Carter's Future Growth
Future criteria checks 1/6
Carter's is forecast to grow earnings and revenue by 9.5% and 1.6% per annum respectively. EPS is expected to grow by 9% per annum. Return on equity is forecast to be 11.8% in 3 years.
Key information
9.5%
Earnings growth rate
8.98%
EPS growth rate
| Luxury earnings growth | 18.4% |
| Revenue growth rate | 1.6% |
| Future return on equity | 11.83% |
| Analyst coverage | Good |
| Last updated | 07 May 2026 |
Recent future growth updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • Apr 24
CRI: New Sports Collaboration And Steady Outlook Will Support Fairly Valued Shares
Analysts have lifted their price target for Carter's by $2 to $39, pointing to slightly adjusted assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E as the key drivers of this change. What's in the News Carter’s and Umbro launched a limited-edition Carter’s x Umbro kids collection inspired by global soccer, featuring country-themed kits from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States, available from April 6 in Carter’s stores and online (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Apr 09
CRI: New Collaborations And Cautious Sales Outlook Will Support Fairly Valued Shares
Analysts have maintained their $37.00 price target for Carter's, noting only minor adjustments to inputs such as discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions that do not materially change their overall view on the stock. What's in the News Carter’s and Umbro announced a limited edition Carter’s x Umbro collection inspired by global soccer, featuring country themed kits for nations including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.Narrative Update • Mar 26
CRI: Capsule Launch And Guidance Will Support Fairly Valued Shares Despite Risks
Analysts now set their price target for Carter's at $37.00. This level is aligned with prior estimates and reflects updated assumptions for the discount rate and future P/E, while keeping revenue growth and profit margin views unchanged.Narrative Update • Mar 11
CRI: Higher Risk Profile Will Temper Benefits Of New Capsule Collection And Guidance
Analysts have adjusted their price target on Carter's to $37.00 from $34.80, reflecting updated views on revenue growth, profit margins, and the P/E multiple they consider appropriate for the stock. What's in the News Carter's issued earnings guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, projecting mid single digit growth in net sales and citing an expected US$630 million in net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as a reference point for that period (Company guidance).Seeking Alpha • Feb 27
Carter's Gross Margins Show Challenges With Pricing Power
Summary Carter's, Inc. reported Q4 results with solid top-line growth but significant margin deterioration due to tariffs and higher costs. FY26 guidance projects modest revenue growth driven by pricing, but persistent gross margin pressure and higher interest expense will weigh on net income. CRI trades at 10x forward earnings, yet secular headwinds like declining fertility and inability to offset tariffs undermine the investment case. I maintain a Hold rating, viewing CRI as a potential value trap with limited near-term catalysts and ongoing business challenges. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaNarrative Update • Feb 25
CRI: Higher Risk Profile Will Limit Benefits Of New Capsule Collection
Analysts have increased their price target on Carter's by $1.40, reflecting updated views on fair value, discount rate assumptions, revenue growth and profit margin potential, as well as a slightly lower future P/E multiple. What's in the News Carter's and Once Upon a Farm launched a limited edition Carter's x Once Upon a Farm capsule collection featuring apparel and sleepwear designed around playful days and snack time moments (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Feb 10
CRI: Higher Risk And Governance Tightening Will Constrain Future Return Potential
Analysts have modestly revised their price view on Carter's, keeping fair value steady at $33.40 while fine tuning assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E to reflect updated expectations for the business and its risk profile. What's in the News Carter's and Once Upon a Farm launched a limited edition Carter's x Once Upon a Farm capsule collection, combining Carter's PurelySoft apparel with prints inspired by Once Upon a Farm snacks in strawberry, banana and avocado designs, targeted at baby and toddler sizes up to 5T across 12 styles, priced around $18 to $20 and sold online and in Carter's stores nationwide (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Jan 24
CRI: Updated Outlook Will Balance Tighter Governance And Measured Return Expectations
Analysts have raised their price expectations for Carter's, with the fair value estimate moving from US$28.80 to US$33.40 as they update assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, the discount rate and future P/E levels. What's in the News Carter's and Once Upon a Farm launched a limited edition Carter's x Once Upon a Farm capsule collection featuring baby and toddler apparel and sleepwear made with PurelySoft fabrics and prints inspired by the food brand's snacks.Narrative Update • Jan 10
