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Companies Carters Inc

Carters (CRI): executive pay, fiscal 2025

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CEO total pay$7,496,679CEO Douglas Palladini · source
Say-on-pay support95.42%Latest vote · source
CEO vs. named peers31st pct.Of 15 peer CEOs
CEO pay ratio542:1To the median employee · source

CEO pay, last three years

  • $7,496,679FY2025

CEO total pay was $7,496,679 in fiscal 2025; the brief holds no earlier figure for this CEO.

FY2025: salary $882,803 · bonus $0 · stock awards $4,955,424 · option awards $0

Executives and directors

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest-paid executive at Carters Inc in fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, Douglas Palladini (Chief Executive Officer & President, Director) was the highest-paid executive at Carters Inc in fiscal 2025, with total compensation of $7,496,679.
How does Carters Inc's chief executive pay compare to its disclosed peer group?
As disclosed, Douglas Palladini's total compensation ranked at the 31st percentile of Carters Inc's disclosed peer group.
What is Carters Inc's CEO-to-median employee pay ratio?
As disclosed, Carters Inc's CEO-to-median employee pay ratio was 542:1.
How did shareholders vote on Carters Inc's executive compensation?
As disclosed, 95.42% of shareholders supported Carters Inc's executive compensation in the latest say-on-pay vote.

Answers are drawn only from the figures disclosed in this brief and cited to their location in the source filing. Where a figure required for an answer is not disclosed, that is stated rather than estimated.

Full detail

Every table from the filing. Open any section.

Summary compensation table
Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Douglas Palladini$882,803$0$4,955,424$0$1,225,200$0$433,252$7,496,679
Chief Executive Officer & President, Director
Richard Westenberger787,740440,0001,900,1950705,3000131,7033,964,938
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer
Emily Evert260,68502,000,0920443,700043,1652,747,642
Chief Strategy Officer
Kendra Krugman676,635250,0001,000,1060482,9000231,1322,640,773
Former Chief Product Officer
Allison Peterson762,3290650,0350511,900094,6942,018,958
Chief Retail & Digital Officer
Karen Smith604,7810750,0800406,100071,3881,832,349
Chief Supply Chain Officer
Michael Casey257,69200000129,493387,185
Former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & President

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY2024→2025
Douglas Palladini$7,496,679———
Richard Westenberger3,964,9382,582,9182,896,769↑ +1,382,020
Emily Evert2,747,642———
Kendra Krugman2,640,7732,584,3473,095,794↑ +56,426
Allison Peterson2,018,9583,084,148—↓ −1,065,190
Karen Smith1,832,3491,394,5311,713,485↑ +437,818
Michael Casey387,1859,146,76910,088,133↓ −8,759,584

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Our compensation philosophy is to set our NEOs' total direct compensation at levels that will attract, motivate, and retain superior executive talent in a highly competitive environment. Carter's compensation program for our NEOs is designed to support these objectives and encourage strong financial performance on an annual and long-term basis by linking a significant portion of our NEOs' total direct compensation to Company performance and stockholder value creation in the form of annual cash incentive compensation and long-term equity incentive compensation.

CEO STI target (% of salary)150%
CEO LTI target (% of salary)—
Independent consultantMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Clawback policyCarter's has adopted a clawback policy consistent with Rule 10D-1 under the Exchange Act and NYSE listing standards, requiring executive officers to repay or return erroneously awarded compensation in the event of an accounting restatement of previously reported financial results. This policy applies to both cash incentive compensation and equity awards granted from fiscal 2024 onward.
Anti-hedgingHedging and pledging of Company stock by any Board member or employee, including NEOs, is prohibited. During fiscal 2025, none of the NEOs entered into a hedging arrangement.
Anti-pledgingTrue
Equity grants and outstanding awards

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
Richard WestenbergerRSU2025-02-26——35,448—$1,500,159
Karen SmithRSU2025-02-26——17,724—750,080
Douglas PalladiniRSU2025-04-03——98,400—3,500,088
Douglas PalladiniPSU2025-04-0332,80065,600—98,4001,455,336
Richard WestenbergerPSU2025-04-01—2,4362,4362,436100,022
Richard WestenbergerPSU2025-01-08—5,8785,8785,878300,013
Emily EvertRSU2025-08-08——78,868—2,000,092
Allison PetersonRSU2025-02-26——15,360—650,035
Kendra KrugmanRSU2025-02-26——23,632—1,000,106

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
Richard Westenberger$1,500,159$400,035$021.1%
Karen Smith750,080000.0%
Douglas Palladini3,500,0881,455,336029.4%
Emily Evert2,000,092000.0%
Allison Peterson650,035000.0%
Kendra Krugman1,000,106000.0%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
Karen SmithPSU35,308—$1,172,226
Allison PetersonPSU45,300—1,503,960
Richard WestenbergerPSU77,195—2,562,874
Emily EvertPSU78,868—2,618,418
Michael CaseyPSU83,544—2,773,661
Douglas PalladiniPSU196,800—6,533,760
Director compensation

No director compensation table is on file for fiscal year 2025.

