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):   November 19, 2020   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 , North Carolina (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)   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)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Class A - Common Stock, par value $.033 per share CATO New York Stock Exchange   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.   ☐   2   THE CATO   CORPORATION   Item 2.02.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition.   On November 19, 2020, The Cato Corporation issued a press release regarding its financial results for the third quarter ending October 31, 2020.   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 November 19, 2020   Exhibit 104 – Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document)           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     November 20, 2020 /s/ John P.   D. Cato Date John P.   D. Cato Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer November 20, 2020 /s/ John R. Howe Date John R. Howe Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer           4   Exhibit Index   Exhibit Exhibit No. Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release issued November 19, 2020 99.1 Exhibit 104 – Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document) 104