Cato Corporation (The) CATO

2.45 0.02 0.82% as of 25 Sep
Market cap
$48.4M
P/E
0.0×
Growth Flags show if company had growth for consecutive years

Insider Decisions

in millions of $
Nov 25 Feb 26 May 26 Aug 26
Buy — — — — — — — — — — — —
Sell — — — — — — — — — — — —
Insider Ownership 17.74%

Capital & Financial Ratios

Market Cap 48.39
Revenue 643.67
Net Income (5.59)
Free Cash Flow 1.63
Net Debt (96.44)
Current Ratio 1.36
Debt/Equity 0.00
P/E ratio 0.00
P/S ratio 0.07
P/B ratio 0.28
Past 5Y EPS Growth (63.85%)
This Y EPS Growth —
Next Y EPS Growth —
Next 5Y EPS Growth 10.00%
in millions of $

Dividends

Payout Ratio 1.48
Annual Dividend Rate 0.68
Annual Dividend Yield 9.93%
total individual payouts
2024 0.51
0.17
0.17
0.17
2023 0.68
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
2022 0.68
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
2021 0.45
0.11
0.17
0.17
2020 0.33
0.33
2019 1.32
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
2018 1.32
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
2017 1.32
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
2016 1.29
0.30
0.33
0.33
0.33
predictions in italic, special payouts not included in total or ratios

Assets vs Liabilities

2024 2025 2026 Q'26
Cash 107 81 76 96
Receivables 30 25 25 20
Inventory 99 111 84 82
Other — — — —
243 223 193 208
2024 2025 2026 Q'26
Payables 88 89 65 74
ST’ Debt — — — —
Other — — — —
188 188 156 153
in millions of $

Compound Annual Growth

10y 5y 3y
Sales (4.27%) 2.60% (4.86%)
Cash Flow 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Earnings 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Book Value (9.19%) (8.59%) (11.45%)

Revenue

Apr Jul Oct Jan Year
’26 171 166 — — —
’26 170 177 155 152 654
’25 177 169 146 158 650
’24 192 183 158 175 708
’23 207 197 177 179 759
’22 213 208 172 176 769
’21 101 168 151 155 575
in millions of $ · fiscal quarters ending in the months shown

Operating Cash Flow

Apr Jul Oct Jan Year
’26 8 14 — — —
’26 4 12 (12) (5) (1)
’25 6 3 (22) (6) (20)
’24 10 12 (10) (11) 0
’23 (1) 18 2 (6) 13
’22 45 37 (3) (20) 60
’21 (71) 23 22 (5) (31)
in millions of $ · fiscal quarters ending in the months shown

Free Cash Flow

Apr Jul Oct Jan Year
’26 7 13 — — —
’26 3 10 (13) (6) (5)
’25 2 2 (24) (8) (28)
’24 4 9 (12) (13) (12)
’23 (5) 12 (2) (11) (6)
’22 44 37 (3) (22) 56
’21 (77) 19 21 (7) (45)
in millions of $ · fiscal quarters ending in the months shown

EPS

Apr Jul Oct Jan Year
’26 0.47 0.06 — — —
’26 0.17 0.35 (0.28) (0.55) (0.31)
’25 0.54 0.00 (0.79) (0.74) (0.97)
’24 0.22 0.06 (0.30) (1.14) (1.17)
’23 0.46 (0.11) (0.21) (0.14) 0.00
’22 0.92 0.62 0.39 (0.30) 1.65
’21 (1.19) (0.30) (0.15) (0.31) (1.96)
fiscal quarters ending in the months shown

Target Price Range

Analyst price targets

Recommendation Rating

3
1Buy 2 3Hold 4 5Sell
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
12.20 10.76 11.85 6.07 8.93 8.40 6.54 3.02 2.19 2.30

