Cato (CATO) vs Citi Trends (CTRN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Citi Trends (CTRN) has outperformed Cato (CATO) over the past year, gaining 40.8% versus a loss of 45.0%. Over five years, CTRN leads with a -27.2% price change compared with -86.0% for CATO. Citi Trends is the larger company by market cap ($423.7 million vs $47.4 million), about 8.9 times the size.
On valuation, Cato trades at a lower forward P/E (1.8x vs 18.1x for Citi Trends).
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 | CATO | CTRN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $2.38 | $50.81 |
| Market cap | $47.39M | $423.73M |
| 1-day change | +0.42% | +0.99% |
| YTD return | -22.98% | +22.26% |
| 1-year return | -45.03% | +40.83% |
| 5-year return | -86.04% | -27.25% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 60.49 |
| Forward P/E | 1.83 | 18.11 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.31 | $0.84 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $4.59 | $77.91 |
| 52-week low | $2.30 | $34.43 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -48.15% | -34.78% |
| Analyst consensus | — | none |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +79.10% |
| Average volume | 124.75K | 163.18K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.15M | 8.34M |
| Employees | 6,700 | 2,500 |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Apparel Retail | Apparel Retail |
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
- Citi Trends is about 8.9 times larger than Cato by market value ($423.73M vs $47.39M).
- CTRN has outperformed CATO by 85.9 percentage points over the past year.
About Cato
CATO stock →The Cato Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of fashion apparel and accessories primarily in the southeastern United States. It operates through two segments, Retail and Credit.
Consumer Cyclical · Apparel Retail · 6,700 employees
About Citi Trends
CTRN stock →Citi Trends, Inc. operates as a value retailer of apparel, accessories, and home trends.
Consumer Cyclical · Apparel Retail · 2,500 employees
CATO vs CTRN FAQ
Which is bigger, Cato or Citi Trends?
Citi Trends (CTRN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $423.73M compared with $47.39M for Cato (CATO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CATO or CTRN?
CTRN returned +40.83% over the past 12 months, compared with -45.03% for CATO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Cato and Citi Trends in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Apparel Retail industry within the Consumer Cyclical sector.