American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) vs Citi Trends (CTRN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Citi Trends (CTRN) has outperformed American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) over the past year, gaining 60.3% versus a gain of 14.1%. Over five years, AEO leads with a -27.9% price change compared with -28.0% for CTRN. American Eagle Outfitters is the larger company by market cap ($2.96 billion vs $419.6 million), about 7.1 times the size.
On valuation, American Eagle Outfitters trades at a lower forward P/E (9.2x vs 17.9x for Citi Trends). American Eagle Outfitters pays a dividend yielding 2.83%, while Citi Trends does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AEO | CTRN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $17.66 | $50.31 |
| Market cap | $2.96B | $419.56M |
| 1-day change | -1.29% | +2.28% |
| YTD return | -33.03% | +21.05% |
| 1-year return | +14.08% | +60.33% |
| 5-year return | -27.86% | -27.96% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.06 | 59.89 |
| Forward P/E | 9.19 | 17.94 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.95 | $0.84 |
| Dividend yield | 2.83% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.50 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $28.46 | $77.91 |
| 52-week low | $14.06 | $31.38 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -37.95% | -35.43% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | — |
| Avg. price target upside | +5.04% | — |
| Average volume | 5.63M | 162.69K |
| Shares outstanding | 167.57M | 8.34M |
| Employees | 10,000 | — |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores | Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- American Eagle Outfitters is about 7.1 times larger than Citi Trends by market value ($2.96B vs $419.56M).
- CTRN has outperformed AEO by 46.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Citi Trends trades at a higher earnings multiple (59.9x vs 9.1x trailing P/E).
- American Eagle Outfitters offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.83% vs 0.00%).
About American Eagle Outfitters
AEO stock →American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. operates as a multi-brand specialty retailer in the United States and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores · 10,000 employees
AEO vs CTRN FAQ
Which is bigger, American Eagle Outfitters or Citi Trends?
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.96B compared with $419.56M for Citi Trends (CTRN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AEO or CTRN?
CTRN returned +60.33% over the past 12 months, compared with +14.08% for AEO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AEO or CTRN?
AEO has the lower trailing P/E at 9.1, versus 59.9 for CTRN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Eagle Outfitters or Citi Trends?
American Eagle Outfitters pays a dividend yielding 2.83%, while Citi Trends does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are American Eagle Outfitters and Citi Trends in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.