Nike Inc. (NKE): Today's Featured Consumer Goods Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

Nike ( NKE) pushed the Consumer Goods sector higher today making it today's featured consumer goods winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.9%. By the end of trading, Nike rose $0.88 (1.4%) to $65.32 on average volume. Throughout the day, 3,078,623 shares of Nike exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3,854,600 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $64.40-$65.44 after having opened the day at $64.54 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $64.44. Other companies within the Consumer Goods sector that increased today were: Central European Distribution ( CEDC), up 11.1%, American Lorain ( ALN), up 10.1%, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company ( CTB), up 7.4% and Goodyear Tire & Rubber ( GT), up 7.0%.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protege, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

NIKE, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, marketing, and sale of footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for men, women, and children worldwide. Nike has a market cap of $47.1 billion and is part of the consumer non-durables industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.6, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 24.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 6 analysts that rate Nike a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 11 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Nike as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, growth in earnings per share, increase in net income and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Nike Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Tandy Brands Accessories ( TBAC), down 9.3%, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A ( OCCH), down 5.8%, China New Borun Corporation ( BORN), down 5.5% and MGP Ingredients ( MGPI), down 5.4% , were all laggards within the consumer goods sector with Smithfield Foods ( SFD) being today's consumer goods sector laggard.

• Use our consumer goods section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the consumer goods sector could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Goods ( IYK) while those bearish on the consumer goods sector could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Goods ( SZK).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

Exclusive Offer: Jim Cramer's 'go-to' small/mid-cap guru Bryan Ashenberg only buys stocks he thinks could return 50-100%. See his top picks for 14-days FREE.