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                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-Q

[X]      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended              November 2, 1996
                               -------------------------------------------------

                                       OR

[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________________to__________________


Commission file number                0-3747
                       -------------------------------------

                     THE CATO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
          ------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                                      56-0484485
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (State or other jurisdiction                         (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)                               Identification No.)


            8100 Denmark Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28273-5975
          -----------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                   (Zip Code)

                                 (704) 554-8510
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                         if changed since last report)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   X    No
    -----     -----

As of November 19, 1996, there were 23,189,618 shares of Class A Common Stock
and 5,264,317 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.
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                              THE CATO CORPORATION

                                   FORM 10-Q

                                NOVEMBER 2, 1996


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


Page No. ---- PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) 2 Consolidated Balance Sheets 3 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 4 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 5-6 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 7-8 PART II - OTHER INFORMATION 9-10
3 Page 2 PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION THE CATO CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED ----------------------------- ----------------------------- NOVEMBER 2, October 28, NOVEMBER 2, October 28, 1996 1995 1996 1995 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) REVENUES Retail sales $ 108,117 $ 105,825 $ 340,892 $ 335,025 Other income (principally finance and layaway charges) 3,374 3,506 10,093 9,911 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total revenues 111,491 109,331 350,985 344,936 --------- --------- --------- --------- COSTS AND EXPENSES Cost of goods sold, including occupancy, distribution and buying 81,467 80,097 241,790 237,629 Selling, general and administrative 29,298 29,504 88,544 87,815 Depreciation 2,055 1,917 6,252 5,795 Interest 65 56 196 212 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total expenses 112,885 111,574 336,782 331,451 --------- --------- --------- --------- INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES (1,394) (2,243) 14,203 13,485 Income taxes (benefit) (495) (751) 5,042 4,516 --------- --------- --------- --------- NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (899) $ (1,492) $ 9,161 $ 8,969 ========= ========= ========= ========= INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE $ (0.03) $ (0.05) $ 0.32 $ 0.31 ========= ========= ========= ========= DIVIDENDS PER SHARE $ 0.04 $ 0.04 $ 0.12 $ 0.12 ========= ========= ========= =========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 4 Page 3 THE CATO CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
NOVEMBER 2, October 28, February 3, 1996 1995 1996 (UNAUDITED) (Unaudited) ----------- ----------- ----------- (IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,053 $ 17,448 $ 26,183 Short-term investments 34,646 23,830 21,711 Accounts receivable - net 38,893 37,425 39,792 Merchandise inventories 93,007 82,085 58,440 Deferred income taxes 1,825 1,768 1,825 Prepaid expenses 1,981 2,381 2,486 --------- --------- --------- Total Current Assets 180,405 164,937 150,437 Property and Equipment 55,611 53,051 54,364 Other Assets 5,349 4,957 5,094 --------- --------- --------- Total $ 241,365 $ 222,945 $ 209,895 ========= ========= ========= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts payable $ 59,350 $ 52,507 $ 36,482 Accrued expenses 12,590 11,289 10,458 Income taxes 1,865 - 1,328 --------- --------- --------- Total Current Liabilities 73,805 63,796 48,268 Deferred Income Taxes 4,491 4,192 4,491 Other Noncurrent Liabilities 7,799 7,243 7,454 Stockholders' Equity: Class A Common Stock, issued 23,364,618 shares, 23,202,959 shares and 23,204,647 shares at November 2, 1996, October 28, 1995 and February 3, 1996, respectively 778 773 773 Convertible Class B Common Stock, issued and outstanding 5,264,317 shares at November 2, 1996, October 28, 1995 and February 3, 1996, respectively 176 176 176 Preferred Stock, none - - - Additional paid-in capital 63,263 62,660 62,665 Retained earnings 92,032 84,328 86,291 --------- --------- --------- 156,249 147,937 149,905 Less: Class A Common Stock in treasury, at cost (175,000 shares at November 2, 1996, 40,000 shares at October 28, 1995 and February 3, 1996, respectively) 979 223 223 --------- --------- --------- Total Stockholders' Equity 155,270 147,714 149,682 --------- --------- --------- Total $ 241,365 $ 222,945 $ 209,895 ========= ========= =========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 