to your investment over time.

Following both of those general rules, set a budget for how much you want to invest in Nike. It’s OK, and even wise, to start small with one or two shares; you can always add to your investment over time.

» View our list: The best-performing stocks

» View our list: » View our list: The best-performing stocks

Brokerage firms

Brokerage firms

Brokerage firms
NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on Charles Schwab's website

NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on E*TRADE's website

NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on Vanguard's website

NerdWallet rating  Learn More

on Fidelity's website

3. Open a brokerage account

3. Open a brokerage account 3. Open a brokerage account

If you’re new to this game, you might not realize that you need a brokerage account to buy stock, including shares of Nike. If you don’t already have one, the process of opening one is quick and painless. (We have a step-by-step guide to brokerage accounts here.)

If you’re new to this game, you might not realize that you need a brokerage account to buy stock, including shares of Nike. If you don’t already have one, the process of opening one is quick and painless. (We have a step-by-step guide to brokerage accounts here .)

The biggest hurdle: Deciding where to house your account. There are a lot of able brokers competing for your money. To narrow down the options, consider trading commissions, account minimums, fees and investment selection. (Yes, you have your sights set on Nike. But that doesn’t mean you won’t want to diversify — or follow our guidance about padding your portfolio with index funds — later.)

The biggest hurdle: Deciding where to house your account. There are a lot of able brokers competing for your money. To narrow down the options, consider trading commissions, account minimums, fees and investment selection. (Yes, you have your sights set on Nike. But that doesn’t mean you won’t want to diversify — or follow our guidance about padding your portfolio with index funds — later.)

Once you’ve selected a broker, you can fund your account via electronic transfer from a bank or savings account.

Once you’ve selected a broker, you can fund your account via electronic transfer from a bank or savings account.

4. Buy Nike stock

4. Buy Nike stock 4. Buy Nike stock

With your brokerage account up, running and funded, you can use the broker’s online trading platform to buy Nike’s stock.

With your brokerage account up, running and funded, you can use the broker’s online trading platform to buy Nike’s stock.

To do that, search the broker’s website for NKE, which is Nike’s ticker symbol, the code used to identify it on stock exchanges. (This is not the time for typos, so make sure you’ve entered it correctly.) Nike’s stock quote should show up, along with a buy button. Click that and an order ticket will load.

To do that, search the broker’s website for NKE, which is Nike’s ticker symbol, the code used to identify it on stock exchanges. (This is not the time for typos, so make sure you’ve entered it correctly.) Nike’s stock quote should show up, along with a buy button. Click that and an order ticket will load.

Within the order ticket, you’ll be able to specify how many shares you’d like to purchase and choose an order type.

Within the order ticket, you’ll be able to specify how many shares you’d like to purchase and choose an order type. ? Nerdy Tip

Some stocks and funds have intimidatingly-high share prices — but certain brokerages allow you to buy less than a full share. Here’s our list of the best brokers for fractional shares.

Some stocks and funds have intimidatingly-high share prices — but certain brokerages allow you to buy less than a full share. Here’s our list of the best brokers for fractional shares .

Don’t get bogged down by the options for order type — for most people, it’s fine to focus on two:

Don’t get bogged down by the options for order type — for most people, it’s fine to focus on two:

A market order tells the broker to purchase the Nike stock as soon as possible. The share price might vary from the price you see in your order ticket, because a market order prioritizes speed over price. The goal is to execute the order immediately.

A market order market order tells the broker to purchase the Nike stock as soon as possible. The share price might vary from the price you see in your order ticket, because a market order prioritizes speed over price. The goal is to execute the order immediately.

A limit order prioritizes price over speed: It tells your broker to place your order for Nike stock only if you can purchase the stock at or below a price you dictate. You’ll fill in the limit price as part of the trade ticket. A limit order protects you against wild swings in a stock’s price, but it also means the order may not get executed if your price isn’t met.

A limit order limit order prioritizes price over speed: It tells your broker to place your order for Nike stock only if you can purchase the stock at or below a price you dictate. You’ll fill in the limit price as part of the trade ticket. A limit order protects you against wild swings in a stock’s price, but it also means the order may not get executed if your price isn’t met.

Your broker will notify you when your order goes through, at which point you’ll be a Nike shareholder. Even better: You can follow all of the above guidance to purchase stock in other companies, adding to and diversifying your portfolio. For more guidance, view our full guide on how to buy stock.

Your broker will notify you when your order goes through, at which point you’ll be a Nike shareholder. Even better: You can follow all of the above guidance to purchase stock in other companies, adding to and diversifying your portfolio. For more guidance, view our full guide on how to buy stock . AD

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Earn 3.71 % APY by investing in U.S. Treasury Bills* Maximize your cash by investing in low-risk, government-backed T-Bills. All the work is done for you — just make the deposit and watch your money grow. Learn More *Rate when held to maturity. Rate shown is subject to price fluctuations. Neither the author nor editor held positions in the aforementioned investments at the time of publication. Neither the author nor editor held positions in the aforementioned investments at the time of publication. Neither the author nor editor held positions in the aforementioned investments at the time of publication. About the author Arielle O'Shea Arielle O'Shea Arielle is a NerdWallet authority on retirement and investing, with appearances on the "Today" Show, "NBC Nightly News" and other national media. See full bio.

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