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Edge16 Oct 2026
Winner, Winner: The Chicken McNugget Story
How a 1940s breeding contest, a Cornell food scientist, and a hedge by Ray Dalio helped McDonald's turn the Chicken McNugget into a fast-food icon.
Carter's
Carter's (CRI) investor relations material
Carter's Q3 2026 earnings summary
Complete event summary combining all related documents: earnings call transcript, report, and slide presentation.Q3 2026 earnings summary30 Oct, 2026
Executive summary
Q3 net sales were $752.5M, down 0.7% YoY; adjusted operating income rose 44.6% to $56.9M and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.03.
Nine-month net sales increased 3.9% to $2.05B; reported results included $127.7M of IEEPA tariff recovery.
Higher realized pricing and productivity gains supported profitability despite uneven demand and consumer pressure.
Financial highlights
Q3 gross profit rose 3.8% to $354.8M; gross margin expanded 200 bps to 47.1%, while SG&A fell 4.3% to $304.2M.
Q3 GAAP operating income was $55.8M versus $29.1M; net income was $36.6M versus $11.6M, and diluted EPS was $1.00 versus $0.32.
Q3 adjusted net income was $37.5M versus $26.8M; adjusted diluted EPS was $1.03 versus $0.74, and adjusted EBITDA was $69.5M versus $52.3M.
Nine-month adjusted operating income rose 19.6% to $103.5M; adjusted net income was $61.2M and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.68.
Outlook and guidance
FY2026 net sales guidance is $2.910B–$2.930B; comparable to +1% YoY, or ~2% excluding FY2025’s 53rd week.
FY2026 adjusted operating income is guided to $178M–$187M, adjusted diluted EPS to $3.05–$3.23, operating cash flow to $240M–$250M and capex to ~$50M.
Q4 net sales are forecast at $860M–$880M, adjusted operating income at $74M–$83M and adjusted diluted EPS at $1.37–$1.55; the quarter has 13 weeks versus 14 a year ago.
FY assumptions include slightly lower adjusted gross margin, comparable adjusted SG&A, ~$32M net interest expense and ~23% tax rate; Q4 adjusted gross margin is expected to increase YoY.
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Latest events from Carter's
- Record growth and IPO-funded debt reduction, offset by channel-mix pressure on gross margin.CRI
Q4 2003 - FY2004 delivered 16.9% sales growth, more than doubled net income, and broad channel gains.CRIQ4 2004
- Acquisition-driven sales growth lifted revenue 36%, while earnings fell and debt rose.CRIQ4 2005
- FY06 revenue reached $1.343B as operating income grew 36.2%.CRIQ4 2006
- 5.1% sales growth was outweighed by OshKosh impairment, driving a $70.6M FY07 loss.CRIQ4 2007
- Sales grew 5.5% and cash flow surged, but recession and price pressure clouded 2009.CRIQ4 2008
- Sales and earnings rose sharply, but a customer-support restatement exposed major control failures.CRIQ4 2009
- Sales rose 10% as margins improved, but inflation and working-capital needs threaten momentum.CRIQ4 2010
- FY12 growth and margin recovery set against heavy FY13 investment and transition costs.CRIQ4 2012
- Sales and gross margin advanced, while costs, Japan’s exit, and heavy investment weighed on earnings.CRIQ4 2013
Next Carter's earnings date
Q4 202622 Feb, 2027
Carter's
Next Carter's earnings date
Q4 202622 Feb, 2027
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Frequently asked questions
Carter's, Inc. is the largest branded marketer in North America focused on apparel for babies and young children. The company owns several well-known brands, including Carter's, OshKosh B'gosh, Skip Hop, and Little Planet. Carter's sells a range of products such as clothing, accessories, footwear, and home décor for young children, primarily through its retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and various wholesale channels. Additionally, Carter's brands are available at major retailers like Walmart and Target, and online via platforms such as Amazon. Carter's is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and its shares are traded on the NYSE.