CRI: Tighter By Laws And Softer Outlook Will Weigh On Returns
Analysts have slightly reduced their price target on Carter's, reflecting a modest adjustment in the discount rate and future P/E assumptions, while keeping the fair value per share broadly unchanged at about $28.80. What's in the News Carter’s amended its By-Laws on November 13, 2025, clarifying that special meetings held in lieu of annual meetings can only address business that would be appropriate for an annual meeting, tightening the scope of what can be brought to a vote (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Dec 25
CRI: Governance Tightening And Weaker Revenue Outlook Will Pressure Future Returns
Analysts have modestly lowered their price target on Carter's, trimming fair value by approximately $0.70 to about $28.80. They are factoring in weaker revenue growth expectations, which are partly offset by slightly improved profit margins and a marginally lower discount rate and future P/E multiple.Narrative Update • Dec 10
CRI: Tighter Shareholder Rules And Completed Buyback Will Shape Future Outlook
Analysts have modestly adjusted their price target on Carter's, reflecting slightly lower discount rate and valuation multiple assumptions that leave fair value effectively unchanged at about $29.50 per share. What's in the News Carter’s, Inc.Narrative Update • Nov 26
CRI: Shareholder Restrictions and Stable Outlook Will Shape Near-Term Direction
Narrative Update on Carter's Analyst Price Target Analysts have maintained their price target for Carter's at $29.50, citing only minor adjustments to key financial assumptions such as a slight increase in the discount rate and forward price-to-earnings ratio, with no significant impact on projected fair value. What's in the News On November 13, 2025, Carter’s, Inc.Narrative Update • Nov 12
CRI: Share Repurchase Momentum Will Slow With Headwinds Ahead
Narrative Update on Carter's Price Target Analysts have raised Carter's fair value estimate slightly from $28.80 to $29.50, citing modest adjustments in the discount rate and future price-to-earnings expectations. What's in the News No shares were repurchased during the most recent tranche of the company's buyback program.Narrative Update • Oct 29
Improved Margins And Modest Revenue Outlook Will Balance Market Headwinds
Analysts have raised their price target for Carter's from $24.60 to $28.80, as this reflects improved expectations around revenue growth and profit margins. What's in the News Carter's did not repurchase any additional shares from June 29, 2025 to September 27, 2025 as part of its ongoing buyback program.Analysis Article • Aug 02
Benign Growth For Carter's, Inc. (NYSE:CRI) Underpins Stock's 27% Plummet
To the annoyance of some shareholders, Carter's, Inc. ( NYSE:CRI ) shares are down a considerable 27% in the last...Analysis Article • Jul 03
Returns On Capital At Carter's (NYSE:CRI) Have Stalled
If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. In a perfect...Analysis Article • May 28
Carter's (NYSE:CRI) Is Reducing Its Dividend To $0.25
The board of Carter's, Inc. ( NYSE:CRI ) has announced it will be reducing its dividend by 69% from last year's payment...Analysis Article • May 13
Carter's (NYSE:CRI) Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet
Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of...Analysis Article • Apr 24
Insufficient Growth At Carter's, Inc. (NYSE:CRI) Hampers Share Price
With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 7.4x Carter's, Inc. ( NYSE:CRI ) may be sending very bullish signals at...Analysis Article • Mar 25
The Returns At Carter's (NYSE:CRI) Aren't Growing
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for...Analysis Article • Mar 04
Carter's' (NYSE:CRI) Conservative Accounting Might Explain Soft Earnings
The most recent earnings report from Carter's, Inc. ( NYSE:CRI ) was disappointing for shareholders. While the headline...Analysis Article • Mar 02
Carter's' (NYSE:CRI) Dividend Will Be $0.80
The board of Carter's, Inc. ( NYSE:CRI ) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.80 per share on the 28th of...Seeking Alpha • Feb 26
Carter's Stock Continues To Slide, Won't Be Attractive Until Sales Stabilize
Summary Carter's, Inc. posted positive Q4 2024 sales growth but guided for a challenging FY25 with lower sales, margins, and higher SG&A expenses due to market and competitive pressures. Wholesale and international segments drove sales growth, while retail faced margin challenges due to price discounts and lower entry prices. The company expects a 30%+ drop in operating profits and EPS decline to $3.2-$3.8 in FY25, with significant margin pressures. Despite a fair valuation at a 12x multiple, I maintain a Hold rating on CRI stock due to ongoing sales declines and retail margin challenges. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Feb 09
Is Carter's (NYSE:CRI) Using Too Much Debt?
