Nike outruns its competitors

NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters Breakingviews) – The ball is in Nike's (NKE.N) court. The $195 billion sportswear giant posted a 14% rise in revenue in third-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Its challenges include unsold goods it has to shift, an 8% drop in year-on-year sales in China, and falling gross profit margins. Nike is nonetheless in a relatively enviable position. The Beaverton, Oregon-based company saw its direct-to-consumer sales rise 17% to $5.3 billion compared with the same quarter a year earlier, while wholesale revenue grew 12%. The company run by John Donahoe seems to be getting a better handle on…