Cato July Same-Store Sales increase 4 percent

REPORT_ The Cato Corporation has reported sales of 65.3 million dollars for

the four weeks ended August 2, 2014, up 6 percent to sales of 61.6 million dollars for the four weeks ended August 3, 2013. Same-store sales for the month were up 4 percent to the prior year.

Sales for the second quarter ended August 2, 2014 were 243.8 million dollars, up 6 percent to sales of 229.4 million dollars for the second quarter ended August 3, 2013. Second quarter same-store sales increased 3 percent. Sales for the first half were 526.2 million dollars, up 6 percent to the prior year's first half sales of 496.6 million dollars. Same-store sales for the first half were up 3 percent to the prior year.

“July same-store sales were in line with our year-to-date trend,” commented John Cato, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, adding, “We now expect second quarter earnings per diluted share to be in the range of 0.50 to 0.53 dollars, a decrease of 2 percent to an increase of 4 percent.”

The Company will release second quarter results on Thursday, August 21, 2014. As of August 2, 2014, The Cato Corporation operated 1,328 stores in 32 states, compared to 1,306 stores in 31 states as of August 3, 2013.