CARTERS INC

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Carter’s, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Carter’s, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2024, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Revenue Recognition - U.S. Wholesale

As described in Notes 2 and 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s U.S. wholesale revenue was $1.02 billion for the year ended December 28, 2024. The Company relies on shipping terms to determine when performance obligations are satisfied. The Company recognizes the revenue once control passes to the customer. When goods are shipped to wholesale customers “FOB Shipping Point,” control of the goods is transferred to the customer at the time of shipment. When goods are shipped to wholesale customers “FOB Destination,” control of the goods is transferred to the customer when the goods reach the customer. The transaction price is the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive under the arrangement. The Company is required to estimate variable consideration (if any) and to factor that estimation into the determination of the transaction price. The Company may offer sales incentives to wholesale and retail customers, including discounts.

The principal consideration for our determination that performing procedures relating to U.S. wholesale revenue recognition is a critical audit matter is a high degree of auditor effort in performing procedures related to the Company’s U.S. wholesale revenue recognition.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the revenue recognition process, including controls over the recording of U.S. wholesale revenue at the transaction price once control passes to the customer. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing U.S. wholesale revenue transactions by evaluating the issuance and settlement of invoices and credit memos, tracing transactions not settled to a detailed listing of accounts receivable, and testing the completeness and accuracy of data provided by management; (ii) testing, on a sample basis, sales incentive transactions by obtaining and inspecting source documents, including support for the nature of the incentive, amount, and agreement with the customer; and (iii) testing, on a sample basis, outstanding customer invoice balances as of December 28, 2024 by obtaining and inspecting source documents, such as invoices, proof of shipment or delivery, and subsequent payment receipts.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Asset Impairment Assessment - OshKosh Tradename

As described in Notes 2 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s consolidated indefinite-lived tradename balance was $266.2 million as of December 28, 2024, of which $40.0 million related to the OshKosh tradename. The carrying values of indefinite-lived tradename assets are subject to annual impairment reviews as of the last day of each fiscal year. Between annual assessments, impairment reviews may also be triggered by any significant events or changes in circumstances affecting the business. As disclosed by management, a tradename is considered impaired if the estimated fair value of the tradename is less than the carrying amount. The process of estimating the fair value of a tradename incorporates the relief-from-royalty valuation method, which requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment, including forecasting revenue growth and profitability and selecting the appropriate terminal growth rate, discount rate, and royalty rate. Based on the indefinite-lived tradename asset impairment assessments, a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $30.0 million was recorded during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 on the Oshkosh tradename.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment of the OshKosh tradename is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the OshKosh tradename; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to revenue growth, terminal growth rate, discount rate, and royalty rate; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s indefinite- lived tradename impairment assessment, including controls over the valuation of the OshKosh tradename. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the OshKosh tradename; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the relief-from-royalty valuation method; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the relief-from-royalty valuation method; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions used by management related to revenue growth, terminal growth rate, discount rate, and royalty rate. Evaluating management’s assumption related to revenue growth involved evaluating whether the assumption used by management was reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the OshKosh brand; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether the assumption was consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the relief-from-royalty valuation method and (ii) the reasonableness of the terminal growth rate, discount rate, and royalty rate assumptions.

Goodwill Impairment Assessment – Canada Reporting Unit

As described in Notes 2 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance was $206.9 million as of December 28, 2024, and as disclosed by management, the goodwill allocated to the Canada reporting unit was $36.8 million. The carrying values of goodwill are subject to annual impairment reviews as of the last day of each fiscal year. Between annual assessments, impairment reviews may be triggered by any significant events or changes in circumstances affecting the business. An impairment is recorded for any excess carrying value above the fair value of the reporting unit, not to exceed the carrying value of goodwill. Management uses qualitative and quantitative methods to assess for impairment, including the use of discounted cash flows (“income approach”) and relevant data from guideline public companies (“market approach”). The Company uses a 50% weighting of the income approach and a 50% weighting of the market approach to determine the fair value of a reporting unit. The assumptions used in these approaches include revenue growth and profitability, terminal growth rates, discount rates, market multiples and an implied control premium.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the goodwill impairment assessment of the Canada reporting unit is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the Canada reporting unit; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to revenue growth and profitability, terminal growth rate, discount rate, market multiples, and implied control premium; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s goodwill impairment assessment, including controls over the valuation of the Canada reporting unit. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the Canada reporting unit; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the income and market approaches; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the income and market approaches; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions used by management related to revenue growth and profitability, terminal growth rate, discount rate, market multiples, and implied control premium. Evaluating management’s assumptions related to revenue growth and profitability involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the Canada reporting unit; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether the assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the income and market approaches and (ii) the reasonableness of the terminal growth rate, discount rate, market multiples, and implied control premium assumptions.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 25, 2025

We have served as the Company’s auditor since at least 1968. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor of the Company.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(dollars in thousands, except for share data)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY