Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 80.3x · EV/EBITDA 50.4x · ROE 4.5%. (2003–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $421M | $358M | $215M | $221M | $264M | $431M | $609M | $272M | $268M | $332M | $235M |
| Enterprise Value | $578M | $515M | $375M | $376M | $428M | $597M | $679M | $431M | $250M | $283M | $186M |
| P/E Ratio → | 80.25 | 68.49 | — | — | 4.48 | 6.91 | 25.43 | 16.52 | 12.49 | 22.83 | 17.64 |
| P/S Ratio | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.33 | 0.43 | 0.78 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.44 | 0.34 |
| P/B Ratio | 3.61 | 3.08 | 1.90 | 1.40 | 1.59 | 3.71 | 3.72 | 1.59 | 1.43 | 1.58 | 1.05 |
| P/FCF | 674.93 | 573.95 | — | — | — | 9.65 | 6.49 | 14.78 | 15.61 | 15.57 | 14.88 |
| P/OCF | 20.10 | 17.09 | — | — | 45.86 | 5.79 | 5.50 | 6.39 | 8.81 | 7.84 | 5.92 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 0.63 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.54 | 0.60 | 0.87 | 0.55 | 0.32 | 0.38 | 0.27 |
| EV / EBITDA | 50.42 | 44.93 | — | — | 13.45 | 5.97 | 13.26 | 11.47 | 5.68 | 6.80 | 5.16 |
| EV / EBIT | — | — | — | — | 5.61 | 7.50 | 21.10 | 21.57 | 9.44 | 11.98 | 9.54 |
| EV / FCF | — | 825.92 | — | — | — | 13.38 | 7.23 | 23.37 | 14.57 | 13.29 | 11.77 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 37.3% | 37.3% | 37.5% | 38.1% | 39.1% | 41.1% | 39.8% | 38.0% | 38.1% | 38.3% | 38.4% |
| Operating Margin | -0.9% | -0.9% | -5.2% | -2.6% | 1.4% | 8.0% | 4.1% | 2.4% | 3.3% | 3.0% | 2.7% |
| Net Profit Margin | 0.6% | 0.6% | -5.7% | -1.6% | 7.4% | 6.3% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 4.5% | 4.5% | -31.9% | -7.4% | 41.7% | 44.5% | 14.3% | 9.2% | 10.8% | 6.7% | 6.1% |
| ROA | 1.1% | 1.1% | -8.8% | -2.3% | 11.6% | 12.9% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 6.8% | 4.4% | 4.1% |
| ROIC | -1.9% | -1.9% | -10.1% | -4.5% | 2.7% | 23.1% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 11.4% | 10.2% | 8.2% |
| ROCE | -2.4% | -2.4% | -12.4% | -5.3% | 3.3% | 26.6% | 10.3% | 7.5% | 12.2% | 10.1% | 8.4% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 1.92 | 1.92 | 1.95 | 1.49 | 1.61 | 1.86 | 1.18 | 1.04 | — | — | — |
| Debt / EBITDA | 19.47 | 19.47 | — | — | 8.41 | 2.16 | 3.77 | 4.75 | — | — | — |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 1.35 | 1.41 | 0.98 | 0.99 | 1.43 | 0.43 | 0.93 | -0.10 | -0.23 | -0.22 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 13.71 | 13.71 | — | — | 5.16 | 1.66 | 1.36 | 4.22 | -0.41 | -1.16 | -1.37 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 251.96 | — | — | — | 3.73 | 0.74 | 8.59 | -1.04 | -2.27 | -3.12 |
| Interest Coverage | -20.50 | -20.50 | -116.03 | -50.92 | 249.47 | 259.96 | 41.46 | 126.38 | 171.96 | 157.67 | 122.70 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.11 | 1.11 | 1.13 | 1.32 | 1.39 | 1.03 | 1.34 | 1.33 | 2.20 | 2.14 | 2.36 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.43 | 0.56 | 0.73 | 0.37 | 0.77 | 0.42 | 0.84 | 0.88 | 1.02 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.38 | 0.38 | 0.35 | 0.47 | 0.64 | 0.27 | 0.67 | 0.31 | 0.67 | 0.73 | 0.87 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 1.74 | 1.63 | 1.44 | 1.46 | 2.09 | 1.58 | 1.70 | 2.58 | 2.31 | 2.09 |
| Inventory Turnover | 4.53 | 4.53 | 3.84 | 3.55 | 4.58 | 4.72 | 4.54 | 3.51 | 3.41 | 3.38 | 3.18 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | — | 1.51 | 2.01 | 0.28 | 1.47 | — | 0.55 | — | — | 0.86 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.1% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.5% |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.5% | 22.8% | 19.7% | 29.0% | 26.4% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 1.2% | 1.5% | — | — | 22.3% | 14.5% | 3.9% | 6.1% | 8.0% | 4.4% | 5.7% |
| FCF Yield | 0.1% | 0.2% | — | — | — | 10.4% | 15.4% | 6.8% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.7% |
| Buyback Yield | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 3.8% | 26.8% | 5.4% | 10.4% | 15.1% | 7.5% | 0.7% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 3.8% | 26.8% | 5.5% | 11.8% | 16.7% | 8.8% | 2.2% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $8M | $8M | $8M | $8M | $9M | $10M | $12M | $13M | $14M | $15M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 23 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CTRN stock.
