Citi Trends(US:CTRN)2025-06-03 14:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales grew by $15.4 million or 8.3% year-over-year, reaching $201.7 million [24] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $6.2 million, with a sales to profit flow-through of 40% [4][26] - Gross margin expanded by 90 basis points to 39.6%, driven by higher initial markup and lower freight costs [25] - Adjusted SG&A expenses totaled $74.4 million, representing 36.9% of revenue, a decrease from 39.1% in the prior year [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable store sales increased by 9.9%, with a two-year stack of 13% [24] - Strong performance across all apparel and home categories, with many categories experiencing double-digit growth [9][10] - The plus-size business showed meaningful improvement, while the accessory business was slightly below plan [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales growth was consistent across climate zones and store volumes, indicating broad-based strength [24] - Average in-store inventories decreased by approximately 5%, reflecting disciplined inventory management [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is in a three-phase strategic transformation: repair, execute, and optimize [5][8] - Focus on enhancing product offerings, particularly in plus sizes and big men's apparel, while also improving trend relevancy in juniors and young men's categories [11][56] - Plans to open up to five new stores and remodel approximately 50 locations in the year [31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the turnaround plan and updated the full-year outlook for comparable store sales growth to mid-single digits [28] - The company is navigating challenges related to tariffs but sees opportunities in the current market environment [21][22] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining a focus on core customers and delivering compelling product value [34] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with no debt and $42 million in cash, maintaining a strong financial position [27] - A new AI-based allocation system is being tested, with plans for a full rollout following the back-to-school season [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the merchandising and closeout strategy? - The company is focusing on both end-of-season closeouts and in-season extreme value products, aiming for a long-term goal of 10% top-line growth from extreme value offerings [38][41][44] Question: Why is the full-year guidance below current comp trends? - The company is facing tougher comparisons in the back half of the year and is being cautious in forecasting due to macroeconomic uncertainties [46][48] Question: Can you provide insights on specific category performance? - All categories performed well in Q1, with particular emphasis on plus sizes and big men's apparel for future growth [52][56]