1

                                  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                May 3, 1997
                               -----------------------------------------

                                       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 May 16, 1997, there were 23,219,572 shares of Class A Common Stock and
5,264,317 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.


   2



                              THE CATO CORPORATION

                                    FORM 10-Q

                                   MAY 3, 1997


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                                        Page
                                                                         No.
                                                                         ---

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

             Consolidated Statements of Income                             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


THREE MONTHS ENDED ------------------------ MAY 3, May 4, 1997 1996 -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) REVENUES Retail sales $123,251 $120,028 Other income (principally finance and layaway charges) 4,249 3,511 -------- -------- Total revenues 127,500 123,539 -------- -------- COSTS AND EXPENSES Cost of goods sold, including occupancy, distribution and buying 83,056 79,774 Selling, general and administrative 30,732 29,655 Depreciation 1,941 2,074 Interest 63 65 -------- -------- Total expenses 115,792 111,568 -------- -------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 11,708 11,971 Income taxes 3,688 4,250 -------- -------- NET INCOME $ 8,020 $ 7,721 ======== ======== EARNINGS PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE $ 0.28 $ 0.27 ======== ======== DIVIDENDS PER SHARE $ 0.04 $ 0.04 ======== ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 4 Page 3 THE CATO CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
MAY 3, May 4, February 1, 1997 1996 1997 (UNAUDITED) (Unaudited) ----------- ----------- ---------- (IN THOUSANDS) ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 25,017 $ 21,756 $ 16,593 Short-term investments 34,790 34,816 33,512 Accounts receivable - net 45,693 39,538 43,192 Merchandise inventories 75,171 69,547 63,968 Deferred income taxes 2,014 1,825 2,014 Prepaid expenses 4,317 4,652 2,181 -------- -------- -------- Total Current Assets 187,002 172,134 161,460 Property and Equipment 50,939 55,118 51,333 Other Assets 5,390 5,186 5,450 -------- -------- -------- Total $243,331 $232,438 $218,243 ======== ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts payable $ 53,272 $ 48,824 $ 38,276 Accrued expenses 15,575 10,591 16,232 Income taxes 5,238 4,352 1,579 -------- -------- -------- Total Current Liabilities 74,085 63,767 56,087 Deferred Income Taxes 3,851 4,491 3,851 Other Noncurrent Liabilities 6,490 7,551 6,402 Stockholders' Equity: Class A Common Stock, issued 23,394,572 shares, 23,301,275 shares and 23,366,403 shares at May 3, 1997, May 4, 1996 and February 1, 1997, respectively 779 776 778 Convertible Class B Common Stock, issued and outstanding 5,264,317 shares at May 3, 1997, May 4, 1996 and February 1, 1997, respectively 176 176 176 Preferred Stock, none -- -- -- Additional paid-in capital 63,391 63,026 63,272 Retained earnings 95,538 92,874 88,656 -------- -------- -------- 159,884 156,852 152,882 Less Class A Common Stock in treasury, at cost (175,000 shares at May 3, 1997 and February 1, 1997, respectively, and 40,000 shares at May 4, 1996) 979 223 979 -------- -------- -------- Total Stockholders' Equity 158,905 156,629 151,903 -------- -------- -------- Total $243,331 $232,438 $218,243 ======== ======== ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements 5 Page 4 THE CATO CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
THREE MONTHS ENDED ------------------------- MAY 3, May 4, 1997 1996 -------- -------- (IN THOUSANDS) OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $ 8,020 $ 7,721 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 1,941 2,074 Amortization of investment premiums 27 35 Changes in operating assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash: Accounts receivable (2,501) 254 Merchandise inventories (11,203) (11,107) Other assets (2,076) (2,258) Accrued income taxes 3,659 3,024 Accounts payable and other liabilities 14,636 12,580 -------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities 12,503 12,323 -------- -------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Expenditures for property and equipment (1,756) (2,836) Purchases of short-term investments (3,080) (14,140) Sales of short-term investments 1,775 1,000 -------- -------- Net cash used in investing activities (3,061) (15,976) -------- -------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES Dividends paid (1,138) (1,138) Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 114 154 Proceeds from stock options exercised 6 210 -------- -------- Net cash used in financing activities (1,018) (774) -------- -------- Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents 8,424 (4,427) Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year 16,593 26,183 -------- -------- Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 25,017 $ 21,756 ======== ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements 6 Page 5 THE CATO CORPORATION NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 3, 1997 AND MAY 4, 1996 - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 May 3, 1997 and May 4, 1996 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 PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE: Earnings 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 earnings per common and common equivalent share computations were 28,505,046 shares for the three months ended May 3, 1997 and 28,918,042 shares for the three months ended May 4, 1996. NOTE 3 - SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Interest paid during each of the three months ended May 3, 1997 and May 4, 1996 was $61,000. Income tax payments, net of refunds received, for the three months ended May 3, 1997 and May 4, 1996 were $1,133,000 and $1,249,000, respectively. 7 Page 6 THE CATO CORPORATION NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 3, 1997 AND MAY 4, 1996 - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 replaced 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. In May 1997, the unsecured revolving credit agreement was extended until May 2000 and the letter of credit facility renewed for an additional year. 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 -------------------- MAY 3, May 4, 1997 1996 ------ ------ Total retail sales 100.0% 100.0% Total revenues 103.5 102.9 Cost of goods sold, including occupancy, distribution and buying 67.4 66.5 Selling, general and administrative 24.9 24.7 Income before income taxes 9.5 10.0 Net income 6.5 6.4
COMPARISON OF FIRST QUARTER 1997 WITH 1996. OPERATING RESULTS Total retail sales for the first quarter increased 3% over last year's first quarter to $123.3 million from $120.0 million. Same-store sales for the first quarter increased 3%. The increase in retail sales for the first quarter resulted from the Company's store development activity. The Company operated 669 stores at May 3, 1997 compared to 682 stores operated at the end of last year's first quarter. Other income for the first quarter increased 21% over last year's first quarter. 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 67.4% of total retail sales for the current year's first quarter, compared to 66.5% for last year's first three months. The increase in cost of goods sold as a percent of retail sales resulted primarily from a planned decrease in initial mark-up in this year's first quarter. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $30.7 million, or 24.9% of retail sales, for this year's first quarter, compared to $29.7 million, or 24.7% of retail sales, in last year's first quarter. Expenses remained well controlled and were under planned levels. 9 Page 8 THE CATO CORPORATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES At May 3, 1997, the Company had working capital of $112.9 million, compared to $108.4 million at May 4, 1996 and $105.4 million at February 1, 1997. Cash provided by operating activities was $12.5 million for the three months ended May 3, 1997, compared to $12.3 million for last year's comparable three-month period. The Company had no borrowings under its revolving credit agreement at May 3, 1997 or May 4, 1996. At May 3, 1997, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $59.8 million, compared to $56.6 million at May 4, 1996 and $50.1 million at February 1, 1997. 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 replaced 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. In May 1997, the unsecured revolving credit agreement was extended until May 2000 and the letter of credit facility renewed for an additional year. Expenditures for property and equipment totaled $1.8 million for the three months ended May 3, 1997, compared to $2.8 million of expenditures in last year's first three months. The Company expects total capital expenditures to be approximately $8.7 million for the current fiscal year. The Company intends to open approximately 55 new stores and to relocate or expand 20 stores during the current fiscal year. For the three months ended May 3, 1997, the Company had opened 16 new stores, relocated or expanded 4 stores, and closed 2 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) Exhibits 27 Financial Data Schedule (for SEC use only) (B) No Reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended May 3, 1997. 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 June 9, 1997 /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. - - ------------------- ------------------------------------------- Date Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer June 9, 1997 /s/ Alan E. Wiley - - ------------------- ------------------------------------------- Date Alan E. Wiley Senior Executive Vice President-Secretary, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
 

5 THE 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 3-MOS JAN-31-1998 MAY-03-1997 25,017 34,790 50,077 4,384 75,171 187,002 93,432 42,493 243,331 74,085 0 0 0 955 157,950 243,331 123,251 127,500 83,056 83,056 0 1,048 63 11,708 3,688 8,020 0 0 0 8,020 0.28 0