Analyst estimates 2027–2029

Powerpack
Low Price
31.35 26.88 19.73 17.98 19.89 18.00 10.67 7.37 4.92 3.78
High Price
10,200 10,500 10,350 10,060 7,400 7,500 7,600 7,300 7,000 6,700
Employees
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Revenue/Emp
957 850 830 825 575 769 759 708 650 654
Revenue
37.07% 34.93% 37.02% 38.34% 24.68% 41.10% 32.87% 34.42% 32.84% 33.99%
Gross Margin
49 16 33 43 (73) 39 2 (14) (16) (7)
EBT
5.13% 1.88% 3.98% 5.24% (12.66%) 5.07% 0.23% (1.95%) (2.48%) (1.15%)
EBT Margin
47 9 30 36 (47) 37 0 (24) (18) (6)
Net Income
23 20 16 15 15 12 11 10 10 10
Depreciation
35.64 34.13 34.58 34.77 25.52 36.43 38.09 36.52 33.76 34.80
Revenue/Sh
1.72 0.34 1.23 1.46 (1.96) 1.65 0.00 (1.17) (0.97) (0.31)
Earnings/Sh
2.69 1.45 2.51 2.25 (1.36) 2.83 0.67 0.02 (1.03) (0.08)
Cash Flow/Sh
(1.02) (0.45) (0.18) (0.35) (0.62) (0.19) (0.97) (0.65) (0.41) (0.20)
Capex/Sh
1.67 1.00 2.33 1.90 (1.98) 2.64 (0.30) (0.62) (1.43) (0.28)
Free CF/Sh
14.30 13.10 13.20 13.33 10.94 12.04 11.37 9.92 8.43 8.37
Book Value/Sh
27 25 24 24 23 21 20 19 19 19
Shares
15.11 38.32 12.07 10.99 0.00 10.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
PE Ratio
0.71 0.35 0.43 0.46 0.43 0.45 0.26 0.19 0.10 0.09
PS Ratio
1.78 0.91 1.12 1.20 1.00 1.37 0.87 0.68 0.40 0.36
PB Ratio
0.45 0.11 0.18 0.20 0.17 0.23 0.09 0.03 (0.02) (0.03)
EV/Sales
9.58 3.83 2.60 3.65 (2.20) 3.22 (10.83) (2.00) 0.58 3.68
EV/FCF
72 36 60 53 (31) 60 13 0 (20) (1)
Op' Cash Flow
(27) (11) (4) (8) (14) (4) (19) (13) (8) (4)
Capex
45 25 56 45 (45) 56 (6) (12) (28) (5)
FCF
272 233 230 163 109 112 75 55 35 37
Working Cap'
— — — 210 207 184 175 — — —
Total Debt
(252) (201) (211) (216) (148) (170) (132) (107) (81) (76)
Net Debt
384 326 317 317 246 254 227 192 162 157
Sh' Equity
7.41% 1.49% 5.84% 5.85% (7.11%) 5.70% 0.01% (4.35%) (3.96%) (1.35%)
ROA
20.04% 5.46% 16.65% 23.14% (50.21%) 27.28% (2.69%) (13.81%) (21.30%) (10.86%)
ROIC
11.61% 2.36% 9.20% 10.93% (16.12%) 13.94% 0.02% (10.79%) (10.49%) (3.70%)
ROE
predictions in italic, sparklines do not include predictions

All 10 years →

Fiscal years to Jan 2026 · latest quarter Jul 2026

Cato Corporation (The) peers in Apparel Retail

All 32 Apparel Retail stocks →

Cato Corporation (The) (CATO) key facts

  • Cato Corporation (The) (CATO) is an Apparel Retail company in the Consumer Cyclical sector, listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
  • Cato Corporation (The)’s revenue for fiscal 2026 (year ended January 2026) was $653.8 million, up 0.62% from fiscal 2025.
  • As of September 25, 2026, CATO traded at $2.45, a market capitalization of $48.4 million.
  • Cato Corporation (The) pays an annual dividend of $0.68 per share, a yield of 9.93%, with a payout ratio of 147.8%.
  • Return on equity was −3.70% and debt-to-equity 0.00.

