Citi Trends Holiday Sales Rise 9.6% to $191.2 Million
Citi Trends announced results for its holiday selling period. Total sales for the nine-week holiday period ending January 3, 2026 of $191.2M compared to $174.4M in the same period in 2024, an increase of 9.6%. Comparable store sales increased 9.3% versus 2024 with a two-year stack of 16.4%. For the year-to-date period ending January 3, 2026, total sales of $780.8M compared to $716.3M in the same period in 2024, an increase of 9.0%. Comparable store sales increased 9.8% compared to the same period last year; 13.3% on a two-year stack basis. Ken Seipel, CEO, said, "I am pleased to report that the top line momentum we've seen over the last five quarters continued through the holiday season with comparable store sales growth of 9.3% as a result of continued increases in both the number of transactions and average basket size. This growth comes on top of the 7.1% comp for the same period last year, giving us a two-year stack of 16.4%. Our holiday sales were fueled by our elevated product assortment, including brands, fashion and exciting off-price deals, all of which resonated well with our customers. This year, our in-store readiness was further supported with our "Joy Looks Good on You" marketing campaign with refreshed branding on social media. Since launching the campaign, we've had over twelve million viral views and engagements. As a result of holiday performance, we are reaffirming our previously provided outlook."
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- Earnings Release Schedule: Citi Trends plans to release its Q4 and full year 2025 earnings before the market opens on March 17, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Timing: A conference call will take place on the same day at 9:00 AM ET, providing a platform for real-time discussions on financial and business developments, aimed at enhancing investor engagement and trust.
- Online Live Stream and Replay: The conference will be available via live stream on the company's website, with a replay accessible for one year post-call, ensuring investors can obtain key information at their convenience and improving information accessibility.
- Company Background Overview: Citi Trends is a leading off-price retailer in the U.S. focused on apparel, accessories, and home trends primarily for Black families, operating 592 stores across 33 states, showcasing its extensive market presence.
- Conference Announcement: Citi Trends will present at the UBS 2026 Global Consumer and Retail Conference on March 11, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET, showcasing its market positioning in apparel and home trends, which is expected to attract investor interest.
- Management Participation: The company's management will attend the conference, indicating Citi Trends' commitment to investor communication, aiming to enhance market confidence and increase brand visibility.
- Live Webcast: The presentation will be available via live webcast on the company's website, allowing global investors to stay updated on the latest developments, thereby enhancing transparency and fostering investor relations.
- Archive Availability: An online archive of the presentation will be accessible for 90 days post-event, ensuring that investors who miss the live session can still access key information, further improving engagement with the investor community.
- Earnings Release Schedule: Citi Trends plans to release its Q4 and full year 2025 earnings before the market opens on March 17, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Timing: The company will host a conference call at 9:00 AM ET on the same day, providing a platform for real-time discussion and Q&A to address investor inquiries regarding financial and business developments, thereby enhancing investor confidence.
- Online Live Stream and Replay: The conference will be available via live stream on the company's website, with a replay accessible for one year post-call, ensuring that investors who cannot attend live can still access critical information, thus improving information accessibility.
- Company Background: Citi Trends is a leading off-price retailer in the U.S. focused on apparel, accessories, and home trends primarily for Black families, operating 592 stores across 33 states, demonstrating its strong market presence in a specific demographic.
- Board Changes: Citi Trends announced the resignation of Wes Calvert from the board and as chairman of the finance committee, with Benjamin Faw appointed as his successor, whose expertise in digital technology and investment is expected to support the company's modernization and long-term growth strategy.
- Independent Director Appointment: Faw's appointment aligns with the replacement rights of Fund 1 Investments, and his experience in creating value across consumer-facing businesses is anticipated to enhance Citi Trends' competitive position in the market.
- Cooperation Agreement Extension: The company has opted to extend its cooperation agreement with Fund 1, including standstill provisions, for another year, providing strategic flexibility to navigate future market challenges effectively.
- Stock Price Reaction: Citi Trends shares are fractionally higher in premarket trading, indicating positive market sentiment towards the new board member and the continuation of the company's strategic direction, which may bolster investor confidence.
- Board Transition: Citi Trends announced that Wes Calvert will depart from the Board effective February 19, 2026, after providing strong financial oversight and capital allocation guidance, which has enhanced the company's financial framework and operational model.
- New Finance Committee Chair: Benjamin Faw has been appointed as a new independent director and will assume the role of Chair of the Finance Committee, bringing extensive experience in digital and investment sectors, which is expected to further drive the company's financial discipline and strategic execution.
- Cooperation Agreement Extension: Citi Trends exercised its right to extend its cooperation agreement with Fund 1 Investments for an additional year, reflecting ongoing dialogue and trust between the company and its shareholders, aimed at enhancing governance and execution capabilities.
- Board Structure Adjustment: Following these updates, the Citi Trends Board will consist of 8 directors, 7 of whom are independent, a structure that is expected to improve corporate governance and shareholder value creation capabilities.
- Software Stock Pressure: The WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund has fallen nearly 20% this year amid rising concerns that AI could render business software obsolete, leading to diminished investor confidence and potentially impacting financing capabilities for related companies.
- Alphabet's Earnings Beat: Alphabet exceeded Wall Street's fourth-quarter expectations, with strong performance in its cloud business despite lower-than-expected YouTube ad revenues, and announced that its capital expenditures could more than double its 2025 total, indicating a significant strategic investment in AI infrastructure.
- Delayed Employment Data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release December's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey data, delayed due to a short government shutdown, raising market focus on the upcoming nonfarm payroll report, which could influence investor sentiment regarding economic outlook.
- Oil Prices Rise on Geopolitical Concerns: Oil prices rose over 1.5% in Asian trading due to fears of a U.S. military strike on Iran, with Trump's comments further driving prices up, although traders remain cautious ahead of upcoming negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which could lead to price volatility.






