Cato September same-store sales up 5 percent

REPORT_ The Cato Corporation reported sales of 79.7 million dollars for the five weeks ended October 4,

2014, a 9 percent increase over sales of 72.9 million dollars for the five weeks ended October 5, 2013. Same-store sales for the five-week period increased 5 percent from the prior year.

Sales for the thirty-five weeks ended October 4, 2014 were 669.5 million dollars, up 7 percent to sales of 628.6 million dollars for the thirty-five weeks ended October 5, 2013. The company's year-to-date same-store sales increased 4 percent from the prior year.

“September same-store sales were above our guidance and also above our current trend,” stated John Cato, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, adding, “We now expect third quarter earnings per diluted share will be at the higher end of our guidance range of 0.08 dollars to 0.13 dollars versus 0.17 dollars last year.”

During the month of September, the company opened two new stores in Myrtle Beach, SC and Floresville, TX. As of October 4, 2014, The Cato Corporation operated 1,336 stores in 32 states, compared to 1,312 stores in 32 states as of October 5, 2013.