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$90,000
Annual equity retainer$160,000
Per board meeting fee$2,500
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)30,000 / 25,000 / 25,000
Stock ownership guideline5x annual cash retainer ($450,000)
Peer group, and who names Carters as a peer

Companies that benchmark against CRI

15 companies name CRI as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses CRI in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named CRI in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2025

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies Carters Inc names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.

Reciprocity shown where the peer’s own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer’s filing. A dash means the peer’s current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including Carters Inc.

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company’s own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Tapestry, Inc.2026Joanne Crevoiserat$1,440,385$23,906,536$2,750,223$5,800,000$33,986,485
2Levi Strauss & Co.2025Michelle Gass1,475,0008,129,3183,144,8993,032,96916,145,173
3Abercrombie & Fitch Co.2025Fran Horowitz1,400,00010,456,90301,372,00013,300,257
4Kontoor Brands, Inc.2025Scott Baxter1,287,5007,986,31903,462,40913,203,878
5HanesBrands Inc.2024Stephen Bratspies1,250,0008,284,39903,306,73912,933,300
6American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.2025Jay Schottenstein1,750,0006,650,0112,850,0011,071,87512,662,838
7G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.2026Morris Goldfarb1,386,9235,999,976—4,832,00012,508,253
8Under Armour, Inc.2026Kevin Plank903,4629,040,000510,0001,128,15011,597,975
9Guess?, Inc.2025Carlos Alberini1,200,0008,036,011009,359,280
10Carters Inc2025Douglas Palladini882,8034,955,42401,225,2007,496,679
11Oxford Industries, Inc.2025Thomas Chubb III900,0003,942,2050388,4405,529,136
12Columbia Sportswear Company2025Timothy Boyle1,080,000001,938,7203,036,220
13The Children's Place, Inc.2025Muhammad Umair650,0001,025,225001,715,000
14Urban Outfitters, Inc.2026Richard A. Hayne1001,000,0001,042,012
—Gildan Activewear, Inc.——————not in coverage universe
—Victoria's Secret & Co.——————not in coverage universe

Each peer’s compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer’s figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
Carters Inc91%RSU 100NoMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.49%PSU 50 · RSU 50Yes — Relative TSR vs. compensation peer groupSemler Brossy Consulting Group, LLC
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.not disclosedPSU 50 · Option 30 · RSU 20not disclosedFW Cook
Columbia Sportswear Company57%not disclosedYes — three year relative total shareholder return (Relative TSR)FW Cook
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.not disclosedPSU 60 · RSU 40not disclosedCompensation Advisory Partners (CAP)
Gildan Activewear, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Guess?, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosedFW Cook
HanesBrands Inc.not disclosedPSA 60 · RSU 40Yes — 3-Year rTSR (3-Year Cumulative)FW Cook
Kontoor Brands, Inc.not disclosedPRSU 60 · RSU 40not disclosedFrederic W. Cook & Co. Inc
Levi Strauss & Co.110%PSU 50 · Options 25 · RSU 25Yes — Relative TSRSemler Brossy
Oxford Industries, Inc.43%not disclosedYes — Total Shareholder Return (TSR) relative to comparator groupMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Tapestry, Inc.not disclosedPSU 50 · Options 25 · RSU 25Yes — Relative TSRFW Cook
The Children's Place, Inc.not disclosedRSU 40 · Deferred Cash Awards 30 · Performance Cash Awards 30not disclosedFrederic W. Cook & Co.
Under Armour, Inc.60%RSU 100NoWillis Towers Watson
Urban Outfitters, Inc.100%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoKorn Ferry Hay Group
Victoria's Secret & Co.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed

Read from each company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company’s filing does not state the item.

Say-on-pay history and pay ratio
Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-05-1327,183,7481,303,325312,17795.42%Passed
20252025-05-1426,944,9581,683,822216,28594.12%Passed
20242024-05-1632,828,890820,19255,96297.56%Passed
20232023-05-1729,565,1854,200,215172,34687.56%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year’s compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company’s computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company’s computation
20262026-05-1395.42%a
20252025-05-1494.12%b
20242024-05-1697.56%c

