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Citi Trends Inc(CTRN)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$46.5
11/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CTRN

11/09/2026: CTRN (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Citi Trends Inc is a specialized off-price retailer focused on providing affordable apparel and home goods to urban, value-conscious consumers. The company's primary strength lies in its niche market focus and a flexible store model that caters to a specific demographic. While the company has historically utilized store expansion as a growth driver, it is currently navigating operational challenges and intense competition from larger, better-capitalized national discount retailers. Key risks include significant macroeconomic sensitivity, margin pressure from logistics costs, and the ongoing need for effective inventory execution. The stock may appeal to turnaround-focused investors, though it remains a volatile play in a challenging retail environment.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitThe company is currently focused more on operational stability and turnaround than on rapid top-line expansion.
Momentum investorWeak fitMomentum metrics are generally muted; a shift would require a strong positive upturn in sales and margin consistency.
Value investorMixed fitWhile the stock may appear discounted, valuation is tied heavily to the successful execution of operational turnarounds.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe business model and stock exhibit significant volatility and sensitivity to broader macroeconomic cycles.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is highly sensitive to quarterly earnings misses and retail sentiment.
Valuation riskMediumFuture valuation depends heavily on the company's ability to restore profit margins.
Competition risk (off-price retail giants)HighLarger competitors with better scale can offer deeper discounts and more aggressive inventory cycles.
Business qualityMediumThe niche focus provides some protection but limits overall operating leverage.
Dividend incomeLow / noneShareholders receive no income through dividends.
Execution riskHighManagement must successfully navigate inventory and cost pressures to deliver sustained profitability.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 33.7%
Avg. Invested days 48
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CTRN receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, soft quantitative characteristics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CTRN has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, strong earnings growth (+112.1%) is partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 0.1%), moderate revenue growth (+8.9%), soft profitability (net margin 0.6%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CTRN's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (0.1% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is CTRN's strongest growth driver at +112.1% FY2026 versus FY2025 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, free-cash-flow growth (+104.5%, strong) is also strong, while revenue growth (+8.9%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 105.7% and approximately 56.8% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 9.64% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Fund 1 Investments LLC 21.87%
Divisadero Street Capital Management, LP 8.46%
BlackRock Inc 6.10%
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 3.10%
Acadian Asset Management LLC 3.03%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CTRN generates approximately $373 of gross profit, $-9 of operating income, and $1 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Operating losses explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 5.38%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CTRN has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

High VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 375.36M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 53.58
1Y Target Price 91
Price to earnings Ratio 53.58
1Y Target Price 91
Volume (30-day avg) 196.0K shares
Beta 1.87
52 Weeks Range 36.05 - 77.91
Updated Date 11/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 36.05 - 77.91
Updated Date 11/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.84

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Retail SalesPhysical store sales of apparel, footwear, and home accessories.The company depends on getting customers into physical stores to buy affordable items.

Valuation

Trailing PE 53.58
Forward PE 3.64
Enterprise Value 544.32M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.43
Enterprise Value 544.32M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.43
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.63
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 19.46
Shares Outstanding 8.34M
Shares Floating 4.74M
Shares Outstanding 8.34M
Shares Floating 4.74M
Percent Insiders 9.64
Percent Institutions 105.66

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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