5 Page 4 THE CATO CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NINE MONTHS ENDED --------------------------------------------- NOVEMBER 2, October 28, 1996 1995 --------------------------------------------- (IN THOUSANDS) OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $ 9,161 $ 8,969 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 6,252 5,795 Amortization of investment premiums 146 159 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Decrease in accounts receivable 899 501 Increase in merchandise inventories (34,567) (27,411) Decrease (Increase) in other assets 250 (41) Increase (Decrease) in accrued income taxes 537 (909) Increase in accounts payable and other liabilities 25,729 16,566 --------- --------- Net cash provided by operating activities 8,407 3,629 --------- --------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Expenditures for property and equipment (7,883) (5,940) Purchases of short-term investments (19,555) (5,990) Sales of short-term investments 6,474 5,036 --------- --------- Net cash used in investing activities (20,964) (6,894) --------- --------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES Dividends paid (3,420) (3,412) Purchase of treasury stock (756) (223) Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 269 379 Proceeds from stock options exercised 334 6 --------- --------- Net cash used in financing activities (3,573) (3,250) --------- --------- Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents (16,130) (6,515) Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year 26,183 23,963 --------- --------- Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 10,053 $ 17,448 ========= =========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 6 Page 5 THE CATO CORPORATION NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 2, 1996 AND OCTOBER 28, 1995 NOTE 1 - GENERAL: The consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the accounting records of The Cato Corporation (the Company) and all amounts shown at November 2, 1996 and October 28, 1995 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of the interim period may not be indicative of the entire year. The Company's short-term investments are classified as available for sale securities, and therefore, are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, reported as an adjustment to retained earnings. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, determined by the retail inventory method. The provisions for income taxes are based on the Company's estimated annual effective tax rate. NOTE 2 - EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE: Income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of Class A and Class B common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding during the respective periods. Common stock equivalents represent the dilutive effect of the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options. The number of shares used in the income (loss) per common and common equivalent share computations were applicable, 28,577,429 shares and 28,706,072 shares for the three months and nine months ended November 2, 1996, respectively, and 28,570,582 shares and 28,612,012 shares for the three months and nine months ended October 28, 1995, respectively. NOTE 3 - SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Interest paid during the nine months ended November 2, 1996 and October 28, 1995 was $155,000 and $234,000, respectively. Income tax payments for the nine months ended November 2, 1996 and October 28, 1995 were $4,494,000 and $5,412,000, respectively. 7 Page 6 THE CATO CORPORATION NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 2, 1996 AND OCTOBER 28, 1995 NOTE 4 - FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS: In February 1996, the Company entered into a new unsecured revolving credit agreement which provides for borrowings of up to $20 million and an additional letter of credit facility of $15 million. The revolving credit agreement is committed until May 1999 and the letter of credit facility is renewable annually. The revolving credit agreement contains various financial covenants, including the maintenance of specific financial ratios. The agreement replaces an unsecured revolving credit and term loan agreement, which was committed until May 1998, and provided $35 million of available borrowings and a $15 million letter of credit facility. 8 Page 7 THE CATO CORPORATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain items in the Company's Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income as percentages of total retail sales:
THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED -------------------------- -------------------------- NOVEMBER 2, October 28, NOVEMBER 2, October 28, 1996 1995 1996 1995 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total retail sales 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Total revenues 103.1 103.3 103.0 103.0 Cost of goods sold, including occupancy, distribution and buying 75.3 75.7 70.9 70.9 Selling, general and administrative 27.1 27.9 26.0 26.2 Income (loss) before income taxes (1.3) (2.1) 4.2 4.1 Net (loss) income (0.8) (1.4) 2.7 2.7