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “be held as follows in a virtual meeting format: ITEMS OF BUSINESS Item Board's Recommendation Voting Approval Standard Effect of Abstention Effect of Broker Non- Vote Election of nine nominated directors FOR More votes "For" than "Against" No effect No effect Advisory approval of compensation of named executive officers FOR More votes "For" than "Against" No effect No effect Approval of amended and restated equity incentive plan FOR Majority of votes properly cast at the meeting No effect No effect Ratification of appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for fiscal 2026 FOR Majority of votes properly cast at the meeting No effect Not applicable In addition, at the Annual Meeting we will conduct any other business that may properly come before the meeting.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “o be held as follows in a virtual meeting format: ITEMS OF BUSINESS Item Board's Recommendation Voting Approval Standard Effect of Abstention Effect of Broker Non- Vote Election of 11 nominated directors FOR More votes "For" than "Against" No effect No effect Advisory approval of compensation of named executive officers FOR More votes "For" than "Against" No effect No effect Ratification of appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for fiscal 2025 FOR Majority of votes properly cast at the meeting No effect Not applicable In addition, at the Annual Meeting we will conduct any other business that may properly come before the meeting.”.

c. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions are not considered votes cast and thus will not affect the outcome of this proposal.”.

Approval percentages are the company’s own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

CEO pay ratio

Ratio (CEO : median employee)542 : 1
CEO total compensation$7,496,679
Median employee compensation$13,844
Insider trades since the proxy

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

Sources (48 citations)

Each figure is listed with the filing it comes from, where it appears in that filing, and the value as printed. Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

  • Section 01, Douglas Palladini. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*”. As printed: 7,496,679. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Richard Westenberger. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*”. As printed: 3,964,938. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Emily Evert. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*”. As printed: 2,747,642. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Kendra Krugman. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*”. As printed: 2,640,773. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Allison Peterson. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*”. As printed: 2,018,958. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Karen Smith. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*”. As printed: 1,832,349. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Michael Casey. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE*”. As printed: 387,185. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Richard Westenberger RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Karen Smith RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Douglas Palladini RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Douglas Palladini PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Richard Westenberger PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Richard Westenberger PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Emily Evert RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Allison Peterson RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Kendra Krugman RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “FISCAL 2025 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 07, pay ratio. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: 542 : 1. View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2026 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2026-05-14. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 95.42% (votes for as printed: 27,183,748). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2025 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2025-05-20. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 94.12% (votes for as printed: 26,944,958). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2024 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2024-05-16. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 97.56% (votes for as printed: 32,828,890). View filing ↗
  • Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed). Computed. Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.
  • Section 03b vehicle mix (computed). Computed. RSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).
  • Tapestry, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-09-25. CEO total compensation as printed in Tapestry, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 33,986,485. View filing ↗
  • Levi Strauss & Co., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-11. CEO total compensation as printed in Levi Strauss & Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 16,145,173. View filing ↗
  • Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-20. CEO total compensation as printed in Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 13,300,257. View filing ↗
  • Kontoor Brands, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-09. CEO total compensation as printed in Kontoor Brands, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 13,203,878. View filing ↗
  • HanesBrands Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-03-17. CEO total compensation as printed in HanesBrands Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 12,933,300. View filing ↗
  • American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-05-15. CEO total compensation as printed in American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 12,662,838. View filing ↗
  • G-III Apparel Group, Ltd., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-05-05. CEO total compensation as printed in G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.'s own proxy. As printed: 12,508,253. View filing ↗
  • Under Armour, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-07-15. CEO total compensation as printed in Under Armour, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 11,597,975. View filing ↗
  • Guess?, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-05-16. CEO total compensation as printed in Guess?, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,359,280. View filing ↗
  • Carters Inc (subject), Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. CEO total compensation as printed in Carters Inc's own proxy. As printed: 7,496,679. View filing ↗
  • Oxford Industries, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-05-13. CEO total compensation as printed in Oxford Industries, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 5,529,136. View filing ↗
  • Columbia Sportswear Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. CEO total compensation as printed in Columbia Sportswear Company's own proxy. As printed: 3,036,220. View filing ↗
  • The Children's Place, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-10. CEO total compensation as printed in The Children's Place, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 1,715,000. View filing ↗
  • Urban Outfitters, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. CEO total compensation as printed in Urban Outfitters, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 1,042,012. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Carters Inc. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, The Children's Place, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. The Children's Place, Inc. names Carters Inc in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Guess?, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Guess?, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Carters Inc. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Kontoor Brands, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Kontoor Brands, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Carters Inc. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Oxford Industries, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Oxford Industries, Inc. names Carters Inc in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Under Armour, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Under Armour, Inc. names Carters Inc in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Urban Outfitters, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Urban Outfitters, Inc. names Carters Inc in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. reciprocity. DEF 14A. G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Carters Inc. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Levi Strauss & Co. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Levi Strauss & Co.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Carters Inc. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, HanesBrands Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. HanesBrands Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Carters Inc. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Tapestry, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Tapestry, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Carters Inc. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. names Carters Inc in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
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