The CatoCATO +2.13%65 Buyback Yield % is 0.55 as of Jul. 06, 2026, which is 88% below its 10-year median of 4.68. GuruFocus rates CATO with a GF Score™ of 65/100 and a GF Value™ of $4.18 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 411 Retail - Cyclical companies, The Cato ranks better than 60.83% on this metric.
Buyback yield is the net repurchase of shares outstanding over the market capital of the company. It is a measure of shareholder return.
The historical data trend for The Cato's Buyback Yield % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
CATO vs KMFG, BIRD, BRIA: Buyback Yield % Comparison
For the Apparel Retail subindustry, The Cato's Buyback Yield %, along with its competitors' market caps and Buyback Yield % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
The Cato Buyback Yield % vs Retail - Cyclical Industry
For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, The Cato's Buyback Yield % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where The Cato's Buyback Yield % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
The Cato (CATO) has a Buyback Yield % of 0.55 as of Jul. 06, 2026. Share buyback yield equals the net issuance of stock divided by market cap. View historical data on The Cato and its competitors. This is 88% below median its historical median of 4.68. Over the past decade, The Cato's Buyback Yield % has ranged from 0.55 to 15.24. According to the industry distribution chart, The Cato ranks #161 out of 411 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 39.2%.
Is The Cato's Buyback Yield % too high?
The Cato's current Buyback Yield % of 0.55 is 88% below median its 10-year median of 4.68. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 0.55 to a high of 15.24. The Retail - Cyclical industry median Buyback Yield % is 0.13. The Cato's value of 0.55 is 323.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, The Cato ranks #161 out of 411 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, The Cato has a GF Score™ of 65/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does The Cato's Buyback Yield % compare to KMFG and BIRD?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, The Cato ranks #161 out of 411 companies for Buyback Yield %. This puts The Cato in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Buyback Yield % is 0.13. The Cato's value of 0.55 is 323.1% above this benchmark. Historically, The Cato's own Buyback Yield % has ranged from 0.55 to 15.24 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 4.68 vs. the industry median of 0.13, The Cato has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Buyback Yield % for a Retail - Cyclical company?
The median Buyback Yield % among Retail - Cyclical companies is 0.13, based on 411 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Buyback Yield % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Buyback Yield % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. The Cato's current Buyback Yield % of 0.55 is 323.1% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Buyback Yield % mean?
A high Buyback Yield % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Share buyback yield equals the net issuance of stock divided by market cap. View historical data on The Cato and its competitors. For the Retail - Cyclical industry, the median Buyback Yield % is 0.13 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. The Cato's current Buyback Yield % is 0.55, which is 88% below median its own 10-year median of 4.68. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is The Cato stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The Cato (CATO) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $4.18, compared to a current price of $3.35 — trading 19.9% below its estimated fair value. The current Buyback Yield % is 0.55, which is 88% below median its 10-year median of 4.68 and 323.1% above the Retail - Cyclical industry median of 0.13. The Cato's overall GF Score™ is 65/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Buyback Yield % calculated?
Buyback Yield % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For The Cato (CATO), the current Buyback Yield % is 0.55 as of Jul. 06, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is The Cato (CATO) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The Cato stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $3.35 is trading 19.9% below its estimated GF Value™ of $4.18.
GuruFocus considers The Cato to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for CATO:
Buyback Yield %: 0.55 (88% below median its 10-year median of 4.68)
GF Value™: $4.18 vs. price of $3.35 (19.9% below fair value)
Industry Position: 323.1% above the Retail - Cyclical median (#161 of 411)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CATO stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
The Cato Corp seeks to offer quality fashion apparel and accessories at low prices every day, in junior/missy and plus sizes. The Cato concept's stores and e-commerce website feature a broad assortment of apparel and accessories, including dressy, career, and casual sportswear, dresses, coats, shoes, lingerie, costume jewelry, and handbags. Management believes the Company's success is dependent upon its ability to differentiate its stores from department stores, mass merchandise discount stores, and competing specialty stores. The key elements of the Company's business are: Merchandise Assortment, Value Pricing, Strip Shopping Center Location, Customer Service, Credit and Layaway Programs.
65GF Score
Get the complete analysis for CATO
Buyback Yield % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
CATO has been successfully added to your 
