Results of Operations

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 450 Fifth Street NW Washington, D.C. 29549 Form 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 23, 2019 THE CATO CORPORATION (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Delaware 1-31340 56-0484485 (State or Other Jurisdiction of  Incorporation (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 8100 Denmark Road , Charlotte, NC (Address of Principal Executive Offices) 28273-5975 (Zip Code) (704) 554-8510 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) Not Applicable (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $.033 per share CATO New York Stock Exchange Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a‑12)    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ¨ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨ THE CATO CORPORATION Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On May 23, 2019, The Cato Corporation issued a press release regarding its financial results for the first quarter ending May 4, 2019. A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits Exhibit 99.1 – Press Release issued May 23, 2019 . 3 Signatures 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 May 23, 2019 /s/ John P. D. Cato Date John P. D. Cato Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer May 23, 2019 /s/ John R. Howe Date John R. Howe Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer 4 Exhibit Index Exhibit Exhibit No . Press Release issued May 23, 2019. 99.1 5