(Reuters) - Nike Inc (N:NKE) reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, as the world's largest footwear maker benefited from strong demand in China, its third-biggest market, and cost cuts.
Nike, which has celebrity endorsements from NBA players such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant, has also been quick to expand its direct-to-consumer presence by testing a pilot program with Amazon (O:AMZN) and Facebook's (O:FB) Instagram, and sprucing up its revenue from China through revamped stores and increased online efforts with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's (N:BABA) Tmall.
The company's sales in China rose 9 percent in the first quarter ended Aug. 31.
Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike in June said it would cut 2 percent of its global workforce and cut about a quarter of its shoe styles in a bid to become nimbler in the face of intensifying competition from Germany-based Adidas AG (DE:ADSGn) and Puma SE (DE:PUMG).
Nike's selling, general and administrative expenses fell 1 percent to $2.9 billion in the first quarter.
The company's net income fell to $950 million, or 57 cents per share, in the quarter, from $1.25 billion, or 73 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding certain items, Nike earned 57 cents per share, handily beating analysts' average estimate of 48 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Revenue rose marginally to $9.07 billion, but missed the average analyst estimate of $9.08 billion.
Shares of the Dow component were flat at $53.65 in after-market trading on Tuesday.