SuperworthCato profit margin CATO
Gross, operating and net profit as a share of revenue over the last twelve months, from 2011.
- Net margin, 12 months
- −0.9%
- Operating margin, 12 months
- −2.3%
- Net margin on a year earlier
- +2.0 pts
- Peer median
- 1.2%
Over the twelve months to Aug 1, 2026, Cato kept −0.9% of its revenue as net profit, with an operating margin of −2.3% and a gross margin of 33.6%.
Five years earlier its net margin was 3.1%.
The median for 8 apparel retail stocks of a similar size is 1.2%.
Profit margin over time
Fiscal year by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Net margin | Operating margin | Gross margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | −0.9% | −2.2% | 34.0% |
| FY2024 | −2.8% | −4.3% | 32.8% |
| FY2023 | −3.4% | −2.7% | 34.4% |
| FY2022 | 0.0% | −0.5% | 32.9% |
| FY2021 | 4.8% | 4.8% | 41.1% |
| FY2020 | −8.3% | −13.8% | 24.7% |
| FY2019 | 4.3% | 4.5% | 38.3% |
| FY2018 | 3.7% | 3.4% | 37.0% |
| FY2017 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 34.9% |
| FY2016 | 4.9% | 4.4% | 37.1% |
| FY2015 | 6.6% | 9.5% | 39.0% |
| FY2014 | 6.1% | 8.9% | 39.1% |
| FY2013 | 5.9% | 8.8% | 37.9% |
| FY2012 | 6.5% | 10.1% | 38.4% |
| FY2011 | 7.0% | 10.4% | 38.4% |
Quarter by quarter
| Quarter | Ended | Net margin, 12 months | Change on a year | Operating margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 FY26 | −0.9% | +2.0 pts | −2.3% | |
| Q1 FY26 | 0.0% | +4.0 pts | −1.3% | |
| Q4 FY25 | −0.9% | +1.9 pts | −2.2% | |
| Q3 FY25 | −1.4% | +2.7 pts | −2.4% | |
| Q2 FY25 | −2.9% | −0.2 pts | −3.8% | |
| Q1 FY25 | −4.0% | −1.5 pts | −4.8% | |
| Q4 FY24 | −2.8% | +0.6 pts | −4.3% | |
| Q3 FY24 | −4.1% | −3.6 pts | −4.0% | |
| Q2 FY24 | −2.7% | −2.5 pts | −3.1% | |
| Q1 FY24 | −2.5% | −1.8 pts | −2.7% | |
| Q4 FY23 | −3.4% | −3.4 pts | −2.7% | |
| Q3 FY23 | −0.5% | −0.0 pts | −1.5% |
Against its peers
Companies in Apparel - Retail nearest Cato's size, closest first, today.
| Company | Profit margin |
|---|---|
| CATOCato | −0.9% |
| TLYSTilly'S | 0.3% |
| DLTHDuluth | 1.1% |
| VNCEVince | 2.4% |
| ZUMZZumiez | 1.4% |
| DBIDesigner Brands | 0.6% |
| CTRNCiti Trends | 0.8% |
| SHOEShoe Station | 2.2% |
| GCOGenesco | 1.7% |
| Peer median | 1.2% |
Where Cato ranks
What the profit margin tells you
Profit as a share of revenue at three levels: gross (after making the product), operating (after running the business) and net (after everything, including tax and interest).
Compare within an industry. 10% is superb for a retailer and poor for a software company.
More on Cato
Valuation data, not investment advice. Prices as of . Reported figures come from the company's filings with the SEC.