NEW YORK, Feb 17, 2026, 18:31 EST — After-hours
- Nike shares rose 2.7% on Tuesday, last at $64.82 in after-hours trading.
- U.S. stocks ended slightly higher in a choppy session that followed the Presidents Day market holiday.
- Traders are looking next to Wednesday’s Fed minutes and Nike’s expected March earnings date.
Nike Inc shares climbed on Tuesday, closing up 2.7% and last trading at $64.82 after the bell, as U.S. markets returned from the Presidents Day holiday. (CBS News)
The move matters because investors are stepping back into consumer names with the Federal Reserve’s next signals just ahead, and positioning has been jumpy across the sector. Wall Street was closed on Monday, leaving Tuesday as the first chance to reset risk for the week. (CBS News)
The S&P 500 ended up 0.1% on the day, while the Dow finished modestly higher after swinging between gains and losses, according to market data. (AP News)
Nike was among the better-performing apparel names. Under Armour jumped more than 8% and Deckers Outdoor gained 1.4%, data showed. (MarketWatch)
The consumer discretionary group has also been prone to sharp reversals as hedge funds crowd into short positions — bets a share price will fall — and then scramble to cover when the tape moves against them. “The market is now dominated by multi-manager hedge funds trading specifically against news and data points,” Michael Oliver Weinberg, a hedge fund investor and special advisor to the Tokyo University of Science Endowment, told Reuters in a broader look at sector volatility. (Reuters)
Rate expectations stayed in focus. Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr said on Tuesday the central bank is likely to hold rates “for some time” as it watches inflation, adding another layer for consumer stocks that can be sensitive to shifts in yields. (Reuters)
Next up is the Fed’s minutes from its January meeting, due on Wednesday. The release is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Washington. (Federal Reserve)
For Nike, attention is already drifting to the next earnings update. Several market calendars peg the next report for March 19, though companies can change dates. (Investing)
Still, the risk case is simple: if spending softens or promotions heat up again across footwear and apparel, Nike’s rally can fade fast, especially with competitors pushing hard in running and lifestyle.
Before the next session, traders will also weigh U.S. data due Wednesday, including industrial production, alongside the Fed minutes. (Scotiabank)
