Carter's Inc. (CRI) vs Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY)
A side-by-side comparison of Carter's Inc. and Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of October 2, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
CRI
Carter's Inc.
$31.59Consumer CyclicalDelayed quote: Oct 2, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
PLAY
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
$6.75Consumer CyclicalDelayed quote: Oct 2, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — CRI vs PLAY
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yCRI -52.5% (-7.2%/yr)PLAY -82.7% (-16.1%/yr)CRI compounded faster over this window
CRI PLAY
CRI vs PLAY: by the numbers
- •CRI is the larger company ($1.16B vs $235M market cap).
- •CRI is profitable (6.55% net margin) while PLAY runs a net loss (-4.26%).
- •PLAY grew revenue faster over the past five years (19.06% vs -2.54% CAGR).
- •CRI pays a dividend (3.15% yield), while PLAY is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | CRI | PLAY |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 5.75 | N/A |
| Forward P/E | 9.66 | N/A |
| P/S ratio | 0.39 | 0.11 |
| P/B ratio | 1.13 | 2.67 |
| EV / EBITDA | 5.13 | 10.70 |
| FCF yield | 25.17% | N/A |
Profitability
| Metric | CRI | PLAY |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 48.60% | 85.72% |
| Operating margin | 9.24% | 2.88% |
| Net margin | 6.55% | -4.26% |
| ROE | 18.99% | -100.80% |
| ROIC | 10.17% | 1.62% |
Dividends
| Metric | CRI | PLAY |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 3.15% | N/A |
| Payout ratio | 18.21% | N/A |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | CRI | PLAY |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | -2.54% | 19.06% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -24.12% | N/A |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -26.11% | N/A |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -17.18% | -31.17% |
Frequently asked
- Which has grown faster, CRI or PLAY?
- Over the past five years, PLAY grew revenue faster — CRI at a -2.54% CAGR versus PLAY at 19.06%.
- Does CRI or PLAY pay a bigger dividend?
- CRI pays a dividend (3.15% yield), while PLAY is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
- Is CRI or PLAY more profitable?
- CRI runs the higher net margin — CRI at 6.55% versus PLAY at -4.26%.
- How have CRI and PLAY total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, CRI delivered -7.06% and PLAY delivered -16.36% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Carter's P/E ratioCarter's dividend yieldCarter's ROEDave & Buster's Entertainment ROECarter's operating marginDave & Buster's Entertainment operating marginCarter's revenue growthDave & Buster's Entertainment revenue growthCarter's free cash flowDave & Buster's Entertainment free cash flow
Carter's & Dave & Buster's Entertainment appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified October 2, 2026.