Citi Trends, Inc.
- Open
- 66.62
- Day high
- 68.56
- Day low
- 65.94
- Prev close
- 67.25
- Volume
- 95K
- Mkt cap
- $567M
- P/E (TTM)
- 76.5
- EPS (TTM)
- $0.89
- P/B
- 4.5
- P/S
- 0.7
- Yield
- —
- Per share
- —
- ▼Insiders net selling -$42.4M over the last 3 months (0 open-market buys, 2 sales)
- 🏛Institutions reducing (13F)
Citi Trends, Inc. (CTRN) is a Consumer Cyclical company listed on NASDAQ. The stock is up 95% over the past year. Over the trailing 3 months, insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 2 sales (SEC Form 4). Drillr has 2 published research articles covering CTRN.
Citi Trends, Inc. (CTRN) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
CTRN earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 2026 | $-0.32 | $0.05 | +115.6% | $212M | +0.0% |
| Jun 2, 2026 | $0.32 | $1.08 | +242.9% | $231M | +6.2% |
| Mar 17, 2026 | $0.78 | $0.85 | +9.7% | $230M | +9.6% |
| Dec 2, 2025 | $0.78 | $-0.88 | -213.5% | $197M | -13.3% |
| Aug 26, 2025 | $-0.79 | $-0.82 | -3.8% | $191M | +1.8% |
| Jun 3, 2025 | $-0.19 | $0.17 | +189.5% | $202M | +7.5% |
| Mar 18, 2025 | $0.18 | $-1.55 | -961.1% | $211M | +7.9% |
| Dec 3, 2024 | $-0.79 | $-0.78 | +1.3% | $179M | -13.2% |
| Jun 4, 2024 | $-0.31 | $-0.32 | -3.2% | $186M | -0.1% |
| Mar 19, 2024 | $0.80 | $0.53 | -33.8% | $215M | +0.1% |
| Nov 28, 2023 | $-0.17 | $-0.56 | -229.4% | $180M | -14.5% |
| Aug 22, 2023 | $-0.94 | $-0.60 | +36.2% | $174M | -7.2% |
CTRN insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2026 | George Katrinaofficer: VP of Human Resources | Sell | 126 | $56.42 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Plutino Heather Lofficer: EVP and CFO | Tax | 66 | $57.84 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | George Katrinaofficer: VP of Human Resources | Grant | 41 | — |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Puri Lovesh Kumarofficer: See Remarks | Tax | 263 | $46.82 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Puri Lovesh Kumarofficer: See Remarks | Tax | 15 | $57.84 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Powell Lisa A.officer: EVP and Chief Merch Officer | Grant | 239 | — |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Puri Lovesh Kumarofficer: See Remarks | Grant | 41 | — |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Plutino Heather Lofficer: EVP and CFO | Grant | 238 | — |
| Jul 2, 2026 | George Katrinaofficer: VP of Human Resources | Tax | 13 | $57.84 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Koenig Kyleofficer: VP of Stores and Real Estate | Grant | 95 | — |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Koenig Kyleofficer: VP of Stores and Real Estate | Tax | 27 | $57.84 |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Powell Lisa A.officer: EVP and Chief Merch Officer | Tax | 71 | $57.84 |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Fund 1 Investments, LLC10 percent owner | Sell | 750,000 | $56.50 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Kvitko Michael Sdirector | Grant | 1,681 | — |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Heath David Adirector | Grant | 1,681 | — |
Source: CTRN SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jul 17, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full CTRN insider & 13F page →CTRN research & analysis
CTRN AI Site Selection Now Screens Every New Store, at a Self-Reported ~90% Accuracy
Citi Trends now evaluates every new store location with AI tools. The roughly 90% sales-forecast accuracy is management's claim for a combined method, not the model alone.
Citi Trends (CTRN) Credits AI Allocation as Gross Margin Adds 50 Basis Points
Citi Trends names AI-driven allocation as one of three drivers behind a 50 basis point first-half gross margin gain, with no basis points assigned to the AI system itself.