Source: company filings (standardised) and stockrow calculations.

Cato Corporation (The) (CATO) Latest News

News by impact score

Fine-tune

25 Sep

4

The Cato Corporation will close 120 stores by the end of fiscal 2026, expanding from an initial plan of 50 closures and leaving 70 to come in the remaining two quarters. The move follows a weak Q2 showing: net income of $1.1 million on sales of $163.9 million, down from $6.8 million on $174.7 million a year earlier. Cato operates about 1,057 stores in 31 states under three brands, including Cato Fashions and its It's Fashion/It's Fashion Metro lines, plus Versona; the Southeast is its largest market. Management blamed ongoing inflation, higher fuel prices, and elevated interest rates for weaker discretionary spending. The company noted it would not renew marginal stores, and disclosed no details on which locations will close. CATO stock traded near $2.43 after the news, down roughly 21% year to date. Closure of 120 stores and weaker quarterly results imply meaningful headwinds to growth and profitability.

18 Sep

3

Cato Corporation announces additional store closings for the third and fourth quarters. Store closings represent operational restructuring that may affect financial performance and market positioning.

4 Sep

3

Analysis compares Cato Corporation and Lulus on which apparel retailer holds greater upside potential. Direct comparison to competitor Lulus may influence Cato's market perception and competitive positioning.

31 Aug

4

Cato Corporation closes 14 stores with more closures planned as the 80-year-old discount clothing chain continues retail footprint reduction. Repeated store closures mark major strategic contraction that significantly alters revenue trajectory and investor outlook.

4

Cato Corporation reported earnings for the second quarter of 2026, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.35, a significant increase from US$0.005 in the same quarter of 2025. This notable rise in EPS indicates a strong improvement in the company's financial performance year-over-year. The substantial increase in EPS suggests a significant positive shift in financial performance that could influence investor sentiment and future growth.

20 Aug

3

Cato Corporation reports second quarter results. Quarterly results update financial performance and can shift near-term stock valuation.

9 Jun

4

Cato Corporation accelerates store closures at a rapid pace, with numbers indicating major retail contraction and operational cutbacks. Rapid store closures mark major strategic downsizing that will likely shift company trajectory and investor sentiment.

21 May

3

Cato Corporation reported first-quarter earnings results. Quarterly earnings results deliver financial metrics that shape near-term investor sentiment and valuation.

3 Apr

3

Cato (NYSE:CATO) is well-positioned to execute its growth plans effectively. Cato's strong positioning for growth moderately boosts financial performance and competitive outlook.

25 Mar

3

Cato Corporation reported a Q4 loss that narrowed year-over-year, driven by margin gains. Narrower Q4 loss on margin gains moderately influences financial performance and market sentiment without altering long-term trajectory.

3

Cato Corporation reported a narrower loss in Q4 compared to the previous year, leading to a 16% increase in its stock price. The company's financial performance showed signs of improvement, reflecting better management of costs and operations despite ongoing challenges in the retail sector. The narrowing of losses indicates a potential positive shift in financial performance, but broader market challenges remain.

19 Mar

4

Cato Corporation (CATO) released fiscal Q4 earnings snapshot, detailing quarterly financial results. Fiscal Q4 earnings snapshot provides critical financial metrics that significantly influence CATO's stock performance and investor sentiment.

4

Cato Corporation reported losses for both the fourth quarter and full year. Fourth-quarter and full-year losses signal weakened financial health, significantly impacting investor sentiment and market performance.

26 Nov

3

Cato Corporation reported a narrower loss in Q3 compared to the previous year, driven by an increase in same-store sales. The company's performance reflects a positive trend in sales growth, indicating potential recovery and improved operational efficiency. Despite challenges in the retail sector, Cato's strategic focus on enhancing customer experience and inventory management appears to be yielding results, contributing to a more favorable financial outlook. Improved same-store sales indicate a moderately positive influence on financial performance and market sentiment.

