Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does Citi Trends Inc Do?
Citi Trends, Inc. operates as a value retailer of fashion apparel, accessories, and home goods. It offers apparel, such as fashion sportswear and footwear for men and ladies, as well as apparel for kids, including newborns, infants, toddlers, boys, and girls; sleepwear, lingerie, and scrubs for ladies; and kids uniforms and accessories. The company also provides accessories and beauty products that include handbags, luggage, hats, belts, sunglasses, jewelry, and watches, as well as undergarments and outerwear for men and women. In addition, it offers home and lifestyle products comprising home products for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and decorative accessories; and food, tech, team sports, and health products, as well as seasonal items, books, and toys. The company provides its products primarily to African American and Latinx families in the United States. As of January 29, 2022, it operated 609 stores in urban and rural markets in 33 states. The company was formerly known as Allied Fashion, Inc. and changed its name to Citi Trends, Inc. in 2001. Citi Trends, Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) is classified as a small-cap stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, specifically within the Retail industry. The company is led by CEO David N. Makuen and employs approximately 5,400 people, headquartered in SAVANNAH, Georgia. With a market capitalization of $368M, CTRN is one of the notable companies in the Consumer Discretionary sector.
Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)
As of April 2026, Citi Trends Inc receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 45.8/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.CTRN ranks #2,400 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Consumer Discretionary sector, Citi Trends Inc ranks #242 of 442 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Consumer Discretionary peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
CTRN Stock Price and 52-Week Range
Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) currently trades at $44.85. The stock lost $0.44 (1.0%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for CTRN is $56.78, which means the stock is currently trading -21.0% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $16.82, putting the stock 166.6% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 35K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.
Is CTRN Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) carries a value factor score of 42/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 94.35x, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 24.47x — a premium of 286%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 3.13x, versus the sector average of 1.99x. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.47x, compared to 0.27x for the average Consumer Discretionary stock. On an enterprise value basis, CTRN trades at 25.17x EV/EBITDA, versus 4.91x for the sector.
Overall, CTRN's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
Citi Trends Inc Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is -18.4%, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 6.2%, which is below typical expectations for high-quality companies. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at -4.6% versus the sector average of 2.5%.
On a margin basis, Citi Trends Inc reports gross margins of 39.0%, compared to 36.9% for the sector. The operating margin is -4.2% (sector: 3.8%). Net profit margin stands at -3.0%, versus 2.1% for the average Consumer Discretionary stock. Revenue growth is running at 2.4% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.3% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.
CTRN Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
Citi Trends Inc has a debt-to-equity ratio of 304.0%, compared to the Consumer Discretionary sector average of 89.0%. This elevated leverage warrants close monitoring, as it increases the company's sensitivity to rising interest rates and economic downturns. The current ratio is 1.13x, suggesting adequate working capital coverage. Total debt on the balance sheet is $0. Cash and equivalents stand at $51M.
CTRN has a beta of 1.29, meaning it is more volatile than the broader market — a $10,000 investment in CTRN would be expected to move 29.2% more than the S&P 500 on any given day. The stability factor score for Citi Trends Inc is 41/100, reflecting average volatility within the normal range for its sector.
Citi Trends Inc Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, Citi Trends Inc reported revenue of $748M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.48. Net income for the quarter was $-21M. Gross margin was 39.0%. Operating income came in at $-30M.
In Q2 2026, Citi Trends Inc reported revenue of $191M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.48. Net income for the quarter was $4M. Revenue grew 8.0% year-over-year compared to Q2 2025. Operating income came in at $4M.
In Q1 2026, Citi Trends Inc reported revenue of $202M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.11. Net income for the quarter was $871,000. Revenue grew 8.3% year-over-year compared to Q1 2025. Operating income came in at $489,000.
In FY 2025, Citi Trends Inc reported revenue of $753M and earnings per share (EPS) of $-5.19. Net income for the quarter was $-43M. Revenue grew 0.7% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $-39M.
Over the past 8 quarters, Citi Trends Inc has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $748M to $748M. Investors analyzing CTRN stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
CTRN Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among smaller companies in the Retail industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Consumer Discretionary dividend stocks may want to explore other Consumer Discretionary stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.
CTRN Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) has a momentum factor score of 66/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 32/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 6/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.
CTRN vs Competitors — Consumer Discretionary Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Consumer Discretionary sector, Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) ranks #242 out of 442 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places CTRN in the lower half of all Consumer Discretionary stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include MONARCH CASINO & RESORT INC (MCRI) with a score of 50.5/100, CASEYS GENERAL STORES INC (CASY) with a score of 57.3/100, INGLES MARKETS INC (IMKTA) with a score of 51.0/100, FIVE BELOW, INC (FIVE) with a score of 51.6/100, and TARGET CORP (TGT) with a score of 52.6/100.
Comparing CTRN against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full CTRN vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how Citi Trends Inc stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
CTRN Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy CTRN? — Investment Thesis Summary
The quantitative profile for Citi Trends Inc suggests caution. Price momentum is positive at 66/100, suggesting the trend favors buyers.
In summary, Citi Trends Inc (CTRN) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 45.8/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on CTRN stock.
Related Resources for CTRN Investors
Explore more research and tools: CTRN vs S&P 500 comparison, top Consumer Discretionary stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare CTRN head-to-head with peers: CTRN vs MCRI, CTRN vs CASY, CTRN vs IMKTA.