Foot Locker Stocl (NYSE: FL) Trades Above Offer Price as Dick’s Acquisition Looms, But Why?

Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) finds itself at a critical juncture. Trading at $25.57, the athletic retailer is navigating a complex landscape of acquisition, fluctuating financial performance, and evolving relationships with key suppliers like Nike.

Interestingly, Foot Locker's stock trades higher above the pending acquisition by Dick's Sporting Goods, but why?

The acquisition news, announced in May, sent shockwaves through the market. Dick's Sporting Goods' offer of $24 per share, an 86% premium at the time, reflects their strategic ambition to expand their presence in malls and international markets. The alternative option is to take 0.1168 of DKS stock, which at the current time would equate to ~$26.

The deal, valued at $2.4 billion, is projected to close in the latter half of the year, pending shareholder approval.

Recent financial results have been less than stellar. First quarter 2025 figures revealed a 4.6% drop in total sales, reaching $1.788 billion, and a 2.6% decrease in comparable sales. The company reported a GAAP net loss of $363 million, significantly impacted by $276 million in non-cash impairment charges.

CEO Mary Dillon acknowledged the challenging environment, citing softer global traffic trends.

Foot Locker's reliance on Nike, which accounts for over 60% of its merchandise, adds another layer of complexity. Nike's own struggles, including a recent 11.5% revenue decline attributed to weakening demand for non-essential items, have a direct impact on Foot Locker's performance.

The retailer's previous efforts to emphasize newer Nike styles, such as the Vomero and Air DT Max, reflect attempts to navigate this challenging relationship and mitigate competition from emerging brands like On and Hoka.

With Foot Locker's stock trading at a mild discount to the equivalent value of DKS stock, the latter may be more worth watching as the next set of earnings come through. Markets are looking for an EPS of $0.1 on the quarter, on revenues of $1.87B, a decline of 1.69% Y/Y.