Citi Trends Details Turnaround at Conference, Targets $45M EBITDA and 650 Stores by 2027

6 days ago 4

MarketBeat

Mon, January 12, 2026 astatine 10:36 AM CST 8 min read

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Citi Trends has delivered sustained, "industry-leading" comparable-store income gains (holiday comps +9.3%, year-to-date comps +9.8%) portion positioning itself arsenic the lone off-price retailer focused connected African-American customers with a three-tier assortment strategy to thrust frequency.
Management is targeting astir $45 cardinal of EBITDA successful 2027, astir $900 million successful income and astir 650 stores by the extremity of 2027, driven by accordant 6–8% yearly store income gains and class expansion.
The institution is debt-free with ~$140 million full liquidity, plans ~$45 cardinal of superior spending successful 2026–27 for remodels and caller stores, and is utilizing AI-driven tract enactment and allocation tools to replicate high-performing store profiles and amended margins.
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Citi Trends (NASDAQ:CTRN) outlined its ongoing turnaround strategy and maturation targets during a presumption led by Chairman and CEO Ken Seipel alongside CFO Heather Plutino and Chief Merchandising Officer Lisa Powell. The lawsuit was hosted by D.A. Davidson user expert Mike Baker, who introduced the institution arsenic 1 of the much compelling turnaround stories helium has followed successful caller years.

Seipel said Citi Trends has delivered “industry-leading comparable income growth” since helium took the helm astir 19 months ago, attributing show to transaction increases, broad-based merchandise strength, and much disciplined execution. He highlighted vacation and year-to-date comparable income results released the aforesaid morning.

Holiday comp store sales: up 9.3%, connected apical of past year’s 7.1% increase, for a two-year stack of 16.4%.
Year-to-date done December comp store sales: up 9.8%, representing a two-year stack year-to-date of 13.3%.

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Seipel said the institution has posted accordant quarter-over-quarter income show implicit the past 5 quarters, with a sixth soon to follow.

Citi Trends described itself arsenic an off-price retailer specializing successful household apparel, accessories, and location categories. The institution is headquartered successful Savannah, Georgia, with buying offices successful New York, and operates 591 stores crossed 33 states. Seipel said stores are astir 12,000 quadrate feet, with beardown penetration successful the Southeast and locations positioned successful customers’ neighborhoods.

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Seipel emphasized what helium called a differentiated positioning wrong off-price retail: Citi Trends is “the lone off-price retailer specifically focused connected African-American customers,” with assortments intended to present styles, brands, and trends astatine compelling prices for an underserved demographic. He described the lawsuit basal arsenic loyal and high-frequency, supported by vicinity proximity and word-of-mouth traffic.