2004
ANNUAL
REPORT
COMPANY PROFILE
The Cato Corporation is a leading specialty retailer of value-priced women’s fashion apparel operating
two divisions, “Cato” and “It’s Fashion!”. The Company currently operates nearly 1,200 apparel specialty
stores principally in the southeastern United States. Cato offers exclusive merchandise with updated
fashion and quality comparable to mall specialty stores at low prices, every day. Most Cato stores range
from 4,000 to 6,000 square feet and are located primarily in strip shopping centers anchored by national
discounters or market dominant grocery stores.
It’s Fashion! provides junior-inspired fashion apparel and
accessories with stores ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. The Company is headquartered in
Charlotte, North Carolina.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FISCAL YEAR
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
Retail sales
Total revenues
Comparable store sales increase (decrease)
Income before income taxes
Net income
Net income as a percent of retail sales
Cash dividends paid per share
Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
Number of stores
Number of stores opened
Number of stores closed
Net increase in number of stores
AT YEAR END
2004
2003
(Restated)
2002
(Restated)
2001
(Restated)
2000
(Restated)
$ 773,809
789,604
$ 731,770
747,267
$ 732,742
748,331
$ 685,653
699,321
$ 648,482
662,537
0%
54,695
34,841
4.5%
.685
1.69
1.66
1,177
80
5
75
(7)%
48,687
31,014
4.2%
.63
1.34
1.32
1,102
87
7
80
0%
71,230
45,445
6.2%
.585
1.78
1.75
1,022
90
5
85
1%
65,314
42,462
6.2%
.53
1.69
1.64
937
85
7
78
3%
59,884
38,924
6.0%
.425
1.56
1.53
859
65
15
50
Cash, cash equivalents and investments
Working capital
Current ratio
Total assets
Stockholders’ equity
$ 107,228
133,791
2.0
394,134
211,175
$
71,402
117,403
2.0
356,284
186,075
$ 106,936
166,264
2.7
387,272
262,505
$
84,695
143,101
2.7
335,708
227,428
$
83,112
129,437
2.4
314,637
201,110
A MESSAGE
TO OUR
SHAREHOLDERS
Cato means real value. Customers find value in the quality
fashion we offer. Shareholders find value in increasing
earnings per share and increasing dividends.
sourcing functions. More exclusive styles, when joined
with our on-trend fashion and high product quality,
will add value for our customers.
By delivering fashion and quality with exceptional value,
2004 earnings increased 12% to $34.8 million and EPS
increased 26% to $1.66. As a shareholder, your
investment in Cato has been rewarded with continued
profitability, consistent growth, and an increasing dividend.
We have stated that we will increase dividends as earnings
grow.
In 2004, the Company’s annualized dividend
increased 9% to $.70 per share.
After repurchasing $98 million of Company stock in 2003
and reducing outstanding shares by 21%, we ended 2004
with more than $107 million in cash and short-term
investments.
In April 2005, we paid the remaining $20.5
million balance on the loan used to finance a portion of
the share repurchase two and a half years early. We are
again debt-free.
We invested more than $25 million in capital
expenditures during 2004 including opening 80 new
stores and implementing new technology in many areas.
Our management team remains focused on the
execution of three key strategies that have been in place
for many years.
First, we will continue to improve our merchandise
offering. We are improving fashion and quality across all
merchandise categories. We are developing more
exclusive products through our fashion design and direct
Second, we will continue to enhance the shopping
experience for our customer. We have improved our
customer service training programs, created more
selective store staff hiring guidelines, and improved the
monitoring of performance against standards. Our focus
on merchandise presentation by color makes it easy for
customers to coordinate outfits.
In 2005 we are implementing two major
Third, we will continue to improve our business through
technology investments in merchandising, distribution, and
sales support.
systems. A state-of-the-art warehouse management
system will reduce costs and increase processing speed
and a new point of sale system will lower costs, reduce
transaction times, and streamline store communications.
The right strategies are in place. We continue building a
strong organization to execute these strategies.
We operate our business for the long term. We remain
committed to growing our business profitably, growing our
dividend as earnings increase, and increasing long-term
shareholder value.
