CRI — Carter's Inc.
NYSE
Q2 2026 Earnings Call Summary
July 31, 2026
Summary of CRI Q2 2026 Earnings Call
1. Key Financial Results and Metrics
- Total Revenues: $37.1 million, up 23% year-over-year from $30.1 million in Q2 2025.
- Recurring Revenue: $34 million, a 19% increase year-over-year, constituting approximately 91% of total revenue.
- Gross Profit: $25.1 million, with a GAAP gross margin of 68% (up from 66% in Q2 2025) and a non-GAAP gross margin of 73%.
- Net Loss: $4.4 million, improved from a net loss of $6.1 million in Q2 2025.
- Adjusted EBITDA: $7.7 million, a 48% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA margins at 21%.
- Cash and Cash Equivalents: $19.7 million, with total debt at $68.9 million.
2. Strategic Updates and Business Highlights
- Organic Growth: Achieved a 5% organic growth rate, an improvement from 1% in Q2 2025, although down from 7% in Q1 2026 due to seasonality.
- AsureWorks: Positive reception and growth in the administrative services outsourcing offering, targeting small to mid-sized businesses.
- Sales Force Expansion: Aiming for 150 sales reps by the end of 2026, focusing on consultative sales skills rather than transactional selling.
- AI Integration: Significant advancements with Luna, the AI agent, leading to increased platform adoption and operational efficiencies.
- Client Base: Majority of 30,000 direct clients now on AsureCentral, with a 6% increase in clients purchasing multiple products.
3. Forward Guidance and Outlook
- 2026 Revenue Guidance: Updated to $159 million-$163 million, with adjusted EBITDA margins expected to be 24%-25%.
- Q3 Revenue Guidance: Anticipated between $38 million-$40 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $8 million-$10 million.
- Long-term Vision: Targeting $180 million-$200 million in revenues with adjusted EBITDA margins of 30% or better by 2027.
4. Bad News, Challenges, or Points of Concern
- Seasonality Impact: Organic growth rate decreased sequentially from 7% to 5% due to seasonal factors.
- Non-recurring Revenue Decline: Anticipated drop in non-recurring revenue from $10 million in the back half of 2025 to $5 million-$6 million in 2026, which may impact overall revenue growth.
- Competitive Pressures: Increased competition in managed service offerings, necessitating differentiation strategies.
5. Notable Q&A Insights
- AI's Role: Management discussed AI's potential in driving revenue through improved customer insights and operational efficiencies, though they acknowledged that the journey is still in early stages.
- Sales Productivity: Management expressed confidence in achieving double-digit organic growth, with expectations for sales productivity to improve significantly in the coming year.
- M&A Activity: No imminent acquisitions included in guidance, but management remains active in evaluating opportunities for the second half of 2026.
- Cross-sell Opportunities: Positive trends in cross-selling multiple products, with a focus on increasing the average number of products per client.
Overall, Asure's Q2 2026 results reflect strong revenue growth and improved profitability, driven by strategic initiatives in AI and sales force expansion, despite facing challenges related to seasonality and competitive pressures.
