CATOConsumer Cyclical · Apparel RetailTicker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 38 of 100 as at 31 Oct 2026 — in the lower half.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores The Cato Corp. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Growth (87): Sales and profits are climbing, and climbing faster than before.
Momentum (12): The shares have been drifting down relative to others.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs systematic trader with 15+ years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on CATO, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
CATO appears in the Radar on the weeks it earns a place.
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Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 30 Oct 2026, The Cato Corp. returned −37.2% against +12.4% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
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Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 92% of US stocks
Cheaper than 96% of US stocks
Cheaper than 87% of US stocks
Cheaper than 89% of US stocks
Higher than 19% of US stocks
Higher than 5% of US stocks
Higher than 39% of US stocks
Higher than 31% of US stocks
Higher than 29% of US stocks
Higher than 41% of US stocks
Higher than 37% of US stocks
Higher than 98% of US dividend payers
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
The Cato Corp. has a market value of $46.0M and an enterprise value of $90.1M.
Revenue in the twelve months to 31 July 2026: $643.7M. The latest quarter shrank 6.2% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: −$5.6M, a −0.9% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $−0.30.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 31 July 2026: $1.6M, after $3.8M of capital spending.
The Cato Corp. spent $422K on share buybacks in the twelve months to 31 July 2026.
Trailing P/E: −7.5×; forward P/E: 1.8× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Forward dividend yield: 29.37%, paying out 148% of earnings.
The Cato Corp. employs 6,700 people — $96K of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own The Cato Corp. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
The item describes Cato as facing declining retail sales, store closures, margin pressure and tariff challenges, while stronger cash flow and cost controls provide financial flexibility. Its headline notes that CATO fell 31% over three months.
Why it matters — CATO watchers may weigh the operational and cost pressures against the company's stronger cash flow and cost controls.
The Cato Corporation announced plans to close approximately 70 additional underperforming stores in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2026, bringing total planned store closures for the year to approximately 120. The announcement was made from the company's headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 18, 2026.
Why it matters — CATO watchers would care because the accelerated pace of store closures signals continued contraction of the company's physical retail footprint and persistent underperformance of its store base.
Zacks Investment Research published an industry piece examining Cato versus rival Lulus amid selective growth in the U.S. apparel and shoes retail sector. The report highlights resilient consumer spending, demand for performance footwear, comfort-focused styles and denim, alongside digital and direct-to-consumer expansion broadening customer reach.
Why it matters — The analysis places Cato within broader industry trends that could shape its competitive positioning and growth prospects.
Cato reported Q2 earnings per share and sales that declined year over year, according to Zacks Investment Research. The results were impacted by weaker consumer spending, lower merchandise margins, and occupancy-cost deleverage.
Why it matters — CATO watchers would note that the company's quarterly financial performance weakened versus the prior year, driven by softer consumer demand and margin pressures.
The Cato Corporation reported second-quarter net income of $1.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the quarter ended August 1, 2026, down from net income of $6.8 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the same period a year earlier.
Why it matters — The results show a significant year-over-year decline in quarterly profitability for Cato.
Of the 1 analysts covering The Cato Corp., 0 rate it a Buy, 1 a Hold and 0 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks The Cato Corp. 38 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 31 Oct 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 31 Oct 2026, The Cato Corp. ranks 38 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Growth (87 of 100).
No analyst covering The Cato Corp. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for CATO are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business.
The Cato Corp. returned -37.2% over the 12 months to 30 Oct 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
The Cato Corporation Class A Common Stock represents ownership in The Cato Corporation, a specialty retailer focused on women’s apparel, shoes, and accessories. The company operates through its Retail and Credit segments, combining brick-and-mortar stores with an online presence to serve customers across fashion and value-oriented shopping channels.
The most recent item we track (Zacks Investment Research, 15 Oct 2026): "Cato Tumbles 31% in Three Months: Should You Buy the Dip or Wait?". The item describes Cato as facing declining retail sales, store closures, margin pressure and tariff challenges, while stronger cash flow and cost controls provide financial flexibility. Its headline notes that CATO fell 31% over three months.
The Cato Corporation Class A Common Stock represents ownership in The Cato Corporation, a specialty retailer focused on women’s apparel, shoes, and accessories. The company operates through its Retail and Credit segments, combining brick-and-mortar stores with an online presence to serve customers across fashion and value-oriented shopping channels. Its retail banners include concepts such as Cato and Versona, which target different style and pricing preferences within the apparel market. The Credit segment supports customer purchases through credit card and credit authorization services, adding a financial-services component to the business model. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, The Cato Corporation plays a niche role in the consumer discretionary sector by offering apparel and accessories across multiple shopping formats and customer segments.
CEO Mr. John P. Derham Cato · 6,700 employees · United States · https://www.catofashions.com