John P. Derham Cato
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
A NEW STATEMENT OF STYLE
Customers can always find their style and
enjoy their shopping experience at Cato
Styles for work, weekends or a night out
Fashion, quality, fit and great colors
Convenient locations
Comfortable shopping environment
Friendly service
Exceptional value
STORE GROWTH
NUMBER OF STORES
(AT YEAR END)
1,177
1,102
1,022
937
859
809
732
693
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
INVESTMENT FOR GROWTH
Investing to build long-term value for our customers,
associates and shareholders
90 new stores in 2005
More exclusive designs and increased direct sourcing
New technology to improve efficiency and productivity
Strong organization to support our strategies
MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE GROUP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John P. Derham Cato
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Michael O. Moore
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
B. Allen Weinstein
Executive Vice President,
Chief Merchandising Officer
Howard A. Severson
Executive Vice President, Chief Real Estate and
Store Development Officer
Michael T. Greer
Senior Vice President,
Director of Stores
Robert C. Brummer
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources
John P. Derham Cato
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Michael O. Moore
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Robert W. Bradshaw, Jr. 1,3
Of Counsel—Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
George S. Currin 1,2
Chairman and Managing Director of The Fourth Stockton
Company LLC and Chairman Currin-Patterson Properties LLC
William H. Grigg
Chairman Emeritus (Retired)
Duke Energy Corporation
Grant L. Hamrick 3
Retired Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
American City Business Journals
James H. Shaw 1,2
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ivey’s Department Stores
A. F. (Pete) Sloan 2,3
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Lance, Inc.
D. Harding Stowe
President and Chief Executive Officer
R. L. Stowe Mills, Inc.
1 Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
2 Member of the Compensation Committee
3 Member of the Audit Committee
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
¥ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Ñscal year ended January 29, 2005
or
n TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 1-31340
The Cato Corporation
Registrant
Delaware
State of Incorporation
8100 Denmark Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28273-5975
Address of Principal Executive OÇces
56-0484485
I.R.S. Employer
IdentiÑcation Number
704/554-8510
Registrant's Telephone Number
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Share Purchase Rights
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has Ñled all reports required to be Ñled 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 Ñle such reports), and (2) has been subject to such Ñling requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes ¥
No n
Indicate by check mark, if disclosure of delinquent Ñlers pursuant to Item 405 of the Regulation S-K is
not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant's knowledge, in deÑnitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. n
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated Ñler (as deÑned in Rule 12b-2 of the
Act). Yes ¥
No n
The aggregate market value of the Registrant's Class A Common Stock held by Non-aÇliates of the
Registrant as of July 31, 2004, the last business day of the Company's most recent second quarter, was
$420,193,294 based on the last reported sale price per share on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on
that date.
As of March 29, 2005, there were 20,367,720 shares of Class A Common Stock and 460,350 shares of
Convertible Class B Common Stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the proxy statement relating to the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated by
reference into the following part of this annual report:
Part III Ì Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
(This page intentionally left blank)
THE CATO CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Business ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 1.
Properties ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 2.
Legal Proceedings ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 3.
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security HoldersÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 4A. Executive OÇcers of the Registrant ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Selected Financial Data ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 6.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
PART II
Page
3 Ó 7
7
7
7
8
9
10
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market RiskÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 8.
Item 9.
Operations ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ 11 Ó 18
18
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ 19 Ó 43
Changes in and Disagreements with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
on Accounting and Consolidated Financial Disclosure ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
44
44
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive OÇcers of the Registrant ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 11. Executive CompensationÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain BeneÑcial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Principal Accountant Fees and Services ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Item 14.
45
45
45
46
46
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ 46 Ó 55
1
Forward-looking Information
The following discussion and analysis should be read along with the Consolidated Financial Statements,
including the accompanying Notes appearing later in this report. Any of the following are ""forward-looking''
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: (1) statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that
reÖect projections or expectations of our future Ñnancial or economic performance; (2) statements that are not
historical information; (3) statements of our beliefs, intentions, plans and objectives for future operations,
including those contained in ""Business'', ""Properties'', ""Legal Proceedings'', ""Controls and Procedures'' and
""Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations''; (4) statements
relating to our operations or activities for 2005 and beyond; and (5) statements relating to our future
contingencies. Words such as ""expects'', ""anticipates'', ""approximates'', ""believes'', ""estimates'', ""hopes'',
""intends'', ""may'', ""plans'', ""should'' and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that actual results or events will not
diÅer materially from those projected, estimated, assumed or anticipated in any such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available to us as of
the Ñling date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking information
contained in this report.
Our website is located at www.catocorp.com. We make available free of charge, through our website, our
annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements
and other reports (including amendments to these reports) Ñled or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These reports are available as soon as reasonably
practicable after we electronically Ñle those materials with the SEC. We also post on our website the charters
of our Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees; our Corporate
Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; and any amendments or waivers thereto; and
any other corporate governance materials contemplated by SEC or New York Stock Exchange regulations.