20 Nov

3

Cato Corporation reported its fiscal Q3 earnings, revealing a decline in sales and a net loss compared to the previous year. The company's performance was impacted by reduced consumer spending and increased competition in the retail sector. Despite these challenges, Cato remains focused on its long-term strategies, including cost management and inventory control, to navigate the current market conditions. The outlook for the upcoming quarters remains cautious as the company adapts to changing consumer behaviors. The decline in sales and net loss indicates a moderately noticeable influence on financial performance and market sentiment.

3

Cato Corporation reported its third-quarter results, revealing a decline in sales and earnings compared to the previous year. The company faced challenges due to reduced consumer spending and increased competition in the retail sector. Despite these hurdles, Cato remains focused on its long-term strategy, including cost management and inventory control, to navigate the current market conditions. The outlook for the upcoming quarter remains cautious as the company adapts to changing consumer behaviors and economic uncertainties. Sales and earnings decline indicates moderate challenges that could affect financial performance.

24 Oct

3

Cato Corporation is experiencing cash burn, but analysts are not overly concerned due to the company's strong brand presence and potential for recovery. The retail sector is facing challenges, yet Cato's strategic initiatives and cost management efforts are expected to mitigate risks. The company has a solid customer base and is adapting to market changes, which could support its financial stability moving forward. Cato's cash burn situation may affect its financial performance, but strategic initiatives are in place to manage risks.

27 Aug

4

Cato Corporation reported a significant increase in Q2 earnings year-over-year, driven by growth in same-store sales. The company's performance reflects a positive trend in consumer demand and effective operational strategies, contributing to improved financial results. The earnings jump indicates a significant positive shift in financial performance and market sentiment.

22 Aug

3

Cato Corporation (CATO) is highlighted as one of the top penny stocks to watch in August 2025, reflecting potential investor interest and market activity. The company is noted for its strategic initiatives and market positioning, which may influence its stock performance in the near future. Analysts suggest that CATO's recent developments could attract attention from both retail and institutional investors, indicating a possible upward trend in its stock value. Cato Corporation's strategic initiatives may moderately influence its market performance and investor sentiment.

21 Aug

3

Cato Corporation (CATO) has been identified as one of the top midday gainers in the stock market, reflecting a positive shift in investor sentiment and market performance. The company's stock price has seen a notable increase, contributing to its recognition among leading gainers today. This uptick may be attributed to various factors, including market trends and investor confidence in the company's future prospects. The stock's recognition as a top gainer indicates a moderately noticeable influence on market sentiment and potential financial performance.

3

Cato Corporation reported its fiscal Q2 earnings, revealing a decline in sales and a net loss compared to the previous year. The company's revenue fell significantly, attributed to reduced consumer spending and challenges in the retail environment. Despite efforts to manage costs, the overall financial performance was below expectations, prompting concerns about future profitability and market positioning. Cato's management outlined strategies to address these challenges, including potential store closures and a focus on e-commerce growth. The decline in sales and net loss indicates a moderately noticeable influence on financial performance and market sentiment.

3

Cato Corporation reported its second-quarter results, highlighting a decline in sales and earnings compared to the previous year. The company experienced a decrease in comparable store sales and a net loss for the quarter. Management attributed the results to ongoing challenges in the retail environment, including inflation and changing consumer behavior. Despite these challenges, Cato remains focused on its long-term strategy and plans to continue adapting to market conditions. The decline in sales and earnings indicates a moderately noticeable influence on financial performance and market sentiment.

10 Aug

3

Cato Corporation (CATO) has experienced a significant decline in its stock value, losing 72% over the past three years. This downturn reflects broader challenges faced by the company, including competitive pressures and changing consumer preferences. Investors are concerned about the company's ability to recover and improve its financial performance in the future. The substantial loss in stock value indicates a moderately noticeable influence on Cato's financial performance and market sentiment.

