Cato (CATO) vs Designer Brands (DBI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Designer Brands (DBI) has outperformed Cato (CATO) over the past year, gaining 73.8% versus a loss of 43.9%. Over five years, DBI leads with a -56.6% price change compared with -85.5% for CATO. Designer Brands is the larger company by market cap ($291.4 million vs $49.2 million), about 5.9 times the size.
On valuation, Cato trades at a lower forward P/E (1.9x vs 8.1x for Designer Brands). Designer Brands pays a dividend yielding 3.51%, while Cato 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 | CATO | DBI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $2.47 | $5.70 |
| Market cap | $49.18M | $291.40M |
| 1-day change | +3.78% | -1.55% |
| YTD return | -20.06% | -23.28% |
| 1-year return | -43.86% | +73.78% |
| 5-year return | -85.51% | -56.59% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 19.66 |
| Forward P/E | 1.90 | 8.14 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.31 | $0.29 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 3.51% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.20 |
| 52-week high | $4.59 | $9.17 |
| 52-week low | $2.30 | $3.20 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -46.19% | -37.84% |
| Analyst consensus | — | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +18.42% |
| Average volume | 124.39K | 572.70K |
| Shares outstanding | 18.15M | 43.39M |
| Employees | 6,700 | 13,000 |
| 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
- Designer Brands is about 5.9 times larger than Cato by market value ($291.40M vs $49.18M).
- DBI has outperformed CATO by 117.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Designer Brands offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.51% vs 0.00%).
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 Discretionary · Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores · 6,700 employees
About Designer Brands
DBI stock →Designer Brands Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, production, and retailing of footwear and accessories in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Retail and Brand Portfolio.
Consumer Discretionary · Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores · 13,000 employees
CATO vs DBI FAQ
Which is bigger, Cato or Designer Brands?
Designer Brands (DBI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $291.40M compared with $49.18M for Cato (CATO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CATO or DBI?
DBI returned +73.78% over the past 12 months, compared with -43.86% for CATO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cato or Designer Brands?
Designer Brands pays a dividend yielding 3.51%, while Cato does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Cato and Designer Brands in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.