The documents are also available in print to any shareholder who requests by contacting our corporate
secretary at our company oÇces.
2
PART I
Item 1. Business:
General
The Company, founded in 1946, operated 1,177 women's fashion specialty stores at January 29, 2005,
under the names ""Cato,'' ""Cato Fashions,'' ""Cato Plus'' and ""It's Fashion!'' in 29 states, principally in the
southeastern United States. The Company oÅers quality fashion apparel and accessories at low prices, every
day in junior/missy and plus sizes. Additionally, the Company oÅers clothing for girls sizes 7 to 16 in selected
locations. The Company's stores feature a broad assortment of apparel and accessories, including casual and
dressy sportswear, dresses, careerwear, coats, shoes, costume jewelry and handbags. A major portion of the
Company's merchandise is sold under its private labels and is produced by various vendors in accordance with
the Company's speciÑcations. Most stores range in size from 4,000 to 6,000 square feet and are located
primarily in strip shopping centers anchored by national discounters or market-dominant grocery stores. The
Company emphasizes friendly customer service and coordinated merchandise presentations in an appealing
store environment. The Company oÅers its own credit card and layaway plan. Credit and layaway sales
represented 14% of retail sales in Ñscal 2004. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements,
""Reportable Segment Information'' for a discussion of segment information.
Restatement of Prior Financial Information
We have restated the consolidated balance sheet at January 31, 2004, and the consolidated statements of
income, cash Öows and stockholders' equity for the years ended January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have also restated the quarterly Ñnancial information for Ñscal 2003 and
the Ñrst three quarters of Ñscal 2004. See Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated Ñnancial statements. The
restatement also aÅects periods prior to Ñscal 2002. The impact of the restatement on such prior periods has
been reÖected as an adjustment to retained earnings as of February 2, 2002 in the accompanying consolidated
statements of stockholders' equity. We have also restated the applicable Ñnancial information for Ñscal 2000,
Ñscal 2001, Ñscal 2002 and Ñscal 2003 in ""Item 6. Selected Financial Data.'' The restatement corrects our
historical lease accounting practices. For information with respect to the restatement, see Note 1 to the
accompanying consolidated Ñnancial statements. We did not amend our previously Ñled Annual Report on
Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the restatement, and the Ñnancial statements and related
Ñnancial information contained in such reports should no longer be relied upon. Throughout this Form 10-K
all referenced amounts for prior periods and prior period comparisons reÖect the balances and amounts on a
restated basis.
Business
The Company's primary objective is to be the leading fashion specialty retailer for fashion and value
conscious females in its markets. Management believes the Company's success is dependent upon its ability to
diÅerentiate its stores from department stores, mass merchandise discount stores and competing women's
specialty stores. The key elements of the Company's business strategy are:
Merchandise Assortment. The Company's stores oÅer a wide assortment of apparel and accessory items
in junior/missy and plus sizes and emphasize color, product coordination and selection.
Value Pricing. The Company oÅers quality merchandise that is generally priced below comparable
merchandise oÅered by department stores and mall specialty apparel chains, but is generally more fashionable
than merchandise oÅered by discount stores. Management believes that the Company has positioned itself as
the everyday low price leader in its market segment.
Strip Shopping Center Locations. The Company locates its stores principally in convenient strip centers
anchored by national discounters or market-dominant grocery stores that attract large numbers of potential
customers.
3
Customer Service. Store managers and sales associates are trained to provide prompt and courteous
service and to assist customers in merchandise selection and wardrobe coordination.
Credit and Layaway Programs. The Company oÅers its own credit card and a layaway plan to make the
purchase of its merchandise more convenient.
Expansion. The Company plans to continue to expand into northern, midwestern and western adjacent
states, as well as continuing to Ñll-in existing southeastern core geography.
Merchandising
Merchandising
The Company oÅers a broad selection of high quality and exceptional value apparel and accessories to
suit the various lifestyles of the fashion and value conscious females. In addition, the Company oÅers on-trend
fashion in exciting colors with consistent Ñt and quality.
The Company's merchandise lines include dressy, career, and casual sportswear, dresses, coats, shoes,
lingerie, costume jewelry and handbags. Apparel for girls sizes 7 to 16 is oÅered in approximately 1,000 stores.
The Company primarily oÅers exclusive merchandise with fashion and quality comparable to mall specialty
stores at low prices, every day.