Citi Trends, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 80.3x. The historical average is 22.6x. This places it at the 100th percentile of its historical range.
Citi Trends, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 50.4x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 11.0x.
Citi Trends, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 4.5%. The historical average is 11.7%.
Based on historical data, Citi Trends, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 80.3x. This is at the 100th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Citi Trends, Inc. has 37.3% gross margin and -0.9% operating margin.
Citi Trends, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 19.5x, indicating high leverage. A ratio above 4x may signal elevated financial risk.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Volatile cash conversion and liquidity pressure
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Valuation Disconnect from Current Earnings
The current P/E of 95.56 appears excessive relative to historical losses, but the forward P/E of 31.19 implies the market is pricing in a significant earnings recovery, which must be validated by sustained profitability.
Citi Trends' trailing valuation metrics are distorted by a near-breakeven earnings base, making the forward multiple the more relevant figure for analysis. The forward P/E of 31.19 is still a premium to its direct peer CATO, which trades at a negative multiple, but a deep discount to the off-price sector leaders like Ross Stores and Burlington, suggesting the market remains skeptical of its ability to achieve durable profitability. This valuation creates a high bar for the turnaround thesis to materialize.
Margin Volatility Undermines Earnings Power
Citi Trends' operating margin has swung from -14.1% to 3.2% in recent quarters, indicating that recent profitability appears cyclical and may not reflect a sustainable structural improvement in its cost base or pricing power.
The decomposition shows that while gross margins have recovered from a 2024 trough, the conversion to operating income remains inconsistent, with operating losses reappearing in 2025Q3 and 2026Q2. This pattern suggests that overhead costs are not being managed down proportionally during revenue soft patches, resulting in a fragile earnings model. The most recent quarter's return to a negative operating margin of -0.9% underscores that the path to consistent profitability remains unproven.
Negative Returns Signal Value Destruction
Based on reported figures, ROIC has been negative for 7 of the last 10 quarters, with a latest reading of -0.5%, suggesting the company is currently failing to generate returns above its cost of capital, a fundamental weakness for long-term investors.
The persistent negative ROIC trend is a direct consequence of the inability to maintain stable operating margins. With ROE also turning negative at -0.7% in the latest quarter, the company is not generating positive returns for shareholders. This pattern of capital destruction is consistent with a business model struggling to find a stable equilibrium in a competitive off-price landscape.
Working Capital Drives Erratic Cash Flows
The cash conversion cycle expanded dramatically to 45 days in 2026Q2, driven by a sharp increase in days inventory outstanding to 84 days, which reveals a significant build-up of inventory that is consuming cash and pressuring liquidity.
The DIO spike to 84 days in the latest quarter is a critical red flag, as it indicates inventory is moving much more slowly than in prior periods (72-75 days), potentially leading to markdowns and margin erosion. While DPO decreased to 39 days, suggesting reduced supplier leverage, the primary inefficiency is on the asset side. This poor inventory management is the core driver behind the recent $32.9M working capital outflow and the deterioration in the current ratio.
Acute Short-Term Pressure on Liquidity
The current ratio has fallen to 0.71 in 2026Q2, a level that appears inadequate based on recent filings and suggests the company may face challenges meeting its short-term obligations without refinancing or a reversal in working capital trends.
A current ratio below 1.0 is a classic distress signal, and for Citi Trends, it is driven by the massive working capital swing and inventory accumulation. The quick ratio of 0.27 is particularly concerning, indicating that without selling inventory, the company has minimal liquid assets to cover immediate liabilities. This level of liquidity risk warrants close monitoring, especially if the sales or inventory conversion trends do not improve promptly.
The Dangerous Reliance on Forward Earnings
The forward P/E ratio is the most commonly misapplied metric for Citi Trends, as it obscures the company's history of unprofitability and the volatility of its earnings, creating a false sense of value stability.
For a cyclical retailer with erratic quarterly results, the forward P/E assumes a smooth, predictable earnings trajectory that does not align with Citi Trends' operational reality. The metric fails to account for the company's demonstrated vulnerability to inventory mismanagement and its pattern of returning to operating losses. A more appropriate metric would be EV/EBITDA on a normalized, multi-year basis or price-to-sales, which currently sits at a low 0.61 and better reflects the risk-adjusted revenue stream of a turnaround story.