Stock fact sheet · data as of
The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Consumer Cyclical · Apparel - Retail · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is PLCE undervalued?
The Children's Place, Inc. (PLCE) closed at 1.19 on 16 Oct 2026. The GLS average fair value - the simple average of the 2 valuation models that produced a positive number - is 35.81, which puts the price 97% below it. 2 of the 2 models value the shares above the current price. A gap this wide is rare in our universe of ~7,400 US stocks and is exactly what the Value part of the Wheel Score rewards; it is also where the question "why is it this cheap?" matters most.
Only 2 of the nine models produced a value (DCF, 10 Cap); the others need a dividend, positive free cash flow or positive book value the company does not have yet, so the average rests on a narrow base.
The nightly engine files PLCE under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for PLCE
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 47.29 | +3874% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | 24.33 | +1945% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | - | - | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend; no value tonight |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -14.68 | -1334% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 3.25 | +173% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Financial health is weak: PLCE passes 3 of the nine Piotroski tests. Our screens drop the stock at the health rule; a low score is often the reason a stock looks cheap on the valuation models. The GLS Moat score is low at 0.6 out of 10, which says the ten-year record of revenue, earnings, margins and returns on capital has been inconsistent - growth and shocks rather than steady compounding.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -19.2%, ROE 162.9%, ROA -13.2% - with debt at -9.48 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 87.0%.
The Children's Place, Inc. pays no dividend, so the DDM model does not apply and a covered-call holder earns only the premium and any price gain. Revenue comes mainly from The Childrens Place US 91%, The Children's Place Canada 9% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 5/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 3 / 9 | ROIC | -19.2% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 0.6 / 10 | ROE | 162.9% |
| Debt / equity | -9.48 | ROA | -13.2% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 87.0% | Payout ratio | 0% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 5 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 45: Weak
PLCE scores 45 out of 100 on the Wheel Score, in the Weak band (under 50), capped at 45 because the engine files it as Speculative / Distressed. Value 25/25, Health 7/20, Moat 1/15, Premium 5/20, Stability 8/20. The score is not a judgement on the company; it says the price, quality and premium do not line up for selling puts on it today.
Implied volatility is 232%, far above the range the wheel strategy is built for. The premium looks generous; the Wheel Score gives it only 5 of 20 Premium points because moves of that size can blow through any strike. Chain open interest is 30,357 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 575k shares a day on a market cap of $26M, with a beta of 1.98 - a high beta, so the stock tends to move more than the market and a strike can be gapped through; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 8 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 97% margin of safety | |
| Health | 7 / 20 | Piotroski 3/9 | |
| Moat | 1 / 15 | moat 0.6/10 | |
| Premium | 5 / 20 | implied volatility 232% | |
| Stability | 8 / 20 | 575k shares/day, $26M cap, beta 1.98 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 12 Nov 2026, 27 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Apparel - Retail
The 12 companies below are the closest to The Children's Place, Inc. by market cap within the Apparel - Retail industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DXLG Destination XL Group, Inc. | 0.4401 | 3.52 | +87% | 45Weak | $24M |
| BRIA Brillia Inc | 1.34 | 1.28 | -4% | 18No options | $34M |
| LVLU Lulu's Fashion Lounge Holdings, Inc. | 14.23 | 9.21 | -54% | 17No options | $41M |
| CATO The Cato Corporation | 2.36 | 1.27 | -87% | 35Weak | $43M |
| KMFG Keemo Fashion Group Ltd. | 0.2500 | - | - | 19No options | $14M |
| RENT Rent the Runway, Inc. | 1.71 | 34.24 | +95% | 39No options | $57M |
| IVDN Innovative Designs, Inc. | 0.2223 | 0.4111 | +46% | 39No options | $9M |
| AKA a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. | 10.18 | 29.36 | +65% | 39No options | $112M |
| TLYS Tilly's, Inc. | 4.55 | 3.27 | -39% | 37Weak | $137M |
| DLTH Duluth Holdings Inc. | 4.00 | 10.22 | +61% | 64Fair | $152M |
| ZUMZ Zumiez Inc. | 14.12 | 36.18 | +61% | 74Good | $216M |
| CURV Torrid Holdings Inc. | 2.45 | 14.03 | +83% | 45Weak | $244M |
⚖ Compare PLCE with 7 of them All Consumer Cyclical stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about PLCE
Is PLCE undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 1.19 the stock is 97% below the average fair value of 35.81 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of PLCE and what does it mean?
PLCE scores 45 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for PLCE?
35.81 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 2 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does The Children's Place, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 12 Nov 2026, 27 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does PLCE have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 102 listed contracts with 30,357 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 232% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.