The collaboration of the merchandising team with an expanded in-house product development and direct
sourcing function has enhanced merchandise oÅerings delivering quality exclusive products at lower costs. The
product development and direct sourcing operations provide research on emerging fashion and color trends,
technical services and direct sourcing options.
As a part of its merchandising strategy, members of the Company's merchandising staÅ frequently visit
selected stores, monitor the merchandise oÅerings of other retailers, regularly communicate with store
operations associates and frequently confer with key vendors. The Company tests most new fashion-sensitive
items in selected stores to aid it in determining their appeal before making a substantial purchasing
commitment. The Company also takes aggressive markdowns on slow-selling merchandise and does not carry
over merchandise to the next season.
Purchasing, Allocation and Distribution
Although the Company purchases merchandise from approximately 1,500 suppliers, most of its
merchandise is purchased from approximately 100 primary vendors. In Ñscal 2004, purchases from the
Company's largest vendor accounted for approximately 6% of the Company's total purchases. No other vendor
accounted for more than 3% of total purchases. The Company is not dependent on its largest vendor or any
other vendor for merchandise purchases and the loss of any single vendor or group of vendors would not have a
material adverse eÅect on the Company's operating results or Ñnancial condition. A substantial portion of the
Company's merchandise is sold under its private labels and is produced by various vendors in accordance with
the Company's strict speciÑcations. The Company purchases most of its merchandise from domestic importers
and vendors, which typically minimizes the time necessary to purchase and obtain shipments in order to
enable the Company to react to merchandise trends in a more timely fashion. Although a signiÑcant portion of
the Company's merchandise is manufactured overseas, principally in the Far East, any economic, political or
social unrest in any one region is not expected to have a material adverse eÅect on the Company's ability to
obtain adequate supplies of merchandise.
An important component of the Company's strategy is the allocation of merchandise to individual stores
based on an analysis of sales trends by merchandise category, customer proÑles and climatic conditions. A
merchandise control system provides current information on the sales activity of each merchandise style in
each of the Company's stores. Point-of-sale terminals in the stores collect and transmit sales and inventory
information to the Company's central database, permitting timely response to sales trends on a store-by-store
basis.
4
All merchandise is shipped directly to the Company's distribution center in Charlotte, North Carolina,
where it is inspected and then allocated by the merchandise distribution staÅ for shipment to individual stores.
The Öow of merchandise from receipt at the distribution center to shipment to stores is controlled by an on-
line system. Shipments are made by common carrier, and each store receives at least one shipment per week.
Advertising
The Company uses radio, in store signage, graphics and a Company website as its primary advertising
media. The Company uses radio advertising in selected trade areas. The Company's total advertising
expenditures were approximately .8% of retail sales in Ñscal 2004.
Store Operations
The Company's store operations management team consists of 1 director of stores, 4 territorial managers,
15 regional managers and 120 district managers. Regional managers receive a salary plus a bonus based on
achieving targeted goals for sales, payroll, shrinkage control and store proÑtability. District managers receive a
salary plus a bonus based on achieving targeted objectives for district sales increases and shrinkage control.
Stores are staÅed with a manager, two assistant managers and additional part-time sales associates depending
on the size of the store and seasonal personnel needs. Store managers receive a salary and all other store
personnel are paid on an hourly basis. Store managers, assistant managers and sales associates are eligible for
monthly and semi-annual bonuses based on achieving targeted goals for their store's sales increases and
shrinkage control.
The Company is constantly improving its training programs to develop associates. Over 80% of store and
Ñeld management are promoted from within, allowing the Company to internally staÅ an expanding store base.
The Company has training programs at each level of store operations. New store managers are trained in
training stores managed by experienced associates who have achieved superior results in meeting the
Company's goals for store sales, payroll expense and shrinkage control. The type and extent of district
manager training varies depending on whether the district manager is promoted from within or recruited from
outside the Company. All district managers receive at a minimum a one-week orientation program at the
Company's corporate oÇce.
Store Locations
Most of the Company's stores are located in the southeastern United States in a variety of markets
ranging from small towns to large metropolitan areas with trade area populations of 20,000 or more. Stores
range in size from 4,000 to 6,000 square feet and average approximately 4,500 square feet.
All of the Company's stores are leased. Approximately 93% are located in strip shopping centers and 7%
in enclosed shopping malls. The Company locates stores in strip shopping centers anchored by a national
discounter, primarily Wal-Mart Supercenters, or market-dominant grocery stores. The Company's strip center
locations provide ample parking and shopping convenience for its customers.
