vs
Side-by-side financial comparison of Karat Packaging Inc. (KRT) and LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($130.1M vs $115.6M, roughly 1.1× Karat Packaging Inc.). Karat Packaging Inc. runs the higher net margin — 5.9% vs -4.3%, a 10.2% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Karat Packaging Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (13.7% vs -10.0%). Karat Packaging Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($15.1M vs $3.7M). Over the past eight quarters, Karat Packaging Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (10.0% CAGR vs -5.8%).
Karat Packaging Inc. is a specialty manufacturer and distributor of disposable foodservice packaging products. Its offerings include paper and plastic cups, food containers, cutlery, lids, and custom branded solutions, serving restaurant chains, cafes, catering operators, and retail foodservice clients primarily across North America.
Lee Enterprises, Inc. is a publicly traded American media company. It publishes 72 daily newspapers in 25 states, and more than 350 weekly, classified, and specialty publications. Lee Enterprises was founded in 1890 by Alfred Wilson Lee and is based in Davenport, Iowa.
KRT vs LEE — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q4 FY2025 vs Q1 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $115.6M | $130.1M |
| Net Profit | $6.8M | $-5.6M |
| Gross Margin | 34.0% | — |
| Operating Margin | 7.3% | 4.0% |
| Net Margin | 5.9% | -4.3% |
| Revenue YoY | 13.7% | -10.0% |
| Net Profit YoY | 21.3% | 66.5% |
| EPS (diluted) | $0.34 | $-0.92 |
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.
| Q4 25 | $115.6M | $130.1M | ||
| Q3 25 | $124.5M | $139.1M | ||
| Q2 25 | $124.0M | $141.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $103.6M | $137.4M | ||
| Q4 24 | $101.6M | $144.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $112.8M | $158.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $112.6M | $150.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | $95.6M | $146.6M |
| Q4 25 | $6.8M | $-5.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $7.3M | $-6.4M | ||
| Q2 25 | $10.9M | $-1.9M | ||
| Q1 25 | $6.4M | $-12.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $5.6M | $-16.7M | ||
| Q3 24 | $9.1M | $-10.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $9.1M | $-4.3M | ||
| Q1 24 | $6.2M | $-12.2M |
| Q4 25 | 34.0% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 34.5% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 39.6% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 39.3% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 39.2% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 38.6% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 38.5% | — | ||
| Q1 24 | 39.3% | — |
| Q4 25 | 7.3% | 4.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.9% | -1.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 13.3% | 3.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 7.5% | -3.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 7.2% | -2.3% | ||
| Q3 24 | 10.0% | -2.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | 9.9% | 3.3% | ||
| Q1 24 | 8.4% | -3.1% |
| Q4 25 | 5.9% | -4.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 5.9% | -4.6% | ||
| Q2 25 | 8.8% | -1.4% | ||
| Q1 25 | 6.2% | -9.1% | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.5% | -11.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 8.1% | -6.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 8.1% | -2.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | 6.4% | -8.3% |
| Q4 25 | $0.34 | $-0.92 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.36 | $-1.02 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.54 | $-0.31 | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.32 | $-2.07 | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.28 | $-2.80 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.45 | $-1.68 | ||
| Q2 24 | $0.45 | $-0.73 | ||
| Q1 24 | $0.31 | $-2.06 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $37.9M | $12.6M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | — |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $149.4M | $-48.7M |
| Total Assets | $287.7M | $592.6M |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $37.9M | $12.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $44.0M | $10.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $57.0M | $14.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $56.3M | $4.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $59.9M | $6.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $60.4M | $9.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $52.1M | $13.4M | ||
| Q1 24 | $46.7M | $16.1M |
| Q4 25 | $149.4M | $-48.7M | ||
| Q3 25 | $154.5M | $-43.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $155.8M | $-40.5M | ||
| Q1 25 | $153.3M | $-38.9M | ||
| Q4 24 | $155.6M | $-26.7M | ||
| Q3 24 | $157.3M | $-9.9M | ||
| Q2 24 | $157.7M | $4.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $154.4M | $7.9M |
| Q4 25 | $287.7M | $592.6M | ||
| Q3 25 | $302.8M | $601.7M | ||
| Q2 25 | $321.0M | $622.7M | ||
| Q1 25 | $312.2M | $623.9M | ||
| Q4 24 | $294.5M | $633.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $306.8M | $649.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $310.7M | $677.5M | ||
| Q1 24 | $279.0M | $684.8M |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $15.4M | $4.5M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $15.1M | $3.7M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 13.1% | 2.9% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 2.26× | — |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $33.1M | $1.5M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $15.4M | $4.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $982.0K | $-6.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $9.8M | $8.9M | ||
| Q1 25 | $7.7M | $-790.0K | ||
| Q4 24 | $8.3M | $-7.3M | ||
| Q3 24 | $19.5M | $-261.0K | ||
| Q2 24 | $13.7M | $-1.9M | ||
| Q1 24 | $6.6M | $3.2M |
| Q4 25 | $15.1M | $3.7M | ||
| Q3 25 | $736.0K | $-8.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $9.6M | $8.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $7.6M | $-2.2M | ||
| Q4 24 | $8.0M | $-8.9M | ||
| Q3 24 | $19.2M | $-2.9M | ||
| Q2 24 | $13.4M | $-5.5M | ||
| Q1 24 | $6.4M | $1.3M |
| Q4 25 | 13.1% | 2.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.6% | -6.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 7.7% | 5.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | 7.4% | -1.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | 7.9% | -6.1% | ||
| Q3 24 | 17.0% | -1.8% | ||
| Q2 24 | 11.9% | -3.6% | ||
| Q1 24 | 6.7% | 0.9% |
| Q4 25 | 0.2% | 0.6% | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.2% | 1.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.1% | 0.4% | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.1% | 1.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.2% | 1.1% | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.3% | 1.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.2% | 2.4% | ||
| Q1 24 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Q4 25 | 2.26× | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.13× | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.89× | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.21× | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.47× | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.14× | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.50× | — | ||
| Q1 24 | 1.06× | — |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
KRT
Segment breakdown not available.
LEE
| Advertising And Marketing Services | $60.0M | 46% |
| Subscription And Circulation | $57.7M | 44% |
| Other | $12.4M | 10% |
