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Side-by-side financial comparison of Cars.com Inc. (CARS) and Childrens Place, Inc. (PLCE). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

Childrens Place, Inc. is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($339.5M vs $183.9M, roughly 1.8× Cars.com Inc.). On growth, Cars.com Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (1.9% vs -13.0%). Cars.com Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($36.7M vs $-3.4M). Over the past eight quarters, Cars.com Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (1.0% CAGR vs -13.6%).

Cars.com is an automotive classified website focused on the United States that launched in June 1998 and now is the second largest automotive classified site. It is also known for being the most expensive domain ever sold. It was sold in 2014 for $872 million Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. Cars.com also offers expert car reviews, news and research from its dedicated Editorial team.

The Children’s Place is a retailer of clothing for children. It sells its products primarily under its proprietary brands The Children’s Place, Gymboree, Sugar & Jade, PJ Place and Crazy 8. The company has about 525 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, and also sells via two online outlets and through five franchise partners in 15 countries. Its product line includes tops, skirts, dresses, jackets, shoes, bottoms, sleepwear and backpacks. The Children’s Place is headquartered in Secauc...

CARS vs PLCE — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
PLCE
PLCE
1.8× larger
PLCE
$339.5M
$183.9M
CARS
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
CARS
CARS
+14.9% gap
CARS
1.9%
-13.0%
PLCE
More free cash flow
CARS
CARS
$40.1M more FCF
CARS
$36.7M
$-3.4M
PLCE
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
CARS
CARS
Annualised
CARS
1.0%
-13.6%
PLCE

Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q3 FY2026

Metric
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Revenue
$183.9M
$339.5M
Net Profit
$-4.3M
Gross Margin
33.1%
Operating Margin
11.8%
1.1%
Net Margin
-1.3%
Revenue YoY
1.9%
-13.0%
Net Profit YoY
-121.5%
EPS (diluted)
$0.12
$-0.19

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$183.9M
$339.5M
Q3 25
$181.6M
$298.0M
Q2 25
$178.7M
$242.1M
Q1 25
$179.0M
$408.6M
Q4 24
$180.4M
$390.2M
Q3 24
$179.7M
$319.7M
Q2 24
$178.9M
$267.9M
Q1 24
$180.2M
$455.0M
Net Profit
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$-4.3M
Q3 25
$7.7M
$-5.4M
Q2 25
$7.0M
$-34.0M
Q1 25
$-2.0M
$-8.0M
Q4 24
$20.1M
Q3 24
$18.7M
$-32.1M
Q2 24
$11.4M
$-37.8M
Q1 24
$784.0K
$-128.8M
Gross Margin
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
33.1%
Q3 25
34.0%
Q2 25
29.2%
Q1 25
28.5%
Q4 24
35.5%
Q3 24
35.0%
Q2 24
34.6%
Q1 24
21.8%
Operating Margin
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
11.8%
1.1%
Q3 25
9.3%
1.4%
Q2 25
8.5%
-10.0%
Q1 25
3.6%
1.7%
Q4 24
11.0%
7.5%
Q3 24
6.4%
-6.8%
Q2 24
5.3%
-10.4%
Q1 24
7.1%
-13.6%
Net Margin
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
-1.3%
Q3 25
4.2%
-1.8%
Q2 25
3.9%
-14.1%
Q1 25
-1.1%
-2.0%
Q4 24
5.1%
Q3 24
10.4%
-10.0%
Q2 24
6.4%
-14.1%
Q1 24
0.4%
-28.3%
EPS (diluted)
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$0.12
$-0.19
Q3 25
$0.12
$-0.24
Q2 25
$0.11
$-1.57
Q1 25
$-0.03
$-0.60
Q4 24
$0.26
$1.57
Q3 24
$0.28
$-2.51
Q2 24
$0.17
$-2.98
Q1 24
$0.01
$-10.24

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$56.2M
$7.3M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$455.0M
$107.4M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$472.5M
$-8.6M
Total Assets
$1.1B
$762.5M
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.96×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$56.2M
$7.3M
Q3 25
$55.1M
$7.8M
Q2 25
$27.7M
$5.7M
Q1 25
$31.4M
$5.3M
Q4 24
$50.7M
$5.7M
Q3 24
$49.6M
$9.6M
Q2 24
$29.1M
$13.0M
Q1 24
$31.4M
$13.6M
Total Debt
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$455.0M
$107.4M
Q3 25
$107.2M
Q2 25
$107.0M
Q1 25
$166.0M
Q4 24
$460.0M
$165.7M
Q3 24
$165.4M
Q2 24
$166.6M
Q1 24
$49.8M
Stockholders' Equity
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$472.5M
$-8.6M
Q3 25
$477.6M
$-4.9M
Q2 25
$483.2M
$1.4M
Q1 25
$489.9M
$-59.4M
Q4 24
$511.5M
$-49.6M
Q3 24
$502.4M
$-68.9M
Q2 24
$496.9M
$-34.9M
Q1 24
$481.4M
$-9.0M
Total Assets
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$1.1B
$762.5M
Q3 25
$1.1B
$805.1M
Q2 25
$1.1B
$779.6M
Q1 25
$1.1B
$747.6M
Q4 24
$1.1B
$888.8M
Q3 24
$1.1B
$921.4M
Q2 24
$1.1B
$848.3M
Q1 24
$1.1B
$800.3M
Debt / Equity
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
0.96×
Q3 25
Q2 25
75.63×
Q1 25
Q4 24
0.90×
Q3 24
Q2 24
Q1 24

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$37.1M
$6.2M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$36.7M
$-3.4M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
20.0%
-1.0%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
0.2%
2.8%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$147.4M
$39.5M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$37.1M
$6.2M
Q3 25
$58.8M
$-30.5M
Q2 25
$26.2M
$-43.0M
Q1 25
$29.5M
$121.3M
Q4 24
$30.0M
$-44.2M
Q3 24
$53.8M
$-83.9M
Q2 24
$35.3M
$-110.8M
Q1 24
$33.5M
$135.4M
Free Cash Flow
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
$36.7M
$-3.4M
Q3 25
$58.3M
$-31.9M
Q2 25
$23.7M
$-46.4M
Q1 25
$28.6M
$121.2M
Q4 24
$29.1M
$-47.7M
Q3 24
$52.8M
$-91.7M
Q2 24
$34.9M
$-115.5M
Q1 24
$32.8M
$132.2M
FCF Margin
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
20.0%
-1.0%
Q3 25
32.1%
-10.7%
Q2 25
13.3%
-19.2%
Q1 25
16.0%
29.7%
Q4 24
16.1%
-12.2%
Q3 24
29.4%
-28.7%
Q2 24
19.5%
-43.1%
Q1 24
18.2%
29.1%
Capex Intensity
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
0.2%
2.8%
Q3 25
0.3%
0.5%
Q2 25
1.4%
1.4%
Q1 25
0.5%
0.0%
Q4 24
0.5%
0.9%
Q3 24
0.5%
2.4%
Q2 24
0.2%
1.8%
Q1 24
0.4%
0.7%
Cash Conversion
CARS
CARS
PLCE
PLCE
Q4 25
Q3 25
7.68×
Q2 25
3.74×
Q1 25
Q4 24
-2.20×
Q3 24
2.87×
Q2 24
3.10×
Q1 24
42.69×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

CARS
CARS

Dealer$164.4M89%
Sales Channel Through Oem And National$16.2M9%
Sales Channel Through Other$3.3M2%

PLCE
PLCE

The Childrens Place US$307.4M91%
The Childrens Place International$32.1M9%
Gift Cards$1.7M1%

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