Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio -0.8x · EV/EBITDA N/A · ROE N/A. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $71M | $89M | $125M | $279M | $592M | $1.1B | $1.1B | $934M | $1.6B | $2.7B | $1.8B |
| Enterprise Value | $580M | $597M | $706M | $729M | $1.1B | $1.4B | $1.6B | $1.5B | $1.6B | $2.5B | $1.7B |
| P/E Ratio → | -0.80 | — | — | — | — | 5.62 | — | 12.75 | 16.10 | 32.08 | 17.96 |
| P/S Ratio | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.17 | 0.35 | 0.55 | 0.71 | 0.50 | 0.84 | 1.45 | 1.03 |
| P/B Ratio | — | — | — | — | 3.73 | 4.67 | 11.51 | 3.97 | 5.17 | 5.74 | 3.71 |
| P/FCF | — | — | — | 4.27 | — | 10.12 | — | 21.50 | 23.64 | 17.46 | 11.17 |
| P/OCF | 8.77 | 10.94 | — | 3.00 | — | 7.89 | — | 5.25 | 11.62 | 12.68 | 9.23 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 0.49 | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.64 | 0.76 | 1.08 | 0.79 | 0.83 | 1.33 | 0.93 |
| EV / EBITDA | — | — | 12.50 | 82.52 | 7.52 | 3.27 | 90.59 | 4.51 | 8.67 | 10.59 | 7.69 |
| EV / EBIT | — | — | — | — | — | 5.25 | — | 15.22 | 14.33 | 15.27 | 11.15 |
| EV / FCF | — | — | — | 11.17 | — | 13.93 | — | 33.84 | 23.34 | 16.03 | 10.09 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 27.2% | 27.2% | 30.3% | 24.8% | 27.1% | 38.5% | 17.5% | 31.0% | 31.7% | 34.4% | 33.9% |
| Operating Margin | -4.3% | -4.3% | 1.2% | -2.4% | 0.2% | 14.8% | -10.6% | 5.5% | 6.0% | 9.0% | 8.4% |
| Net Profit Margin | -7.3% | -7.3% | -4.2% | -9.6% | -0.1% | 9.8% | -9.2% | 3.9% | 5.2% | 4.5% | 5.7% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | — | — | — | -206.8% | -0.6% | 117.4% | -85.4% | 26.7% | 25.6% | 17.5% | 20.0% |
| ROA | -12.5% | -12.5% | -7.5% | -17.3% | -0.1% | 17.2% | -12.1% | 7.7% | 12.1% | 9.2% | 11.3% |
| ROIC | -8.1% | -8.1% | 2.6% | -5.3% | 0.5% | 33.1% | -16.9% | 14.4% | 32.0% | 44.2% | 34.2% |
| ROCE | -20.5% | -20.5% | 8.2% | -14.7% | 1.0% | 65.6% | -32.1% | 20.8% | 23.8% | 28.9% | 24.9% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | — | — | — | — | 3.23 | 2.00 | 6.79 | 2.57 | 0.16 | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Debt / EBITDA | — | — | 10.38 | 52.52 | 3.54 | 1.02 | 34.90 | 1.85 | 0.26 | 0.09 | 0.07 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | — | — | — | 3.12 | 1.76 | 6.11 | 2.28 | -0.06 | -0.47 | -0.36 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | — | — | 10.29 | 50.98 | 3.43 | 0.90 | 31.40 | 1.64 | -0.11 | -0.95 | -0.83 |
| Debt / FCF | — | — | — | 6.90 | — | 3.81 | — | 12.34 | -0.29 | -1.43 | -1.08 |
| Interest Coverage | -1.92 | -1.92 | -0.38 | -2.78 | -0.11 | 14.79 | -16.79 | 11.79 | 31.71 | 73.55 | 76.28 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.03 | 1.03 | 0.90 | 0.73 | 0.87 | 0.98 | 0.76 | 0.76 | 1.31 | 1.82 | 1.86 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.13 | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.26 | 0.22 | 0.21 | 0.40 | 0.92 | 0.99 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.21 | 0.72 | 0.74 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 1.80 | 1.85 | 2.00 | 1.73 | 1.85 | 1.34 | 1.58 | 2.67 | 1.99 | 1.96 |
| Inventory Turnover | 2.71 | 2.71 | 2.42 | 3.33 | 2.78 | 2.75 | 3.24 | 3.94 | 4.36 | 3.78 | 4.12 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 7.84 | 11.24 | 7.57 | 10.59 | 4.17 | 9.48 | 6.40 | 6.61 | 5.09 | 6.42 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.7% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47.7% | 32.7% | 33.2% | 14.4% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | — | — | — | — | — | 17.8% | — | 7.8% | 6.2% | 3.1% | 5.6% |
| FCF Yield | — | — | — | 23.4% | — | 9.9% | — | 4.7% | 4.2% | 5.7% | 9.0% |
| Buyback Yield | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 2.6% | 16.0% | 8.0% | 1.4% | 14.1% | 15.6% | 4.4% | 8.6% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 2.6% | 16.0% | 8.0% | 1.4% | 17.8% | 17.6% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $22M | $13M | $13M | $13M | $15M | $15M | $16M | $17M | $18M | $19M |
Imminent liquidity and insolvency
According to recent financial filings, The Children's Place has seen its ROIC plummet to -6.3% in 2026Q1, reflecting a severe decay in capital efficiency as the company struggles to generate positive returns on its invested capital base amidst persistent operational losses and shrinking revenue.
The transition from positive ROIC in 2024Q3 to deep negative territory suggests that the firm's capital allocation is no longer creating value, but rather eroding the underlying equity base. This trend indicates that the company's core retail operations are failing to cover the cost of the capital deployed, warranting significant concern regarding long-term viability.
Based on reported figures, the company's cash conversion cycle has expanded to 131 days in 2026Q1, driven by a bloated inventory turnover period of 176 days, which suggests that the firm is struggling to move merchandise efficiently in a highly competitive and promotional retail environment.
The lengthening of the cash conversion cycle indicates that capital is becoming increasingly trapped in aging inventory, which likely necessitates further margin-dilutive markdowns. Investors should monitor whether this inefficiency is a structural byproduct of the digital-first pivot or a temporary symptom of the current demand contraction.
As reported in recent quarterly statements, the company's quick ratio has deteriorated to 0.17, signaling that the firm lacks sufficient liquid assets to cover its immediate short-term obligations without relying on the liquidation of inventory, which is currently moving at a sluggish pace.
A quick ratio of this magnitude leaves virtually no margin for error in the event of further operational disruptions or unexpected cash outflows. This liquidity position appears precarious compared to historical norms and suggests that the company is highly vulnerable to any further deterioration in its working capital cycle.
Investors frequently misapply traditional P/E or EV/EBITDA multiples to The Children's Place, failing to recognize that these metrics are rendered meaningless by the company's negative earnings and the significant off-balance-sheet lease liabilities that distort the true enterprise value of the business.
Because the company is currently in a state of operational distress, standard valuation ratios obscure the reality that the firm is a liquidity story rather than a growth or value play. Analysts should instead focus on cash burn rates and the maturity profile of debt obligations to assess the true risk of insolvency.
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying PLCE stock.
The Children's Place, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is -0.8x. The historical average is 20.3x.
Based on historical data, The Children's Place, Inc. is trading at a P/E of -0.8x. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
The Children's Place, Inc. has 27.2% gross margin and -4.3% operating margin.