The Company's store development activities consist of opening new stores in new and existing markets,
and relocating selected existing stores to more desirable locations in the same market area. The following table
sets forth information with respect to the Company's development activities since Ñscal 2000.
Fiscal Year
Store Development
Number of Stores
Beginning of
Year
2000 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2001 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2002 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2003 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2004 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
809
859
937
1,022
1,102
5
Number
Opened
Number
Closed
Number of Stores
End of Year
65
85
90
87
80
15
7
5
7
5
859
937
1,022
1,102
1,177
In Fiscal 2004 the Company relocated 29 stores and remodeled 17 stores.
In Fiscal 2005 the Company plans to open approximately 90 new stores, relocate 20 stores, close
10 stores, and remodel 15 stores.
The Company periodically reviews its store base to determine whether any particular store should be
closed based on its sales trends and proÑtability. The Company intends to continue this review process to close
underperforming stores. The Ñve stores closed in 2004 were not material to the Company's results of
operations.
Credit and Layaway
Credit Card Program
The Company oÅers its own credit card, which accounted for approximately 9% of retail sales in Ñscal
2004. The Company's net bad debt expense in Ñscal 2004 was 7.3% of credit sales.
Customers applying for the Company's credit card are approved for credit if they have a satisfactory
credit record and meet minimum income criteria. Customers are required to make minimum monthly
payments based on their account balances. If the balance is not paid in full each month, the Company assesses
the customer a Ñnance charge. If payments are not received on time, the customer is assessed a late fee.
Layaway Plan
Under the Company's layaway plan, merchandise is set aside for customers who agree to make periodic
payments. The Company adds a nonrefundable administrative fee to each layaway sale. If no payment is made
for four weeks, the customer is considered to have defaulted, and the merchandise is returned to the selling
Öoor and again oÅered for sale, often at a reduced price. All payments made by customers who subsequently
default on their layaway purchase are returned to the customer upon request, less the administrative fee and a
restocking fee. The Company defers recognition of layaway sales and its related fees to the accounting period
when the customer picks up layaway merchandise. Layaway sales represented approximately 5% of retail sales
in Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Management Information Systems
The Company's systems provide daily Ñnancial and merchandising information that is used by manage-
ment to enhance the timeliness and eÅectiveness of purchasing and pricing decisions. Management uses a
daily report comparing actual sales with planned sales and a weekly ranking report to monitor and control
purchasing decisions. Weekly reports are also produced which reÖect sales, weeks of supply of inventory and
other critical data by product categories, by store and by various levels of responsibility reporting. Purchases
are made based on projected sales but can be modiÑed to accommodate unexpected increases or decreases in
demand for a particular item.
Sales information is projected by merchandise category and, in some cases, is further projected and actual
performance measured by stock keeping unit (SKU). Merchandise allocation models are used to distribute
merchandise to individual stores based upon historical sales trends, climatic diÅerences, customer demo-
graphic diÅerences and targeted inventory turnover rates.
Competition
The women's retail apparel industry is highly competitive. The Company believes that the principal
competitive factors in its industry include merchandise assortment and presentation, fashion, price, store
location and customer service. The Company competes with retail chains that operate similar women's apparel
specialty stores. In addition, the Company competes with mass merchandise chains, discount store chains and
major department stores. To the extent that the Company opens stores in larger cities and metropolitan areas,
competition is expected to be more intense in those markets.
6
Regulation
A variety of laws aÅect the revolving credit program oÅered by the Company. The Federal Consumer
Credit Protection Act (Truth-in Lending) and Regulation Z promulgated thereunder require written
disclosure of information relating to such Ñnancing, including the amount of the annual percentage rate and
the Ñnance charge. The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act also requires certain disclosures to potential
customers concerning credit information used as a basis to deny credit. The Federal Equal Credit Opportunity
Act and Regulation B promulgated thereunder prohibit discrimination against any credit applicant based on
certain speciÑed grounds. The Federal Trade Commission has adopted or proposed various trade regulation
rules dealing with unfair credit and collection practices and the preservation of consumers' claims and
defenses. The Company is also subject to the U.S. Patriot Act and the Bank Secrecy Act which require the
Company to monitor account holders and account transactions, respectively. Additionally, the Gramm-Leach-
Bliley Act requires the Company to disclose, initially and annually, to its customers, the Company's privacy
policy as it relates to a customer's non-public personal information.
Associates
As of January 29, 2005, the Company employed approximately 9,600 full-time and part-time associates.
