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Side-by-side financial comparison of CARTERS INC (CRI) and MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC. (MERC). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

CARTERS INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($757.8M vs $449.5M, roughly 1.7× MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.). CARTERS INC runs the higher net margin — 1.5% vs -68.7%, a 70.2% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, CARTERS INC posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (-0.1% vs -8.0%). MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($32.0M vs $-144.1M).

Carter's, Inc. is a major American designer and marketer of children's apparel. It was founded in 1865 by William Carter.

Mercer is an American consulting firm founded in 1945. It is one of the four operating subsidiaries of global professional services firm Marsh McLennan. Mercer is headquartered in New York City with offices in 43 countries and operations in 130 countries. The company primarily provides human resources and financial services consulting services to its clients.

CRI vs MERC — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
CRI
CRI
1.7× larger
CRI
$757.8M
$449.5M
MERC
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
CRI
CRI
+7.9% gap
CRI
-0.1%
-8.0%
MERC
Higher net margin
CRI
CRI
70.2% more per $
CRI
1.5%
-68.7%
MERC
More free cash flow
MERC
MERC
$176.1M more FCF
MERC
$32.0M
$-144.1M
CRI

Income Statement — Q3 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Revenue
$757.8M
$449.5M
Net Profit
$11.6M
$-308.7M
Gross Margin
45.1%
Operating Margin
3.8%
-62.0%
Net Margin
1.5%
-68.7%
Revenue YoY
-0.1%
-8.0%
Net Profit YoY
-80.1%
-1947.7%
EPS (diluted)
$0.32
$-4.61

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
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$449.5M
Q3 25
$757.8M
$458.1M
Q2 25
$585.3M
$453.5M
Q1 25
$629.8M
$507.0M
Q4 24
$488.4M
Q3 24
$502.1M
Q2 24
$499.4M
Q1 24
$553.4M
Net Profit
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$-308.7M
Q3 25
$11.6M
$-80.8M
Q2 25
$446.0K
$-86.1M
Q1 25
$15.5M
$-22.3M
Q4 24
$16.7M
Q3 24
$-17.6M
Q2 24
$-67.6M
Q1 24
$-16.7M
Gross Margin
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
Q3 25
45.1%
Q2 25
48.1%
Q1 25
46.2%
Q4 24
Q3 24
Q2 24
Q1 24
Operating Margin
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
-62.0%
Q3 25
3.8%
-14.8%
Q2 25
0.7%
-12.9%
Q1 25
4.1%
1.3%
Q4 24
10.3%
Q3 24
1.8%
Q2 24
-8.8%
Q1 24
-0.1%
Net Margin
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
-68.7%
Q3 25
1.5%
-17.6%
Q2 25
0.1%
-19.0%
Q1 25
2.5%
-4.4%
Q4 24
3.4%
Q3 24
-3.5%
Q2 24
-13.5%
Q1 24
-3.0%
EPS (diluted)
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$-4.61
Q3 25
$0.32
$-1.21
Q2 25
$0.01
$-1.29
Q1 25
$0.43
$-0.33
Q4 24
$0.25
Q3 24
$-0.26
Q2 24
$-1.01
Q1 24
$-0.25

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

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

Metric
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$184.2M
$186.8M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$1.6B
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$864.6M
$68.1M
Total Assets
$2.5B
$2.0B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
23.58×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$186.8M
Q3 25
$184.2M
$98.1M
Q2 25
$338.2M
$146.5M
Q1 25
$320.8M
$181.5M
Q4 24
$184.9M
Q3 24
$239.0M
Q2 24
$263.2M
Q1 24
$274.3M
Total Debt
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$1.6B
Q3 25
$1.5B
Q2 25
$1.5B
Q1 25
$1.5B
Q4 24
$1.5B
Q3 24
$1.6B
Q2 24
$1.6B
Q1 24
$1.6B
Stockholders' Equity
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$68.1M
Q3 25
$864.6M
$359.5M
Q2 25
$853.9M
$446.5M
Q1 25
$847.2M
$437.4M
Q4 24
$429.8M
Q3 24
$516.8M
Q2 24
$487.7M
Q1 24
$573.6M
Total Assets
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$2.0B
Q3 25
$2.5B
$2.3B
Q2 25
$2.5B
$2.4B
Q1 25
$2.3B
$2.3B
Q4 24
$2.3B
Q3 24
$2.5B
Q2 24
$2.5B
Q1 24
$2.6B
Debt / Equity
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
23.58×
Q3 25
4.30×
Q2 25
3.42×
Q1 25
3.44×
Q4 24
3.43×
Q3 24
3.09×
Q2 24
3.22×
Q1 24
2.82×

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

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

Metric
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$-128.0M
$46.2M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$-144.1M
$32.0M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
-19.0%
7.1%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
2.1%
3.1%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
-11.04×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$-80.0M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$46.2M
Q3 25
$-128.0M
$-30.1M
Q2 25
$40.3M
$-4.5M
Q1 25
$-48.6M
$-3.0M
Q4 24
$71.2M
Q3 24
$-13.9M
Q2 24
$62.2M
Q1 24
$-29.2M
Free Cash Flow
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
$32.0M
Q3 25
$-144.1M
$-60.1M
Q2 25
$24.1M
$-28.9M
Q1 25
$-59.0M
$-23.1M
Q4 24
$50.4M
Q3 24
$-41.2M
Q2 24
$44.3M
Q1 24
$-47.7M
FCF Margin
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
7.1%
Q3 25
-19.0%
-13.1%
Q2 25
4.1%
-6.4%
Q1 25
-9.4%
-4.6%
Q4 24
10.3%
Q3 24
-8.2%
Q2 24
8.9%
Q1 24
-8.6%
Capex Intensity
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
3.1%
Q3 25
2.1%
6.6%
Q2 25
2.8%
5.4%
Q1 25
1.6%
4.0%
Q4 24
4.2%
Q3 24
5.4%
Q2 24
3.6%
Q1 24
3.3%
Cash Conversion
CRI
CRI
MERC
MERC
Q4 25
Q3 25
-11.04×
Q2 25
90.37×
Q1 25
-3.13×
Q4 24
4.26×
Q3 24
Q2 24
Q1 24

Financial Flow Comparison

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

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

CRI
CRI

Sales Channel Directly To Consumer$362.3M48%
Sales Channel Through Intermediary$283.8M37%
Other$110.4M15%
Gift Cards$1.3M0%

MERC
MERC

Other$215.3M48%
Solid Wood$110.2M25%
Lumber$54.9M12%
Pallets$23.7M5%
Energyandchemicals$18.7M4%
Manufactured Products$14.1M3%
Biofuels$10.0M2%
Wood Residuals$2.6M1%

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