The company has reported a strong first quarter as sales rose 14.4 per cent amid increased customer demand.
The off-price value retailer of apparel, accessories and home trends has marked its 21st consecutive month of sales growth. Citi Trends plans to open 25 stores this year in a mix of existing and new markets and remodel 50 locations. It’s preparing to accelerate expansion in 2027.
“Our early results from our newest stores are exceeding expectations, giving us the confidence and accelerating to approximately 40 new stores in 2027,” CEO Ken Seipel said on the earnings call.
Citi Trends reported that its total sales increased 14.4 per cent to $230.9M for the quarter ended 3 May. Comparable store sales increased 13.9 per cent, driven by increases in both traffic and basket size as well as merchandising initiatives. The growth represented an increase of 23.8 per cent on a two-year basis.
“We delivered an exceptional start to 2026, building on the momentum established last year,” Seipel stated in the earnings release. “We are also encouraged by the momentum we are seeing early in the second quarter, with quarter-to-date comparable store sales growth trending in the high-single digits, upper teens on a two-year basis, which further validates that our strategy is working to drive sustainable trends in our financial performance.”