David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the...Seeking Alpha • Jan 15
Carter's: Not Hugely Compelling, But Unlikely To Be A Washout Either
Summary Carter's Inc. has been suffering from topline challenges since 2022, and it does not appear that this will abate in 2025 either. Despite an attractive FCF yield of 14.6%, and membership in the US Cash Cows Index, investors should note that the FCF performance is still poised to trend lower YoY. Valuations look cheap, but this is a function of a weak earnings outlook. CRI offers a compelling yield of 6% which is over 2x the industry average and twice as much as its own average. While CRI isn't yet showing any bullish momentum, and the short interest has spiked again, the long-term charts point to a favorable risk-reward. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Dec 10
Carter's, Inc.'s (NYSE:CRI) Shares Lagging The Market But So Is The Business
When close to half the companies in the United States have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 20x, you may...Analysis Article • Oct 30
Return Trends At Carter's (NYSE:CRI) Aren't Appealing
There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Ideally, a business will show two...Seeking Alpha • Oct 28
Carter's Q3 Disappointed And The Stock Is At A Decade Low, But Only Fairly Valued
Summary Carter's, Inc.'s Q3 2024 results showed a 4% sales decline, with aggressive pricing strategies impacting margins; a challenging Q4 is expected with further sales declines. Despite a 15% stock drop post-earnings, I maintain a Hold rating due to ongoing challenges and an insufficient yield to entice investment. Wholesale volumes grew, driven by Amazon and Walmart, but retail remains pressured; discounting risks long-term margin deterioration. Carter's stock trades at a 10-year low; potential recovery hinges on returning to historical revenue and margin levels, which remains uncertain. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
New Narrative • Sep 24
Challenges Outweigh Growth Prospects Amid Economic Headwinds And Margin Pressures
Anticipated price cuts and increased promotional activities to stimulate demand may pressure profit margins and overall profitability.Analysis Article • Sep 21
Is Carter's (NYSE:CRI) A Risky Investment?
Legendary fund manager Li Lu (who Charlie Munger backed) once said, 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility...Analysis Article • Sep 03
Earnings Working Against Carter's, Inc.'s (NYSE:CRI) Share Price
With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 10.2x Carter's, Inc. ( NYSE:CRI ) may be sending bullish signals at the...Analysis Article • Aug 20
Is Now An Opportune Moment To Examine Carter's, Inc. (NYSE:CRI)?
