NEW YORK, United States  — Nike Inc. posted futures orders that missed analysts' estimates, renewing concerns that the maker of sneakers and athletic appeal can't maintain growth in the face of mounting competition.

The orders  — a key indicator of demand for the brand  — rose just 1 percent in North America as of Aug. 31, according to a statement Tuesday from the Beaverton, Oregon-based company. Analysts had projected a 5 percent gain. The figure tracks products that will be delivered between September and January.

“The slowdown in North America is worse than expected,” said Chen Grazutis, an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence.

Increased competition from Adidas AG and Under Armour Inc. has taken a toll on the world’s largest athletic brand this year, with slowing sales growth in its home country. That’s hammered the stock, which is on pace for its first annual decline in eight years. Futures orders also came in just short of estimates in China.

The shares fell as much as 5 percent to $52.60 in late trading after the results were released. They had been down 11 percent this year through Tuesday’s close.

Earnings topped analysts’ estimates last quarter, but they were helped by a tax benefit. A resolution of a foreign tax credit matter with the Internal Revenue Service reduced Nike’s effective tax rate to 2.5 percent, compared with 18.4 percent a year earlier.

Nike reported profit of 73 cents a share, compared with an average analyst projection of 56 cents. Still, there were troubling signs beneath the surface, Grazutis said. Nike’s gross margin missed estimates by 100 basis points, suggesting that the company relied more heavily on discounts to fuel growth.

Curry Competition

Nike had been thriving in the years since the recession, with the stock averaging annual gains of 26 percent since 2008. But 2016 has been a struggle. Under Armour has attacked its lucrative basketball-shoe business with its Stephen Curry line. Meanwhile, Adidas has taken some of its casual business with retro styles like Superstar. That’s raised doubts about Nike’s ability to hit its long-term goal of boosting annual revenue from $32 billion to $50 billion by 2020.

“There is more competition from brands that didn’t have the cachet they do now,” Grazutis said.

Finish Line Inc. added to doubts about Nike on Friday, when the US-based chain shoe chain said sales of Nike’s premium basketball shoes fell last quarter. Chief executive officer Sam Sato also praised Nike’s competition, calling the performance of Under Armour’s latest Curry shoes “tremendous” and said that Adidas remained “on fire.”

By Matt Townsend; Editors: Nick Turner and Kevin Orland.