Citi Trends, Inc. company profile
Overview
Citi Trends, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTRN) is a value retailer founded in 1946 and headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. Originally known as Allied Fashion, Inc., the company changed its name to Citi Trends in 2001 and went public in 2005. The company operates as a specialty discount retailer serving primarily African American and Latinx families across urban and rural markets in 33 states. As of early 2024, Citi Trends operates approximately 602 stores and has been undergoing a strategic turnaround focused on returning to profitability after experiencing challenging performance in recent years.
Business
Citi Trends operates in the discount retail apparel industry, positioning itself as a value retailer that offers brand-name and private-label merchandise at significantly reduced prices. The discount retail sector serves price-conscious consumers by purchasing excess inventory, closeouts, and off-season merchandise from manufacturers and brand owners, then selling these products at substantial discounts compared to traditional retail prices. The company's core business revolves around providing fashion apparel, accessories, and home goods to its target demographic. Citi Trends' product mix includes several key categories: 1. Apparel segment (estimated 60-70% of revenue): This includes fashion sportswear and footwear for men and women, children's clothing spanning from newborns to teens, sleepwear, lingerie, scrubs, uniforms, and outerwear. The company has particular strength in categories like children's apparel, men's clothing, and plus-size offerings. 2. Accessories and beauty products (estimated 15-20% of revenue): This category encompasses handbags, luggage, hats, belts, sunglasses, jewelry, watches, and undergarments for both men and women. 3. Home and lifestyle products (estimated 15-20% of revenue): These include bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen items, decorative accessories, seasonal merchandise, books, toys, and what the company calls "consumables" - everyday items like food products, tech accessories, team sports merchandise, and health products. The company operates an off-price retail model, which means it purchases surplus inventory from manufacturers and brand owners at steep discounts, then passes those savings to customers. This model allows Citi Trends to offer name-brand merchandise at prices typically 20-60% below traditional retail, with approximately 70% of units priced at $9.99 and under.
Revenue model
Citi Trends generates revenue primarily through direct product sales to consumers in its physical retail stores. The company operates on a traditional retail margin model, purchasing merchandise at wholesale prices and selling at retail prices, with the difference representing gross profit. The company's off-price business model creates its competitive advantage and margin structure. Citi Trends purchases excess inventory, closeouts, and off-season merchandise from manufacturers and brand owners at significant discounts - often 50-70% below traditional wholesale prices. This allows the company to maintain healthy gross margins (typically in the high 30% to low 40% range) while offering customers substantial savings compared to traditional retailers. The primary paying customers are African American and Latinx families, typically in lower-to-moderate income brackets who are highly price-sensitive and value-conscious. These customers often shop closer to immediate needs and are particularly responsive to extreme value propositions and treasure-hunt shopping experiences. Several factors significantly impact Citi Trends' margins and profitability. Positive margin drivers include successful inventory management and quick turns, effective shrink reduction programs, economies of scale in purchasing, and the company's ability to secure high-quality off-price merchandise. The company's recent focus on branded merchandise acquisition and AI-based allocation systems also supports margin expansion. Negative margin pressures come from multiple sources. External factors include freight and transportation cost inflation, competitive pressure from other discount retailers and online platforms, and macroeconomic pressures on the target customer base such as reduced government benefits, inflation in necessities like food and housing, and lower tax refunds. Internal challenges include inventory shrinkage (particularly internal theft), aged inventory requiring markdowns, and the fixed-cost nature of store operations during periods of declining comparable store sales. The company's margin structure is also sensitive to product mix, with higher-margin categories like accessories and home goods providing better profitability than basic apparel, and the success of seasonal merchandise significantly impacting quarterly performance.