The Company also employs additional part-time associates during the peak retailing seasons. The Company is
not a party to any collective bargaining agreements and considers that its associate relations are good.
Item 2. Properties:
The Company's distribution center and general oÇces are located in a Company-owned building of
approximately 492,000 square feet located on a 15-acre tract in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Company's
automated merchandise handling and distribution activities occupy approximately 418,000 square feet of this
building and its general oÇces and corporate training center are located in the remaining 74,000 square feet. A
building of approximately 24,000 square feet located on a 2-acre tract adjacent to the Company's existing
location is used for receiving and staging shipments prior to processing.
Substantially all of the Company's retail stores are leased from unaÇliated parties. Most of the leases
have an initial term of Ñve years, with two to three Ñve-year renewal options. Many of the leases provide for
Ñxed rentals plus a percentage of sales in excess of a speciÑed volume.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings:
From time to time, claims are asserted against the Company arising out of operations in the ordinary
course of business. The Company currently is not a party to any pending litigation that it believes is likely to
have a material adverse eÅect on the Company's Ñnancial conditions or results of operations.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:
None.
7
Item 4A. Executive OÇcers of the Registrant:
The executive oÇcers of the Company and their ages as of March 31, 2005 are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
John P. Derham Cato ÏÏÏÏÏÏ
54
Michael O. Moore ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
54
B. Allen WeinsteinÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
58
Howard A. Severson ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
57
Michael T. Greer ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
42
Robert C. BrummerÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
60
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive OÇcer
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial OÇcer and Secretary
Executive Vice President,
Chief Merchandising OÇcer
Executive Vice President, Chief Real Estate and
Store Development OÇcer
Senior Vice President,
Director of Stores
Senior Vice President,
Human Resources
John P. Derham Cato has been employed as an oÇcer of the Company since 1981 and has been a director
of the Company since 1986. Since January 2004, he has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive
OÇcer. From May 1999 to January 2004, he served as President, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive OÇcer. From June 1997 to May 1999, he served as President, Vice Chairman of the Board and
Chief Operating OÇcer. From August 1996 to June 1997, he served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief
Operating OÇcer. From 1989 to 1996, he managed the Company's oÅ-price division, serving as Executive
Vice President and as President and General Manager of the It's Fashion! Division from 1993 to August 1996.
Mr. John Cato is currently a director of Ruddick Corporation.
Michael O. Moore has been employed by the Company as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
OÇcer and Secretary since July 1998 and has been a director of the Company since 2002. Mr. Moore served
as Vice President, Chief Financial OÇcer for Party Experience from 1997 to 1998, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial OÇcer of David's Bridal from 1994 to 1997, and was employed by Bloomingdales from 1984
to 1994 serving as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial OÇcer from 1990 to 1994.
B. Allen Weinstein joined the Company as Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising OÇcer of the
Cato Division in August 1997. Since November 2004, he has served as Executive Vice President, Chief
Merchandising OÇcer of the Company. From 1995 to 1997, he was Senior Vice President Ì Merchandising
of Catherines Stores Corporation. From 1981 to 1995, he served as Senior Vice President of Merchandising
for Beall's, Inc.
Howard A. Severson has been employed by the Company since 1985. Since January 1993, he has served
as Executive Vice President, Chief Real Estate and Store Development OÇcer and Assistant Secretary. From
1993 to 2001 Mr. Severson also served as a director. From August 1989 through January 1993, Mr. Severson
served as Senior Vice President Ì Chief Real Estate OÇcer.
Michael T. Greer has been employed by the Company since 1985. Since November 2004, he has served
as Senior Vice President, Director of Stores of the Company. From February 2004 through November 2004,
he served as Senior Vice President, Director of Stores of the Cato Division. From 2002 to 2003 Mr. Greer
served as Vice President, Director of Stores of the It's Fashion! Division. From 1999 to 2001 he served as
Territorial Vice President of Stores of the Cato Division and from 1996 to 1999 he served as Regional Vice
President of Stores of the Cato Division. From 1985 to 1995, Mr. Greer held various store operational
positions in the Cato Division.
Robert C. Brummer joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Assistant
Secretary in January 2001. From 1999 through 2000, he was employed by Sleepy's, a beddings specialty
retailer, as Vice President, Human Resources and Payroll. From 1997 through 1998, he was Vice President,
Human Resources and Loss Prevention for The Party Experience, a party supplies specialty retailer. From
1995 until 1997, he was Vice President, Human Resources and Loss Prevention for No Body Beats The Wiz,
an electronics specialty store chain.
