---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001562762-26-000036"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CATO"
cik: "0000018255"
company_name: "CATO CORP"
filed_at: "2026-03-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T09:23:40.700941+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cato Q4 net loss $10.7M, sales $150.0M; full-year loss narrows to $5.9M

## Summary
- Net loss of $10.7M ($0.55/diluted share) vs net loss of $14.1M ($0.74) in Q4 last year.
- Sales $150.0M, down 3.4% YoY; same-store sales flat for the quarter.
- Full-year net loss $5.9M ($0.31/diluted share) vs $18.1M loss prior year; sales up 0.7% to $646.8M.
- Gross margin improved to 29.2% in Q4 (vs 28.0% prior year); full-year margin 33.3% (vs 32.0%).
- Store count reduced by 48 to 1,069; plans to open up to 10 and close up to 40 stores in 2026.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001562762-26-000036
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CATO
- cik: 0000018255
- company_name: CATO CORP
- filed_at: 2026-03-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/18255/000156276226000036/0001562762-26-000036-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/18255/000156276226000036/cato-20260319.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001562762-26-000036
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001562762-26-000036.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001562762-26-000036.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.