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The CatoCATO +7.95%53 EV-to-OCF is 49.45 as of Aug. 18, 2026, which is 1198% above its 10-year median of 3.81. GuruFocus rates CATO with a GF Score™ of 53/100 and a GF Value™ of $4.17 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,135 Retail - Cyclical companies, The Cato ranks worse than 92.25% on this metric.
EV-to-OCF is calculated as enterprise value divided by its cash flow from operations. As of today, The Cato's Enterprise Value is $134.5 Mil.
The Cato's Cash Flow from Operations for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Apr. 2026 was $2.7 Mil. Therefore, The Cato's EV-to-OCF for today is 49.45.
The historical rank and industry rank for The Cato's EV-to-OCF or its related term are showing as below:
CATO'
s EV-to-OCF Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -714.92 Med: 3.81 Max: 450.91
Current: 49.45
During the past 13 years, the highest EV-to-OCF of The Cato was 450.91. The lowest was -714.92. And the median was 3.81.
CATO's EV-to-OCF is ranked worse than 92.25% of 1135
companies
in the Retail - Cyclical industry
Industry Median: 7.24
vs CATO: 49.45
EV-to-OCF is a valuation multiple that allows analysts and investors to compare stocks, preferably in the same sector or industry. This important multiple is often used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the PE Ratio (TTM) to determine the fair market value of a company.
EV-to-OCF is a valuation multiple that allows analysts and investors to compare stocks, preferably in the same sector or industry. This important multiple is often used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the PE Ratio (TTM) to determine the fair market value of a company.
The Cato's share price for today is $3.53.
The Cato's Earnings per Share (Diluted) for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Apr. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $-0.010.
* 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.
Enterprise Value is used because it is a more complete measure in reflecting how much an investor pays when buying a company. Cash Flow from Operations is an important financial metric because it represents the cash generated from operating activities at a company's disposal. Companies with a low EV-to-OCF ratio, combined with a strong balance sheet are generally considered as undervalued.
The Cato EV-to-OCF Related Terms
The Cato EV-to-OCF Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for The Cato's EV-to-OCF 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.
For the Apparel Retail subindustry, The Cato's EV-to-OCF, along with its competitors' market caps and EV-to-OCF 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 EV-to-OCF vs Retail - Cyclical Industry
For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, The Cato's EV-to-OCF distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where The Cato's EV-to-OCF falls into.
The Cato's current Enterprise Value is $134.5 Mil.
The Cato's Cash Flow from Operations for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Apr. 2026 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $2.7 Mil.
* 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 EV-to-OCF of 49.45 as of Aug. 18, 2026. This is 1198% above median its historical median of 3.81. According to the industry distribution chart, The Cato ranks #1047 out of 1135 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 92.2%.
Is The Cato's EV-to-OCF too high?
The Cato's current EV-to-OCF of 49.45 is 1198% above median its 10-year median of 3.81. The Retail - Cyclical industry median EV-to-OCF is 7.24. The Cato's value of 49.45 is 583% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, The Cato ranks #1047 out of 1135 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, The Cato has a GF Score™ of 53/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does The Cato's EV-to-OCF compare to LVLU and KMFG?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, The Cato ranks #1047 out of 1135 companies for EV-to-OCF. This places The Cato in the lower half of its industry. The industry median EV-to-OCF is 7.24. The Cato's value of 49.45 is 583% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 3.81 vs. the industry median of 7.24, 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 EV-to-OCF for a Retail - Cyclical company?
The median EV-to-OCF among Retail - Cyclical companies is 7.24, based on 1,135 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a EV-to-OCF significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, EV-to-OCF should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. The Cato's current EV-to-OCF of 49.45 is 583% 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 EV-to-OCF mean?
A high EV-to-OCF can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. For the Retail - Cyclical industry, the median EV-to-OCF is 7.24 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. The Cato's current EV-to-OCF is 49.45, which is 1198% above median its own 10-year median of 3.81. 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 $4.17, compared to a current price of $3.53 — trading 15.3% below its estimated fair value. The current EV-to-OCF is 49.45, which is 1198% above median its 10-year median of 3.81 and 583% above the Retail - Cyclical industry median of 7.24. The Cato's overall GF Score™ is 53/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is EV-to-OCF calculated?
EV-to-OCF is calculated from a company's financial statements. For The Cato (CATO), the current EV-to-OCF is 49.45 as of Aug. 18, 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 $3.53 is trading 15.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of $4.17.
GuruFocus considers The Cato to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for CATO:
EV-to-OCF: 49.45 (1198% above median its 10-year median of 3.81)
GF Value™: $4.17 vs. price of $3.53 (15.3% below fair value)
Industry Position: 583% above the Retail - Cyclical median (#1047 of 1135)
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.
53GF Score
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