8
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
PART II
Equity Securities:
Market & Dividend Information
The Company's Class A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the
symbol CTR. As required by Section 3.03A.12(a) of the NYSE listing standards, The Cato Corporation Ñled
with the NYSE the certiÑcation of its Chief Executive OÇcer that he is not aware of any violation by the
company of NYSE corporate governance listing standards. Below is the market range and dividend
information for the four quarters of Ñscal 2004 and 2003.
2004
Price
High
Low
Dividend
First quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Second quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Third quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Fourth quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$21.60
22.82
23.35
30.10
$19.47
18.90
20.35
23.54
$ .16
.175
.175
.175
2003
Price
High
Low
Dividend
First quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Second quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Third quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Fourth quarter ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$20.50
24.10
25.11
21.57
$16.28
18.20
19.95
18.84
$.15
.16
.16
.16
As of March 29, 2005 the approximate number of record holders of the Company's Class A Common
Stock was 1,279 and there were 3 record holders of the Company's Class B Common Stock.
9
Item 6. Selected Financial Data:
Certain selected Ñnancial data for the Ñve Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005 have been derived from the
Company's audited Ñnancial statements. The Ñnancial statements and Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm's reports for the three most recent Ñscal years are contained elsewhere in this report. All data
set forth below are qualiÑed by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements (including the Notes thereto) and ""Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations'' appearing elsewhere in this annual report.
The Ñve-year selected consolidated Ñnancial data presented in this Item 6 has been revised to reÖect a
restatement. For information with respect to the restatement, see Note 1 to the accompanying consolidated
Ñnancial statements.
Fiscal Year
2004
2001
2002
2003
(Restated)
(Restated)
(Restated)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data
and selected operating data)
2000
(Restated)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Retail sales ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $773,809
15,795
Other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
789,604
Total revenues ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
528,916
Cost of goods soldÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
244,893
Gross margin ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Gross margin percent ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Selling, general and administrative ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Selling, general and administrative percent of
retail sales ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
20,397
Depreciation ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
717
Interest expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
(2,739)
Interest and other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
54,695
Income before income taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income tax expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
19,854
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $ 34,841
1.69
Basic earnings per shareÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
1.66
Diluted earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
.685
Cash dividends paid per shareÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
187,618
31.6%
24.2%
SELECTED OPERATING DATA:
Stores open at end of year ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
1,177
Average sales per store(1)ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $682,000
Average sales per square foot of selling space
170
Comparable store sales increase (decrease)
$
0%
$731,770
15,497
747,267
508,991
222,779
$732,742
15,589
748,331
496,954
235,788
$685,653
13,668
699,321
467,338
218,315
$648,482
14,055
662,537
445,565
202,917
30.4%
32.2%
31.8%
31.3%
174,202
168,914
162,082
154,150
23.8%
23.1%
23.6%
18,695
306
(3,614)
48,687
17,673
$ 31,014
1.34
$
1.32
$
.63
$
14,913
21
(3,701)
71,230
25,785
$ 45,445
1.78
$
1.75
$
.585
$
10,886
38
(6,337)
65,314
22,852
$ 42,462
1.69
$
1.64
$
.53
$
23.8%
9,492
3
(6,557)
59,884
20,960
$ 38,924
1.56
$
1.53
$
.425
$
1,102
$692,000
171
$
1,022
$753,000
184
$
937
$767,000
186
$
859
$781,000
187
$
(7)%
0%
1%
3%
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $107,228
133,791
394,134
211,175
Working capitalÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total stockholders' equity ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$ 71,402
117,403
356,284
186,075
$106,936
166,264
387,272
262,505
$ 84,695
143,101
335,708
227,428
$ 83,112
129,437
314,637
201,110
(1) Calculated using an estimated annual sales volume for new stores.
10
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations:
Restatement of Prior Financial Information
We have restated the consolidated balance sheet at January 31, 2004, and the consolidated statements of
income, cash Öows and stockholders' equity for the years ended January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K to correct our historical lease, inbound freight capitalization and vendor
allowance accounting practices. We have also restated our quarterly Ñnancial information for Ñscal 2003 and
the Ñrst three quarters of Ñscal 2004. See Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated Ñnancial statements. The
restatement also aÅects periods prior to Ñscal 2002. The impact of the restatement on such prior periods has
been reÖected as an adjustment of $7.3 million to retained earnings as of February 2, 2002 in the
accompanying consolidated statement of stockholders' equity. We have also restated the applicable Ñnancial
information for Ñscal 2000, Ñscal 2001, Ñscal 2002 and Ñscal 2003 in ""Item 6. Selected Financial Data.''
