MARKET WIREReuters • 2h ago
Oil slips more than 1% as talks continue on ending Iran war - ReutersOil slips more than 1% as talks continue on ending Iran war Reuters
Why CATO Stock slipped -0.42% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
$2.38 -0.42% NYSE • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot)
EXT / AFTER-HRS: $2.37
Cato Corporation (Class A) (CATO) carries a Roarable Rating of D- (Sell) with 41/100 RQD Confidence due to weak cash-flow efficiency and sensitivity to current interest rates. Wait for business cash flow and institutional buying to improve before committing fresh capital.
ROARABLE D- • RED ALERT
Cap $47.4M
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🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief)
Is CATO stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
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As of 2026-11-01, Cato Corporation (Class A) (NYSE: CATO) is rated D- (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 41/100 at a spot price of $2.38 (-0.42% 1D, market cap $47.4M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 8/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 9/20, Executive Insider Alignment 11/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 10/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 3/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, CATO ranks #815 in composite RQD confidence.
✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief)
How does CATO compare to DXLG and TLYS in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
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Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores), CATO carries a Roarable D- (41/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of 34.0%, and ROIC of -7.1%. By comparison, DXLG (Destination XL Group Inc.) holds a D- grade (42/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC -17.0%, cap $25.9M) and TLYS (Tilly's Inc.) posts a E grade (31/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC -35.0%, cap $132.7M). Among the 5-stock peer group, JL leads on earnings multiple (5.6x) while VNCE leads on capital efficiency (10.6% ROIC).
✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief)
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for CATO?
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Per CATO's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2026-01-31, CIK 0000018255), Cato Corporation (Class A) generated $653.8M in revenue (+0.6% YoY), -$5.9M in net income, and -$5.2M in free cash flow against $421.4M in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).
INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:
EXT / AFTER-HRS: $2.37 (-0.27%)🧬 Dilution Drag (+2.48% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 8/20 (D-) • 0% FCF Margin
Verify 90D Bucket Audit →📊 Historical Track Record Warning: Scores below 50 (41/100 · D-) historically underperformed SPY in 71% of rolling 90-day windows (-7.2% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 29.0% hit rate).
Audit Bucket Track Record →RQD QUANT TACHOMETERRED ALERT • D-
2-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bearish Warning
Cash
SEC
Whale
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw E · Rk D+
Each axis scored 0–20
12M PRICE TARGET CONE-7.6% Base Target
WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for CATO)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±5.5%
Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (41/100 Composite)
🔍 WHY CATO SCORES 41/100 (D-) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag
▲ #1 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+11/20 pts (27% of score)
Altman Z-Score 3.80 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 4/9
▲ #2 Bullish Driver: Macro Regime Fit+10/20 pts (24% of score)
FRED Regime × Technicals: 6% of 52W Range • RSI-14 at 40.6 (NEUTRAL RANGE)
▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Insider Conviction & Share Dilution4/20 pts (-16 pt drag)
Dilution Drag (+2.48% YoY Shares) & executive Form 4 sales trim 16 pts from alignment
📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current
Q1 (-3Q)Grade D$2.47-4.9% Next Q
49
Q2 (-2Q)Grade D$2.35-0.9% Next Q
46
Q3 (-1Q)Grade D$2.33+2.1% Next Q
44
CurrentGrade D-$2.38-7.2% Hist 90D α
41
Trajectory: D (49) → D- (41)Full Audit →
⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)CONTRARIAN TURNAROUND & SHORT-SQUEEZE DOSSIER
⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: What Could Spark a CATO Turnaround Squeeze
While CATO currently carries a cautious 41/100 (D-) rating due to Insider Conviction & Share Dilution (4/20), shorts face asymmetric squeeze risk if free cash flow inflects or management executes accretive buybacks.
🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #1
Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.
🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #2
Options & Short-Covering Gamma: Reclaiming the 50-day SMA ($2.46) and Max Pain ($2.50) forces dealer call-delta covering toward $4.24.
🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #3
Forensic Repair Trigger: Halting share dilution (Dilution Drag (+2.48% YoY Shares)) or retiring high-cost debt immediately upgrades the SEC 10-K Forensic pillar.
🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $CATO• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite
Contract: “CATO Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Jan 30, 2027) & Holds Above 200D SMA”
AUTOMATED RQD QUANT DESK MOVER BRIEFINGFull Market News Desk →
Why CATO Stock slipped -0.42% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Cato Corporation (Class A) (CATO) slipped -0.42% to $2.38, trading at 6% of its 52-week range ($2.28 – $4.04). Stretched risk/reward at current multiples (-7% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 6% of its 52-week range ($2.28 – $4.04) with RSI-14 at 40.6 (NEUTRAL RANGE).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±5.5% around $2.38 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable D- (Sell) backed by 34% gross margin and $0 annual free cash flow.
Live CATO Headlines & Catalysts
MARKET WIREReuters • 3h ago
Nine people dead in Learjet crash in south Florida, officials say - ReutersNine people dead in Learjet crash in south Florida, officials say Reuters
MARKET WIREReuters • 5h ago
Iran's IRGC Navy says two tankers 'exploded' after hitting mines in Hormuz - ReutersIran's IRGC Navy says two tankers 'exploded' after hitting mines in Hormuz Reuters
MARKET WIRECNBC • 7h ago
Here are 3 big things we're watching in the stock market in the week aheadThe market could use a few victories in the days ahead, which will be filled with more earnings, an election, and jobs data.
