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):   August 17, 2023   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 August 17, 2023, The Cato Corporation issued a press release regarding its   financial results for the second quarter ending July 29, 2023. A copy of this press release is hereby incorporated   as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release issued August 17, 2023 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 August 21, 2023 /s/ John P.   D. Cato Date John P.   D. Cato Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer August 21, 2023 /s/ Charles D. Knight Date Charles D. Knight   Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer     4 Exhibit Index   Exhibit Exhibit No. 99.1 - Press Release issued August 17, 2023 99.1 104   Cover page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document) 104