Shares outstanding are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them. The Cato's average basic shares outstanding for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 19.8 Mil.
The Cato (NYSE:CATO) Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Explanation
A company may buy back shares or issue shares in any fiscal period. If a company buys back shares, we should observe that the total number of shares decline. If the company issues new shares, the number of shares outstanding increases.
Be Aware
Usually the presence of treasury shares and a history of buyback are good indicators that company has competitive advantage. But studies have shown that companies usually buy back at wrong time. Buying back shares below its intrinsic value increases value for remaining shareholders. Buying back overvalued shares destroys value for existing shareholders.
The Cato Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Related Terms
The Cato Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Historical Data
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The historical data trend for The Cato's Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) 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.
The Cato Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Calculation
Shares outstanding are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them. They have voting rights and represent ownership in the corporation by the person that holds the shares. They should be distinguished from treasury shares, which are shares held by the corporation itself, having no exercisable rights.
Shares outstanding can be calculated as either basic or fully diluted. The fully diluted shares outstanding count includes diluting securities, such as options, warrants or convertibles.
Please note: GuruFocus named Shares Outstanding (EOP) is the shares for that exact time point. It is usually used to calculate balance sheet related items, such as Book Value per Share, etc. While Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) and Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) are the weighted average shares over a period of time (a year, a quarter, or so). They are usually used to calculate income statement or cashflow statement related items, such as Earnings per Share (Diluted), etc.
What does a Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) of 19.8 Mil mean?
The Cato (CATO) has a Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) of 19.8 Mil as of Apr. 2026. The average shares outstanding over two periods not accounting for dilutive securities like convertible bonds. View historical data on The Cato and its competitors.
Is The Cato's Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) too high?
The Cato's current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 19.8 Mil. 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 Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) compare to DXLG and BRIA?
The Cato's Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) of 19.8 Mil can be compared against companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) for a Retail - Cyclical company?
A good Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) depends on the Retail - Cyclical industry context. However, Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) mean?
A high Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The average shares outstanding over two periods not accounting for dilutive securities like convertible bonds. View historical data on The Cato and its competitors. The Cato's current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 19.8 Mil. 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 $4.19, compared to a current price of $3.19 — trading 23.8% below its estimated fair value. The current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 19.8 Mil. 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 Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) calculated?
Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is calculated from a company's financial statements. For The Cato (CATO), the current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 19.8 Mil as of Apr. 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 $3.19 is trading 23.8% below its estimated GF Value™ of $4.19.
GuruFocus considers The Cato to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for CATO:
Shares Outstanding (Basic Average): 19.8 Mil
GF Value™: $4.19 vs. price of $3.19 (23.8% below fair value)
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
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