Carter’s(US:CRI) ZACKS·2025-07-22 16:46Core Insights - Carter's, Inc. (CRI) is expected to report second-quarter 2025 results on July 25, with projected revenue growth but a decline in earnings year-over-year [1][11] Revenue Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is $580 million, reflecting a 2.8% increase from the previous year [2] - Strong demand in the baby and toddler categories, along with positive trends in international markets, particularly Canada and Mexico, are expected to contribute to revenue growth [5][4] Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for quarterly earnings is 43 cents per share, indicating a significant decrease of 43.4% from the same quarter last year [2][11] - The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 39.9%, with the last quarter's earnings beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.5% [3] Factors Influencing Performance - Improved online engagement, competitive promotions, and favorable timing of the Easter holiday have positively impacted comparable sales [5][4] - U.S. wholesale sales are projected to increase by 7.2% year-over-year in the second quarter [7] Margin and Profitability Challenges - The company's pricing strategy, which included approximately $12 million in price reductions in the first quarter and plans for an additional $20 million, has pressured gross margins despite supporting sales growth [8][10] - Higher operating costs, including fixed cost deleverages and ongoing investments in digital infrastructure, are expected to constrain profitability, with adjusted operating income predicted to decline by 40.2% year-over-year to $23.6 million [10][11] Valuation Perspective - Carter's is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 9.39X, which is below both its five-year high of 21.14X and the industry average of 29.33X, indicating an attractive investment opportunity [14] Market Performance - CRI shares have decreased by 15.7% over the past three months, contrasting with a 24% growth in the industry [15]