Carter's [CRI] vs Ross Stores [ROST] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Carter's Inc. wins in 8 metrics, Ross Stores Inc. wins in 13 metrics, with 0 ties. Ross Stores Inc. appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Carter's Inc. | Ross Stores Inc. | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.05 | 34.38 | Carter's Inc. |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 1.50 | 11.82 | Carter's Inc. |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 131.03 | 84.24 | Ross Stores Inc. |
| PEG Ratio | 5.15 | 2.81 | Ross Stores Inc. |
| EV/EBITDA | 10.48 | 22.93 | Carter's Inc. |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 3.17% | 9.43% | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 8.61% | 12.27% | Ross Stores Inc. |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 8.61% | 12.27% | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Return on Equity | 10.32% | 36.68% | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.60% | 11.11% | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $68.63M | $2.21B | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 0.99% | Carter's Inc. |
| 1-Year Return | 37.41% | 82.12% | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.48 | 3.23 | Carter's Inc. |
| Enterprise Value | $2.09B | $73.77B | Ross Stores Inc. |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 0.72 | 3.24 | Carter's Inc. |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 43.24% | 27.19% | Carter's Inc. |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $82 | $71 | Carter's Inc. |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $2.53 | $6.60 | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 0.98 | 0.93 | Ross Stores Inc. |
| Short % of Float | 10.73% | 3.02% | Ross Stores Inc. |
Carter's Inc. vs Ross Stores Inc. Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter's Inc. | -2.31% | 6.74% | 24.93% | 19.19% | 29.69% | 25.90% |
| Ross Stores Inc. | -1.40% | 4.11% | 11.29% | 13.85% | 28.48% | 29.57% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter's Inc. | 37.41% | -38.67% | -58.29% | -58.80% | 42.40% | 66.82% |
| Ross Stores Inc. | 82.12% | 122.67% | 108.34% | 342.64% | 1,177.29% | 3,420.97% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Carter's Inc. vs Ross Stores Inc.
| Metric | CRI | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $1.40B | $73.22B |
| Market Cap Category | Small cap | Large cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 1,151,700 | 2,012,952 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 1,089,523 | 2,398,141 |
| Last Close | $41.80 | $236.77 |
| 52 Week Range | $23.38 - $44.44 | $124.49 - $242.81 |
| % from 52W High | -5.94% | -2.49% |
| All-Time High | $129.00 (Jan 22, 2018) | $242.81 (Jun 12, 2026) |
| % from All-Time High | -67.60% | -2.49% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | 0.08% | 0.12% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | 0.04% | 0.10% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.03% | 0.09% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.09% | 0.12% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.10% | 0.37% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 131.03 | 84.24 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $25.40 | $19.20 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $13.98 | $14.25 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $122.33M | $3.03B |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $51.15M | $1.64B |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 0.99% |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.00 | $2.09 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Carter's Inc. vs Ross Stores Inc.
| Metric | CRI (Apr 24, 2026) | ROST (Apr 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.05 | 34.38 |
| Forward P/E | 10.64 | 28.06 |
| PEG Ratio | 5.15 | 2.81 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 0.48 | 3.23 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 1.50 | 11.82 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $1.40B | $73.22B |
| Enterprise Value | $2.09B | $73.77B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 0.72 | 3.24 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 10.48 | 22.93 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 0.98 | 0.93 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $25.40 | $19.20 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Carter's Inc. vs Ross Stores Inc.
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
Operating Margin
Profit Margin
Long Term Debt
Income Flow Analysis
Financial Statements Comparison
Income Statement
| Metric | CRI (2025) | ROST (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 2.90B | 22.75B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 1.58B | 16.45B |
| COGS % of Revenue | 54.6% | 72.3% |
| Gross Profit | 1.31B | 6.30B |
| Gross Margin | 45.4% | 27.7% |
| Research & Development | N/A | N/A |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 143.93M | 2.71B |
| Operating Margin | 5.0% | 11.9% |
| EBITDA | 204.98M | 3.39B |
| EBITDA Margin | 7.1% | 14.9% |
| Pre-Tax Income | 113.83M | 2.84B |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | 3.9% | 12.5% |
| Income Tax | 22.04M | 697.11M |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 0.8% | 3.1% |
| Net Income (Profit) | 91.80M | 2.15B |
| Profit Margin | 3.2% | 9.4% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | CRI (2025) | ROST (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 487.08M | 4.59B |
| Total Current Assets | 1.27B | 7.64B |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 43.8% | 33.6% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 506.00M | 4.83B |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 17.5% | 21.2% |
| Long-Term Debt | 1.08B | 3.98B |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 37.1% | 17.5% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 925.05M | 6.19B |
| Retained Earnings | 929.46M | 4.73B |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 32.1% | 20.8% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 984.45M | 3.52B |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | CRI (2025) | ROST (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | 119.68M | 3.01B |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | 4.1% | 13.2% |
| Capital Expenditures | N/A | -819.28M |
| Free Cash Flow | 68.63M | 2.21B |
| FCF Margin | 2.4% | 9.7% |
| Debt Repayment | -500.00M | -700.00M |
| Common Stock Repurchase | 0 | -1.13B |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | CRI | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 3.26M | 8.36M |
| Short Ratio | 2.65 | 2.88 |
| Short % of Float | 10.73% | 3.02% |
| Shares Outstanding | 36.43M | 322.33M |
| Float Shares | 34.68M | 314.62M |
| % Held by Insiders | 4.49% | 2.14% |
| % Held by Institutions | 111.01% | 94.42% |
| % Held by Public | -15.50% | 3.44% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Carter's Inc. vs Ross Stores Inc.
| Metric | CRI | ROST |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.00 | $2.09 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 0.99% |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $2.42 | $1.64 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 1.11% | 0.27% |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $7.25 | $4.93 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Mar 13, 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 |