Carter’s Shares Plunge as Tariff Costs Weigh on Results and Guidance Suspended

Core Insights - Carter's Inc. shares fell over 14% in pre-market trading after reporting third-quarter results that missed revenue expectations and suspended its 2025 guidance due to tariff-related uncertainty [1] - The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.74, slightly above analyst expectations of $0.72, but revenue of $758 million fell short of the consensus forecast of $771.17 million and remained flat compared to the prior-year quarter [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted operating income decreased by 48.9% to $39.4 million, with operating margin dropping to 5.2% from 10.2% a year earlier [2] - Management attributed the decline in profitability to higher tariff costs, investments in product quality, and expenditures on new store openings [2] Cost-Saving Initiatives - The company announced cost-saving measures aimed at improving efficiency, including the reduction of approximately 300 office-based positions, representing 15% of its corporate workforce, by the end of 2025 [3] - Carter's plans to close around 150 North American stores over the next three years, with these actions expected to generate $35 million in annual savings starting in 2026 [3]