Results of Operations · Shareholder Vote

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 22, 2025   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 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 May 22, 2025, The Cato Corporation issued a press release regarding its financial results for   the first quarter ending May 3, 2025. A copy of this press release is hereby incorporated as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote   of Security Holders. On   May   22,   2025,   the   Registrant   held   its   Annual   Meeting.   The   following   are   the   voting   results   on   each   matter submitted to the Registrant’s   stockholders at the   Annual Meeting. The   proposals below are described   in detail in the Proxy Statement.   At the Annual   Meeting, the two   nominees for director   were elected to   the Registrant’s   Board of Directors   (Proposal 1 below). In addition, management’s   proposal to amend and   restate the Cato Corporation   2013 Employee Stock Purchase   Plan was approved (Proposal 2 below).   In   addition,   management’s   proposal   regarding   the   selection   of   PricewaterhouseCoopers   LLP   as   the   Company’s independent registered public   accounting firm for   the fiscal year ending   January 31, 2026   was approved (Proposal   3 below).   Summary of Voting   By Proposal   1. To   elect Theresa   J. Drew   and D.   Harding Stowe,   each for   a term   expiring in   2028   and until   their successors are elected and qualified. Votes   recorded, by nominee, were as follows:                 Nominee     For     Abstain   Broker Non-Votes Theresa J. Drew   25,248,912   282,410   5,927,162 D. Harding Stowe 22,904,087 2,627,335 5,927,162   2. To   consider   and   vote   upon   a   proposal   to   amend   and   restate   The   Cato   Corporation   2013   Employee   Stock Purchase   Plan,   as   amended   in   2021.   The   Company’s   shareholders   voted   to   approve   this   proposal   with 25,305,519 for and 143,306 votes against. There were 82,497 abstentions. 3. To   ratify   the   selection   of   PricewaterhouseCoopers   LLP   as   the   Company’s   independent   registered   public accounting firm   for the   fiscal year   ending   January 31,   2026. The   Company’s   shareholders   voted to   approve this proposal with 31,099,302 for and 268,605 votes against. There   were 90,577 abstentions. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release issued May 22, 2025 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 May 28, 2025 /s/ John P.   D. Cato Date John P.   D. Cato Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer May 28, 2025 /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 May 22, 2025 99.1 104   Cover page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document) 104