Carter's, Inc. ( NYSE:CRI ), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw a decent share price growth of 12% on the NYSE...Earnings and Revenue Growth Forecasts
| Date | Revenue | Earnings | Free Cash Flow | Cash from Op | Avg. No. Analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/31/2028 | 3,081 | 113 | N/A | N/A | 4 |
| 12/31/2027 | 3,058 | 120 | 147 | N/A | 6 |
| 12/31/2026 | 3,021 | 113 | 141 | N/A | 6 |
| 4/4/2026 | 2,950 | 88 | 127 | 177 | N/A |
| 1/3/2026 | 2,898 | 89 | 69 | 122 | N/A |
| 9/27/2025 | 2,833 | 87 | 92 | 151 | N/A |
| 6/28/2025 | 2,833 | 133 | 140 | 199 | N/A |
| 3/29/2025 | 2,812 | 160 | 221 | 276 | N/A |
| 12/28/2024 | 2,844 | 182 | 243 | 299 | N/A |
| 9/28/2024 | 2,842 | 226 | 278 | 335 | N/A |
| 6/29/2024 | 2,875 | 234 | 354 | 412 | N/A |
| 3/30/2024 | 2,911 | 230 | 403 | 461 | N/A |
| 12/30/2023 | 2,946 | 228 | 469 | 529 | N/A |
| 9/30/2023 | 3,000 | 203 | 456 | 512 | N/A |
| 7/1/2023 | 3,027 | 202 | 341 | 391 | N/A |
| 4/1/2023 | 3,127 | 215 | 248 | 294 | N/A |
| 12/31/2022 | 3,213 | 246 | 48 | 88 | N/A |
| 10/1/2022 | 3,363 | 263 | 8 | 43 | N/A |
| 7/2/2022 | 3,435 | 283 | 92 | 125 | N/A |
| 4/2/2022 | 3,480 | 317 | 111 | 144 | N/A |
| 1/1/2022 | 3,486 | 336 | 231 | 268 | N/A |
| 10/2/2021 | 3,414 | 338 | 241 | 277 | N/A |
| 7/3/2021 | 3,389 | 335 | 364 | 401 | N/A |
| 4/3/2021 | 3,157 | 273 | 527 | 563 | N/A |
| 1/2/2021 | 3,024 | 109 | 556 | 588 | N/A |
| 9/26/2020 | 3,135 | 135 | 592 | 633 | N/A |
| 6/27/2020 | 3,213 | 113 | 467 | 520 | N/A |
| 3/28/2020 | 3,433 | 148 | N/A | 336 | N/A |
| 12/28/2019 | 3,519 | 261 | N/A | 387 | N/A |
| 9/28/2019 | 3,505 | 267 | N/A | 408 | N/A |
| 6/29/2019 | 3,486 | 279 | N/A | 358 | N/A |
| 3/30/2019 | 3,448 | 272 | N/A | 329 | N/A |
| 12/29/2018 | 3,462 | 280 | N/A | 356 | N/A |
| 9/29/2018 | 3,404 | 285 | N/A | 233 | N/A |
| 6/30/2018 | 3,428 | 296 | N/A | 325 | N/A |
| 3/31/2018 | 3,423 | 296 | N/A | 310 | N/A |
| 12/30/2017 | 3,401 | 300 | N/A | 330 | N/A |
| 9/30/2017 | 3,307 | 252 | N/A | 370 | N/A |
| 7/1/2017 | 3,260 | 250 | N/A | 391 | N/A |
| 4/1/2017 | 3,208 | 249 | N/A | 325 | N/A |
| 12/31/2016 | 3,199 | 256 | N/A | 369 | N/A |
| 10/1/2016 | 3,132 | 242 | N/A | 279 | N/A |
| 7/2/2016 | 3,080 | 240 | N/A | 366 | N/A |
| 4/2/2016 | 3,053 | 240 | N/A | 349 | N/A |
| 1/2/2016 | 3,014 | 236 | N/A | 308 | N/A |
| 10/3/2015 | 3,017 | 231 | N/A | 404 | N/A |
| 7/4/2015 | 2,966 | 218 | N/A | 276 | N/A |
Analyst Future Growth Forecasts
Earnings vs Savings Rate: CRI's forecast earnings growth (9.5% per year) is above the savings rate (3.5%).
Earnings vs Market: CRI's earnings (9.5% per year) are forecast to grow slower than the US market (16.4% per year).
High Growth Earnings: CRI's earnings are forecast to grow, but not significantly.
Revenue vs Market: CRI's revenue (1.6% per year) is forecast to grow slower than the US market (11.4% per year).
High Growth Revenue: CRI's revenue (1.6% per year) is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.
Earnings per Share Growth Forecasts
Future Return on Equity
Future ROE: CRI's Return on Equity is forecast to be low in 3 years time (11.8%).
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Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/05/07 04:44 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/05/07 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/04/04 |
| Annual Earnings | 2026/01/03 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
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| Ownership | 10 years |
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| Management | 10 years |
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| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
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Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
Carter's, Inc. is covered by 25 analysts. 6 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Paul Kearney | Barclays |
| Brian McNamara | Berenberg |
| Lorraine Corrine Hutchinson | BofA Global Research |