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

CARTERS INC is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($757.8M vs $510.9M, roughly 1.5× MSA Safety Inc). MSA Safety Inc runs the higher net margin — 17.0% vs 1.5%, a 15.5% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, MSA Safety Inc posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (2.2% vs -0.1%). MSA Safety Inc produced more free cash flow last quarter ($106.0M 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.

Mine Safety Appliances, or MSA Safety Incorporated, is an American manufacturer and supplier of safety equipment designed for use in a variety of hazardous conditions in industries such as construction, the military, fire service, and chemical, oil, and gas production. MSA is based in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cranberry.

CRI vs MSA — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
CRI
CRI
1.5× larger
CRI
$757.8M
$510.9M
MSA
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
MSA
MSA
+2.3% gap
MSA
2.2%
-0.1%
CRI
Higher net margin
MSA
MSA
15.5% more per $
MSA
17.0%
1.5%
CRI
More free cash flow
MSA
MSA
$250.1M more FCF
MSA
$106.0M
$-144.1M
CRI

Income Statement — Q3 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Revenue
$757.8M
$510.9M
Net Profit
$11.6M
$86.9M
Gross Margin
45.1%
46.9%
Operating Margin
3.8%
22.3%
Net Margin
1.5%
17.0%
Revenue YoY
-0.1%
2.2%
Net Profit YoY
-80.1%
-1.2%
EPS (diluted)
$0.32
$2.22

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
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$510.9M
Q3 25
$757.8M
$468.4M
Q2 25
$585.3M
$474.1M
Q1 25
$629.8M
$421.3M
Q4 24
$499.7M
Q3 24
$432.7M
Q2 24
$462.5M
Q1 24
$413.3M
Net Profit
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$86.9M
Q3 25
$11.6M
$69.6M
Q2 25
$446.0K
$62.8M
Q1 25
$15.5M
$59.6M
Q4 24
$87.9M
Q3 24
$66.6M
Q2 24
$72.2M
Q1 24
$58.1M
Gross Margin
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
46.9%
Q3 25
45.1%
46.5%
Q2 25
48.1%
46.6%
Q1 25
46.2%
45.9%
Q4 24
46.9%
Q3 24
47.9%
Q2 24
48.2%
Q1 24
47.3%
Operating Margin
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
22.3%
Q3 25
3.8%
20.1%
Q2 25
0.7%
18.1%
Q1 25
4.1%
18.5%
Q4 24
23.5%
Q3 24
21.1%
Q2 24
21.6%
Q1 24
19.4%
Net Margin
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
17.0%
Q3 25
1.5%
14.9%
Q2 25
0.1%
13.2%
Q1 25
2.5%
14.1%
Q4 24
17.6%
Q3 24
15.4%
Q2 24
15.6%
Q1 24
14.1%
EPS (diluted)
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$2.22
Q3 25
$0.32
$1.77
Q2 25
$0.01
$1.59
Q1 25
$0.43
$1.51
Q4 24
$2.22
Q3 24
$1.69
Q2 24
$1.83
Q1 24
$1.47

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

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

Metric
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$184.2M
$165.1M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$580.9M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$864.6M
$1.4B
Total Assets
$2.5B
$2.6B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage
0.42×

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$165.1M
Q3 25
$184.2M
$170.0M
Q2 25
$338.2M
$147.0M
Q1 25
$320.8M
$170.6M
Q4 24
$164.6M
Q3 24
$154.4M
Q2 24
$146.8M
Q1 24
$148.3M
Total Debt
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$580.9M
Q3 25
$628.6M
Q2 25
$679.3M
Q1 25
$502.1M
Q4 24
$508.0M
Q3 24
$554.7M
Q2 24
$588.2M
Q1 24
$596.2M
Stockholders' Equity
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$1.4B
Q3 25
$864.6M
$1.3B
Q2 25
$853.9M
$1.3B
Q1 25
$847.2M
$1.2B
Q4 24
$1.1B
Q3 24
$1.1B
Q2 24
$1.0B
Q1 24
$994.8M
Total Assets
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$2.6B
Q3 25
$2.5B
$2.6B
Q2 25
$2.5B
$2.6B
Q1 25
$2.3B
$2.2B
Q4 24
$2.2B
Q3 24
$2.2B
Q2 24
$2.2B
Q1 24
$2.2B
Debt / Equity
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
0.42×
Q3 25
0.48×
Q2 25
0.54×
Q1 25
0.42×
Q4 24
0.44×
Q3 24
0.51×
Q2 24
0.57×
Q1 24
0.60×

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
MSA
MSA
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$-128.0M
$122.4M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$-144.1M
$106.0M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
-19.0%
20.8%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
2.1%
3.2%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
-11.04×
1.41×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$295.4M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$122.4M
Q3 25
$-128.0M
$112.5M
Q2 25
$40.3M
$67.2M
Q1 25
$-48.6M
$61.8M
Q4 24
$107.9M
Q3 24
$84.3M
Q2 24
$53.3M
Q1 24
$50.9M
Free Cash Flow
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
$106.0M
Q3 25
$-144.1M
$100.5M
Q2 25
$24.1M
$37.9M
Q1 25
$-59.0M
$51.0M
Q4 24
$93.5M
Q3 24
$70.1M
Q2 24
$39.0M
Q1 24
$39.7M
FCF Margin
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
20.8%
Q3 25
-19.0%
21.4%
Q2 25
4.1%
8.0%
Q1 25
-9.4%
12.1%
Q4 24
18.7%
Q3 24
16.2%
Q2 24
8.4%
Q1 24
9.6%
Capex Intensity
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
3.2%
Q3 25
2.1%
2.6%
Q2 25
2.8%
6.2%
Q1 25
1.6%
2.6%
Q4 24
2.9%
Q3 24
3.3%
Q2 24
3.1%
Q1 24
2.7%
Cash Conversion
CRI
CRI
MSA
MSA
Q4 25
1.41×
Q3 25
-11.04×
1.62×
Q2 25
90.37×
1.07×
Q1 25
-3.13×
1.04×
Q4 24
1.23×
Q3 24
1.27×
Q2 24
0.74×
Q1 24
0.88×

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%

MSA
MSA

Americas Segment$335.2M66%
International Segment$175.7M34%

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