Cato Corporation Reports Improved Third Quarter Results

Cato Corporation ( (CATO) ) has released its Q3 earnings. Here is a breakdown of the information Cato Corporation presented to its investors.

The Cato Corporation is a specialty retailer offering value-priced fashion apparel and accessories through its brands ‘Cato,’ ‘Versona,’ and ‘It’s Fashion,’ operating over a thousand stores across the United States. In its latest earnings report, Cato Corporation announced a net loss of $5.2 million for the third quarter of 2025, a significant improvement from the $15.1 million loss reported in the same quarter of the previous year. The company’s sales increased by 6% to $153.7 million, with same-store sales rising by 10%, reflecting a positive trend despite previous challenges like hurricanes and supply chain issues.

Key financial highlights include a gross margin increase from 28.8% to 32.0% due to reduced costs in freight and distribution, while SG&A expenses decreased as a percentage of sales. For the nine-month period, Cato reported a net income of $5.0 million, reversing a loss from the prior year, with sales up by 2% to $496.8 million. The company also managed to reduce its SG&A expenses and benefited from tax adjustments.

Despite the positive sales trend, Cato’s management anticipates challenges in the fourth quarter due to economic factors such as slowing employment growth. The company plans to focus on managing expenses and inventory levels while aiming to sustain sales growth.

Looking ahead, Cato Corporation remains cautiously optimistic, intending to navigate economic uncertainties while continuing to offer value to its customers through strategic cost management and sales initiatives.