28 May

3

Cato Corporation's shares rose 11.5% following its Q1 2025 earnings report, despite a 69% year-over-year decline in net income to 17 cents per share and a 3.9% drop in total revenues to $170.2 million. Same-store sales remained flat amid a cautious consumer environment. Gross margin decreased slightly, while SG&A expenses rose as a percentage of sales. The company closed eight stores, reducing its total to 1,109, and repurchased shares, indicating confidence in its valuation. Management cited economic uncertainty and proposed tariffs as challenges, with a measured outlook for recovery. The significant decline in earnings and revenues, coupled with management's cautious outlook, suggests a moderately noticeable influence on future performance.

24 May

4

Cato Corporation (NYSE:CATO) reported its First Quarter 2026 results, revealing a revenue of US$170.2 million, a 3.9% decline from the previous year. Net income fell 68% to US$3.31 million, with a profit margin of 1.9%, down from 5.9% in 1Q 2025. Earnings per share (EPS) decreased to US$0.17 from US$0.54 in the same quarter last year. The company is also facing three warning signs in its investment analysis. Despite these challenges, Cato shares have risen 2.8% over the past week. Significant declines in revenue, net income, and profit margin indicate potential challenges for future performance.

22 May

3

Cato Corporation reported its first-quarter earnings, revealing a decline in sales and a net loss compared to the previous year. The company attributed the downturn to challenging market conditions and increased competition. Despite these challenges, Cato remains focused on its strategic initiatives to improve performance and enhance customer engagement. Management expressed optimism about future recovery as they adapt to changing consumer preferences and market dynamics. The decline in sales and net loss indicates a moderately noticeable influence on financial performance and market sentiment.

17 May

3

Cato Corporation (NYSE:CATO) has a cash runway of approximately 2.8 years, with $78 million in cash and no debt, despite burning through $28 million last year. The company's cash burn increased by 130% while operating revenue declined by 8.3%, raising concerns about its growth strategy. Cato's market capitalization is $51 million, meaning its cash burn represents 54% of its market value, indicating potential difficulties in raising additional funds. Overall, while the cash runway is reassuring, the rising cash burn poses risks for shareholders. Cato's increasing cash burn and declining revenue could moderately influence its financial performance and investor sentiment.

31 Mar

3

Cato Corporation, a specialty retailer in fashion apparel, has a market cap of $73.37 million and reported a revenue decline to $649.81 million from $708.06 million year-over-year. The company remains unprofitable, with net losses improving slightly to $18.06 million. Despite being debt-free, Cato faces financial pressure with a 15.2% annual loss rate over the past five years, raising concerns about its negative return on equity. Cato's ongoing financial struggles and revenue decline may moderately influence its market performance and investor sentiment.

20 Mar

3

Cato Corporation reported its fiscal Q4 earnings, revealing a decline in sales and a net loss compared to the previous year. The company's revenue fell significantly, attributed to reduced consumer spending and increased competition in the retail sector. Despite the challenges, Cato's management expressed optimism about future strategies to enhance profitability and market presence. The company plans to focus on improving inventory management and expanding its online presence to adapt to changing consumer behaviors. The decline in sales and net loss indicate challenges that may moderately influence Cato's financial performance and market positioning.

3

Cato Corporation reported a loss for the fourth quarter and the full year, attributing the downturn to decreased sales and increased expenses. The company faced challenges in its retail operations, leading to a significant decline in profitability compared to the previous year. Management is focusing on strategies to improve performance and navigate the current market conditions. The reported losses and operational challenges are expected to moderately influence Cato's financial performance and market positioning.

stockrow.com/CATO · Data as of Jul 31, 2026 · For information only; not investment advice. · © 2026 stockrow.com