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EarningsQ2 2026 Earnings Report
CTRN Q2 2026 EPS Results
Actual EPS$0.05
Consensus EPS-$0.32
Beat/MissBeat by +$0.37
One Year Ago EPS-$0.82
CTRN Q2 2026 Revenue Results
Actual Revenue$211.63M
Expected Revenue$211.60M
Beat/MissBeat by +$32.00K
YoY Revenue Growth+10.95%
Earnings Announcement Details
QuarterQ2 2026
Date08/25/2026
TimeBefore Open
Conference CallTuesday, August 25, 2026
CTRN Upcoming Earnings
Citi Trends's next earnings date is estimated for December 1, 2026, based on past reporting schedules.
Q2 2026 Earnings Call Audio
CTRN Q2 2026 Earnings Call
0:00 / 0:00
Q2 2026 Earnings Slide Deck
No slide deck is available for this earnings event.
Q2 2026 Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call conveyed a strong operational turnaround with consistent comparable sales growth, margin expansion, inventory efficiency, a clear upgrade to full-year guidance, and multiple strategic initiatives (AI, CRM, store growth) that underpin future growth. The primary headwinds cited were higher freight/fuel surcharges, a modest Q2 EBITDA margin, and some near-term timing shifts in store openings. Overall, the positive results, raised outlook, and balance sheet flexibility outweigh the cited challenges.Company Guidance
Comparable Store Sales Growth
Q2 comparable store sales increased 10.5% year-over-year and 19.7% on a 2-year basis; marks eighth consecutive quarter of comp growth and six straight quarters of +9% or better momentum.
Total Sales Increase
Q2 total sales were $212.0 million, a 10.9% increase versus Q2 2025; first half sales include $50 million of incremental sales driving year-to-date improvement.
Adjusted EBITDA Turnaround
Q2 adjusted EBITDA of $5.5 million (a $6.6M improvement from prior year loss of $1.1M); first half adjusted EBITDA of $19.4 million, up $14.1 million year-over-year and more than all of 2025.
Gross Margin Expansion
Q2 gross margin rose to 40.6%, up 60 basis points year-over-year; year-to-date selling margin improved ~50 basis points driven by merchandising and shrink reduction.
SG&A and Operational Leverage
Adjusted SG&A as a rate of sales leveraged 260 basis points year-to-date; Q2 adjusted SG&A dollars increased to $80.4M but leveraged to sales at 38% (260 bps improvement).
Inventory Efficiency
Quarter-end total inventory was up only 7.5% year-over-year while comps grew 10.5%, reflecting improved inventory productivity and AI-driven allocation benefits.
Balance Sheet Strength
Quarter-end cash of $55.9 million, no debt, and no borrowings on a $75 million revolver; board approved a $100 million shelf registration and $40 million remaining share repurchase authorization.
Operational Productivity Gains
Distribution center costs lowered by ~60 basis points in the first half through efficiency improvements; store payroll leveraged ~70 basis points year-to-date driven by productivity.
Product and Customer Momentum
Balanced growth across apparel, non-apparel and home; notable step-change in women's business and strong performance in men's, children's and Family Shoe divisions; customer base includes ~25% with household incomes $75k–$150k who generate >40% of revenue.
Strategic Investments and Growth Initiatives
Launched Insiders Club CRM (7/15) to convert traffic into loyalty; expanded AI tools for allocation and analytics; opened 4 new stores in Q2 (594 stores total) and increased planned remodels to ~60–65 for the year.
Raised Full-Year Outlook
Updated FY26 guidance: comparable store sales growth 9%–11% (raised from 8%–10%); total sales growth 10%–12%; adjusted EBITDA expected $38M–$42M (raised from $35M–$40M).
CTRN Earnings History
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
Beat
Missed