MARKET WIRECNBC • 7h ago
Democratic Rep. Stevens endorses Rogers over El-Sayed in Michigan Senate electionHaley Stevens had lost the Democratic nomination for Senate in Michigan to Abdul El-Sayed earlier this year.
RISK WATCHReuters • 8h ago
Israeli strikes kill eight people in Gaza - medics say - ReutersIsraeli strikes kill eight people in Gaza - medics say Reuters
MARKET WIREReuters • 9h ago
Russia's FSB says minor detained over park attack threat after US tip-off - ReutersRussia's FSB says minor detained over park attack threat after US tip-off Reuters
MARKET WIREReuters • 10h ago
Iran, Qatari mediators hold third day of talks to end US-Iran war - ReutersIran, Qatari mediators hold third day of talks to end US-Iran war Reuters
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Red-Light Warning Desk: Spotting SEC Cash-Flow & Dilution Risks Before Downgrades (Featuring CATO)
- ✓Walkthrough of CATO's RQD Radar, SEC cash-conversion gap & downside invalidation levels
- ✓3 asymmetric Bear/Hedge frameworks when 10-year Treasury yields stay elevated
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CATO // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: -17.07%📐 HORIZONTAL RANGE
2026-10-30O $2.31H $2.38L $2.30C $2.38VOL 45.0K
RES: $3.82SUP: $1.84SMA50: $2.46SMA200: $2.95
PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK
CATO Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Share Count & Dilution Monitor (#25)
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle (#30)
8.0%/yr Implied 5Y Growth
vs. +0.6% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger (#33)
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on CATO today. View full Setup Ledger →
🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections
Open Graph →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for CATO. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video
🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for CATO today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →
DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (CATO)
Consumer Discretionary Rank #815 of 1011
⚔️ DXLG vs CATO Full Matrix →
1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (CATO vs. DXLG, TLYS, VNCE, JL)
Industry: Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores (25 Tracked Issuers)Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Cato Corporation (Class A) (CATO) ranks #815 by composite RQD confidence (41/100, grade D-) and #819 by equity capitalization ($47.4M). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, JL leads on earnings valuation at 5.6x trailing P/E, while VNCE leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 10.6% ROIC and — gross margin. JL currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 72/100 (B) compared with CATO at 41/100 (D-).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATO
ACTIVE
Cato Corporation (Class A) | D- | 41/100 | — | 34.0% | -7.1% | -0.42% | $47.4M | Benchmark Subject |
| DXLG Destination XL Group Inc. | D- | 42/100 | — | 43.4% | -17.0% | -8.51% | $25.9M | /dxlg-vs-cato → |
| TLYS Tilly's Inc. | E | 31/100 | — | 29.7% | -35.0% | -0.46% | $132.7M | /tlys-vs-cato → |
| VNCE Vince Holding Corp. | D | 45/100 | — | — | 10.6% | -7.10% | $137.2M | /vnce-vs-cato → |
| JL J-Long Group Limited (Class A) | B | 72/100 | 5.6x | 34.0% | — | +1.97% | $15.4M | /jl-vs-cato → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2026-01-31 • CIK 0000018255In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2026-01-31), Cato Corporation (Class A) (CATO) reported GAAP revenue of $653.8M (+0.6% vs. FY2024 revenue of $649.8M , and -7.7% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of -$5.9M, operating cash flow of -$1.5M, and free cash flow of -$5.2M (+81.1% YoY). On the balance sheet, CATO closed FY2025 with $421.4M in total assets against $0 in total debt (Altman Z-Score: N/A, Piotroski F-Score: 4/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2026-01-31 | $653.8M | -$5.9M | -$1.5M | -$5.2M | $421.4M | — |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2025-02-01 | $649.8M | -$18.1M | -$19.7M | -$27.6M | $452.4M | — |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2024-02-03 | $708.1M | -$23.9M | $477.0K | $477.0K | — | — |
3. CATO Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs CATO stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-01, Cato Corporation (Class A) (NYSE: CATO) is rated D- (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 41/100 at a spot price of $2.38 (-0.42% 1D, market cap $47.4M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 8/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 9/20, Executive Insider Alignment 11/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 10/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 3/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, CATO ranks #815 in composite RQD confidence.
How does CATO compare to DXLG and TLYS in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores), CATO carries a Roarable D- (41/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of 34.0%, and ROIC of -7.1%. By comparison, DXLG (Destination XL Group Inc.) holds a D- grade (42/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC -17.0%, cap $25.9M) and TLYS (Tilly's Inc.) posts a E grade (31/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC -35.0%, cap $132.7M). Among the 5-stock peer group, JL leads on earnings multiple (5.6x) while VNCE leads on capital efficiency (10.6% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for CATO?
Per CATO's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2026-01-31, CIK 0000018255), Cato Corporation (Class A) generated $653.8M in revenue (+0.6% YoY), -$5.9M in net income, and -$5.2M in free cash flow against $421.4M in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is CATO trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
CATO last traded at $2.38 (-0.42% on volume of 21,287 shares), positioning the stock -3.25% below its 50-day simple moving average ($2.46) and -19.32% below its 200-day simple moving average ($2.95). Across its 52-week range of $2.28 to $4.04, CATO sits at the 5.7% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 40.6 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±5.5% ($2.25 to $2.51).
CATO Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index
100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FREDWhy is CATO stock moving today?
Why CATO Stock slipped -0.42% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. Stretched risk/reward at current multiples (-7% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.