Competitive moat
Citi Trends operates in a highly competitive retail environment with limited sustainable competitive advantages. The company's primary moat is its specialized market positioning serving African American and Latinx communities in both urban and rural markets that are often underserved by other retailers. The company's neighborhood-focused store strategy provides some competitive protection, as many of its locations are in markets where larger competitors find it uneconomical to operate. This geographic positioning, combined with deep understanding of its core customer demographic's preferences and shopping behaviors, creates modest barriers to entry for competitors unfamiliar with these specific markets. Citi Trends' off-price sourcing relationships with manufacturers and brand owners provide some operational advantages, though these relationships are not exclusive and can be replicated by competitors. The company's experience in identifying and purchasing the right mix of off-price merchandise for its customer base represents accumulated expertise, but this knowledge-based advantage is not insurmountable. However, the company's moat is relatively weak overall. The retail industry faces intense competition from multiple directions, including other discount retailers like Family Dollar and Dollar General, department store chains, online retailers, and direct-to-consumer brands. The off-price retail model itself offers limited differentiation, as competitors can potentially access similar merchandise sources. The most significant competitive threats come from larger discount retailers with superior scale economies, online retailers offering convenience and broader selection, and the ongoing shift in consumer shopping behaviors toward digital channels. Additionally, economic pressures on the target customer base make them increasingly price-sensitive, potentially driving them toward even lower-cost alternatives or reducing discretionary spending entirely. The company's recent turnaround efforts, including store remodels, improved inventory management, and enhanced product allocation systems, represent necessary operational improvements rather than sustainable competitive advantages that would create lasting moats against competition.
Risks & safety
Citi Trends presents a moderate margin of safety with some financial strengths offset by operational challenges and market headwinds. • Liquidity position: Strong with $61 million in cash and no debt, plus access to a $75 million revolving credit facility, providing total liquidity of approximately $136 million • Solvency risk: Low in the near term due to debt-free balance sheet, though the company has been burning cash operationally • Cash flow: Volatile, with fiscal 2024 showing negative $14 million in free cash flow, though Q4 2024 generated positive $26 million in free cash flow • Valuation metrics: Mixed signals with negative P/E ratio due to losses, but EV/EBITDA of 15x based on recent positive EBITDA; current ratio of 1.13 indicates tight working capital management • Balance sheet: Total debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95 appears high but primarily reflects operating liabilities rather than financial debt; book value provides some downside protection • Other considerations: Recent turnaround showing early signs of success with comparable store sales growth and gross margin expansion, but company remains in early stages of multi-year transformation with execution risk remaining significant.
Recent development
Over the past few years, Citi Trends has undergone significant strategic transformation under new leadership focused on a three-phase turnaround strategy: Repair, Execute, and Optimize. The company has made substantial operational improvements including implementing a new ERP system to better manage inventory allocation and reduce aged inventory, which has improved from 7+ month inventory representing a significant portion of stock to only 3% of total inventory. The company has sharpened its focus on core customers - African American and Latinx families - after previously attempting to broaden its appeal. This refocusing has involved redefining product assortments with a "good, better, best" strategy and emphasizing extreme value propositions with 70% of merchandise priced at $9.99 and under. Store format evolution has been a key initiative, with the company implementing its CTx enhanced store format across approximately 13% of its fleet, showing mid-to-high single-digit performance lifts. The company plans to remodel 50 stores in 2025 and is preparing for potential new store growth beginning in 2026 after focusing on optimizing existing locations. Merchandise strategy transformation includes expanding branded merchandise to 10-20% of the total mix, developing stronger off-price buying capabilities, and focusing on high-performing categories like children's apparel, men's clothing, home and lifestyle products, and consumables. The company has also implemented AI-based product allocation systems to improve inventory efficiency and reduce markdowns. Operational improvements have focused heavily on shrink reduction through better loss prevention measures, improved inventory management processes, and enhanced administrative controls. The company has also been testing new marketing approaches including radio and paid social media advertising to drive traffic and brand awareness.
CTRN company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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