COMPARISON OF THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1996 WITH 1995. OPERATING RESULTS Total retail sales for the third quarter were $108.1 million compared to last year's third quarter sales of $105.8 million, a 2% increase. Same-store sales decreased 2% in this year's third quarter. For the nine months ended November 2, 1996, total retail sales increased 2% over the prior year's first nine months, while same-store sales decreased 3% for the comparable nine month period. The increase in retail sales for the first nine months of 1996 resulted from the Company's store development activity. The Company operated 694 stores at November 2, 1996 compared to 671 stores at the end of last year's third quarter. Other income for the third quarter decreased 4% compared to last year's third quarter. The decrease in the current quarter resulted primarily from reduced layaway charges. For the first nine months of 1996, other income increased 2% over last year's comparable period. The increase in the current year resulted primarily from increased finance charge income on the Company's customer accounts receivable and increased earnings from cash equivalents and short-term investments. Cost of goods sold, including occupancy, distribution and buying expenses were 75.3% and 70.9% of total retail sales for the third quarter and first nine months of 1996, respectively, compared to 75.7% and 70.9% for last year's comparable three and nine month periods. The Company's merchandise margins for the third quarter and first nine months of 1996 continue to show the effect of sluggish sales. The Company has been aggressive in taking markdowns to keep inventory levels in line with below planned sales. 9 Page 8 THE CATO CORPORATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $29.3 million, or 27.1% of total retail sales and $88.5 million, or 26.0% of total retail sales for the third quarter and first nine months of this year, respectively. SG&A expenses were $29.5 million, or 27.9% of total retail sales and $87.8 million, or 26.2% of total retail sales for last year's comparable three and nine months periods, respectively. SG&A expenses improved 80 basis points in the third quarter ended November 2, 1996, compared to last year's third quarter, a result of the Company's continued efforts to control operating expenses. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES At November 2, 1996, the Company had working capital of $106.6 million, compared to $101.1 million at October 28, 1995 and $102.2 million at February 3, 1996. Cash provided from operating activities was $8.4 million for the nine months ended November 2, 1996, compared to $3.6 million for last year's comparable nine month period. The Company had no borrowings under its revolving credit agreement at November 2, 1996 or October 28, 1995. At November 2, 1996, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $44.7 million, compared to $41.3 million at October 28, 1995 and $47.9 million at February 3, 1996. In February 1996, the Company entered into a new unsecured revolving credit agreement which provides for borrowings of up to $20 million and an additional letter of credit facility of $15 million. The revolving credit agreement is committed until May 1999 and the letter of credit facility is renewable annually. The revolving credit agreement contains various financial covenants, including the maintenance of specific financial ratios. The agreement replaces an unsecured revolving credit and term loan agreement, which was committed until May 1998, and provided $35 million of available borrowings and a $15 million letter of credit facility. Expenditures for property and equipment totaled $7.9 million for the nine months ended November 2, 1996, compared to $5.9 million of expenditures in last year's first nine months. The Company expects total capital expenditures to be approximately $9.5 million for the current fiscal year. The Company intends to open 28 new stores and to relocate or expand 19 stores during the current fiscal year. For the nine months ended November 2, 1996, the Company had opened 27 new stores and relocated or expanded 18 stores and closed 4 stores. The Company believes that its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, together with cash flow from operations and borrowings available under its revolving credit agreement, will be adequate to fund the Company's proposed capital expenditures and other operating requirements. 10 Page 9 PART II OTHER INFORMATION THE CATO CORPORATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS None ITEM 2. CHANGES IN THE RIGHTS OF THE COMPANY'S SECURITY HOLDERS None ITEM 3. DEFAULTS BY THE COMPANY ON ITS SENIOR SECURITIES Not Applicable ITEM 4. RESULT OF VOTES OF SECURITY HOLDERS None ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION None ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (A) Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule (for SEC use only). (B) No Reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended November 2, 1996. 11 Page 10 PART II OTHER INFORMATION (CONTINUED) THE CATO CORPORATION Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. THE CATO CORPORATION December 6, 1996 /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. - - -------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Date Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer December 6, 1996 /s/ Alan E. Wiley - - -------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Date Alan E. Wiley Senior Executive Vice President- Secretary, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
 

5 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 1,000 9-MOS FEB-01-1997 NOV-02-1996 10,053 34,646 43,279 4,386 93,007 180,405 100,278 44,667 241,365 73,805 0 0 0 954 154,316 241,365 340,892 350,985 241,790 241,790 0 2,641 196 14,203 5,042 9,161 0 0 0 9,161 0.32 0