Citi Trends, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRN), a leading specialty value retailer of apparel, accessories and home trends for way less spend primarily for African American and multicultural families in the United States, today reported results for the third quarter ended November 2, 2024.

Financial Highlights – Third Quarter 2024

• Total sales of $179.1 million decreased 0.3% vs. Q3 2023; comparable store sales, calculated on a shifted 13-week to 13-week basis, increased 5.7% compared to Q3 2023 driven by increases in traffic, basket and conversion, reflecting improved product and better allocation methods

• Gross margin of 39.8% vs. 38.2% in Q3 2023, an increase of 160 basis points due to markup expansion and a 40 basis point improvement in shrink results from the impact of mitigation efforts

• SG&A of $74.7 million, $74.6 million as adjusted* vs. $69.7 million, or $70.8 million as adjusted* in Q3 2023; approximately $1.6 million of the increase was due to one-time strategic costs in support of turnaround efforts, including a customer and market insight study and consulting to accelerate improved shrink and to support operational process improvements across the organization

• Net loss of $(7.2) million, or adjusted net loss* of $(6.5) million, vs. net loss of $(3.9) million, or $(4.6) million as adjusted* in Q3 2023

• Adjusted EBITDA* loss of ($3.3) million compared to adjusted EBITDA* loss of ($2.3) million in Q3 2023

• Closed 4 stores to end the quarter with 593 locations; 23% of the fleet in CTx remodeled format

• Cash of $38.9 million at quarter-end, with no debt and no borrowings under a $75 million credit facility

• Quarter-end total dollar inventory decreased 1.7% compared to Q3 2023

Chief Executive Officer Comments

Ken Seipel, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our third quarter performance of mid-single digit comparable store sales growth and a 160 basis point improvement in gross margin are early indicators that our customers are responding to our strategy adjustments. Comparable store sales increases grew sequentially each month in the quarter driven by increased transaction counts, with continuing momentum Q4 to-date. These results reflect the early impact of our initiatives to strengthen Citi Trends’ good, better, best product offering, adding extreme value branded deals to the treasure hunt and to improve operational disciplines, including product allocation to ensure the right product is in the right stores.

During the quarter, we incurred strategic costs, which I consider as one-time in nature, to drive long-term growth including an extensive customer and market research study which will help us refine our product assortment and serve as a basis for the Company’s long range plan, costs to research and accelerate improved shrink results and the development of best practices to improve operational efficiency across the organization. These work streams and their related expenses are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter and are instrumental in our goal to significantly increase shareholder value.”

“I am excited to be appointed to the role of permanent CEO. Since assuming the interim CEO role six months ago, my confidence in the Company’s potential has only deepened. Citi Trends is a unique and exciting growth opportunity. We have nearly 600 locations serving a largely underserved core African American customer in their neighborhoods. Our brand familiarity, customer loyalty and neighborhood locations are difficult to duplicate, giving us a defensible moat against competition. The challenges we face are largely within our control, and we are taking decisive action to address them. A strong balance sheet with ample liquidity and no debt will allow us to execute the foundational work necessary for future growth and profit acceleration. While we are still early in our transformation journey, I am energized by our team's swift pivot to execute upon our new initiatives and the encouraging results of Q3 along with the strong early results of the holiday period. This momentum reinforces my belief in the Company’s potential to deliver much improved near-term and long-term results," Seipel concluded.

Capital Return Program Update

In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. At the end of Q3 2024, $50.0 million remained available under the Company’s share repurchase program.

The Company expects to resume share repurchase activity in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.

Second Half 2024 Outlook

The Company is updating its outlook for the second half of fiscal 2024 as follows:

• Expecting second half comparable store sales to be up low to mid-single digits compared to the second half of fiscal 2023 vs. prior outlook of flat to up low single digits; total sales expected to be flat to down low-single digits due to the 53^rd week last year and store closures

• Second half gross margin is expected to be approximately 39%, consistent with prior outlook

• Second half EBITDA* is expected to be in the range of $1.5 million to $4 million, above our prior outlook of $0.5 million to $2.5 million

• The Company expects to end fiscal 2024 with approximately 590 stores, consistent with prior outlook

• Year-end cash balance is expected to be in the range of $60 million to $65 million, within prior outlook

• Capital expenditures for the full year are expected to be in the range of $14 million to $18 million on pull-forward of certain investments to drive performance improvement

While the Company does not provide quarterly guidance, given the significant changes in the Company’s business model along with the dynamic nature of its growth and where it is in its fiscal year, it is offering the following comments about the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024:

• Q4 comparable store sales are expected to be up low to mid-single digits with total sales down mid-single digits due to the 53^rd week last year and store closures

• Q4 gross margin is expected to be in the range of 39% to 40%

• SG&A is expected to be approximately $76 million including the finalization of strategic expenses plus store payroll to support holiday sales

• Q4 EBITDA* is expected to be in the range of $5 million to $7 million

Financial Highlights – 39 weeks ended November 2, 2024

• Total sales of $541.9 million increased 1.7% vs. 2023; comparable store sales, calculated on a shifted 39-week to 39-week basis, increased 2.3% compared to 2023

• Gross margin of 36.6% vs. 37.7%, or 37.8% as adjusted* in 2023

• Net loss of $(29.0) million, or adjusted net loss* of $(25.2) million, vs. net loss of $(15.5) million, or $(15.0) million as adjusted* in 2023

• Adjusted EBITDA* loss of ($21.3) million vs. adjusted EBITDA* loss of ($8.5) million in 2023

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

Citi Trends will host a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. ET. The live broadcast of Citi Trends' conference call will be available online at the Company's website, cititrends.com, under the Investor Relations section, beginning today at 9:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and will be available for replay for one year.

The live conference call can also be accessed by dialing (877) 407-0779. A replay of the conference call will be available until December 10,2024, by dialing (844) 512-2921 and entering the passcode, 13748381.

During the conference call, the Company may discuss and answer questions concerning business and financial developments and trends that have occurred after quarter-end. The Company’s responses to questions, as well as other matters discussed during the call, may contain or constitute information that has not been disclosed previously.

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The historical non-GAAP financial measures discussed herein are reconciled to their corresponding GAAP measures at the end of this press release. The Company is unable to provide a full reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure used in 2024 guidance without unreasonable effort because it is not possible to predict certain of its adjustment items with a reasonable degree of certainty. This information is dependent upon future events and may be outside of the Company’ control and its unavailability could have a significant impact on its financial results.