After the staÅ of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a letter on February 7, 2005 we, like
many other retailers, reviewed our lease accounting practices and determined that certain corrections were
needed. As a result, we corrected our lease accounting practices for Ñscal 2004 and restated certain historical
Ñnancial information. The restatement corrections did not impact cash payments and had no impact on
revenues, comparable store sales or operating cash Öows.
The Company corrected its lease accounting practices to recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis
over the expected lease term (as that term is deÑned by Statement of Financial Accounting No. 13, as
amended ""SFAS No. 13'') beginning on the date the Company takes possession of the leased property,
including lease renewal periods that are required to be included in the lease term because of economic
penalties that result in the renewal being reasonably assured. Likewise, the Company corrected its practices to
recognize landlord allowances on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The restatement includes adjustments to cost of goods sold, gross margin, operating income, income
before taxes, income tax provision, net income and earnings per share. This correction to our lease accounting
practices reduced net income by $484,000 and diluted earnings per share by $0.02 in Ñscal 2004. The
corrections decreased net income by $775,000 or $0.03 per diluted share in Ñscal year 2003 and by $366,000 or
$0.02 per diluted share in Ñscal 2002. In addition, the Company increased net income by $400,000 or $0.01 per
diluted share in Ñscal 2003 and decreased net income by $22,000 in Ñscal 2002 to properly capitalize inbound
freight on domestic purchases and to properly account for vendor allowances.
For information with respect to the restatement adjustments, see Note 1 to the accompanying
consolidated Ñnancial statements.
We did not amend our previously Ñled Annual Reports on Form 10-K for Ñscal years 2003 and 2002 or
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for Ñscal year 2004 for the restatement, and, accordingly, the Ñnancial
statements and related Ñnancial information contained in such reports should no longer be relied upon.
Throughout ""Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,''
all referenced amounts for prior periods and prior period comparisons reÖect the balances and amounts on a
restated basis.
11
Results of Operations
The table below sets forth certain Ñnancial data of the Company expressed as a percentage of retail sales
for the years indicated:
Fiscal Year Ended
Retail sales ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total revenuesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cost of goods sold ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Selling, general and administrative ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Depreciation ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest and other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before income taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
January 29,
2005
100.0%
2.0
102.0
68.4
24.2
2.6
0.1
(0.4)
7.1
4.5%
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
100.0%
2.1
102.1
69.6
23.8
2.6
0.0
(0.5)
6.6
4.2%
February 1,
2003
(Restated)
100.0%
2.1
102.1
67.8
23.1
2.0
0.0
(0.5)
9.7
6.2%
Fiscal 2004 Compared to Fiscal 2003
Retail sales increased by 6% to $773.8 million in Ñscal 2004 compared to $731.8 million in Ñscal 2003.
Total revenues, comprised of retail sales and other income (principally Ñnance charges and late fees on
customer accounts receivable and layaway fees), increased by 6% to $789.6 million in Ñscal 2004 compared to
$747.3 million in Ñscal 2003. The Company operated 1,177 stores at January 29, 2005 compared to 1,102
stores operated at January 31, 2004.
The increase in retail sales in Ñscal 2004 was attributable to improved merchandise oÅerings and an
increase in store development activity. In Ñscal 2004, the Company opened 80 new stores, relocated 29 stores,
remodeled 17 stores and closed 5 stores.
Credit revenue of $14.2 million, represented 1.8% of total revenue in Ñscal 2004. This is comparable to
2003 credit revenue of $14.5 million or 1.9% of total revenue. Credit revenue is comprised of interest earned on
the Company's private label credit card portfolio and related fee income. Related expenses include principally
bad debt expense, payroll, postage and other administrative expenses and totaled $8.7 million in Ñscal 2004
compared to $9.7 million in Ñscal 2003. The decrease in costs was principally due to lower bad debt expense in
Ñscal 2004. See Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a schedule of credit related expenses.
Total credit income before taxes increased $0.7 million from $4.7 million in 2003 to $5.4 million in 2004 due
to the decreased bad debt expense, partially oÅset by decreased credit revenue. Total credit income in 2004
represented 9.9% of income before taxes of $54.7 million.
Other income in total, as included in total revenues in Ñscal 2004, increased slightly to $15.8 million from
$15.5 million in Ñscal 2003. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in late charges.
Cost of goods sold was $528.9 million, or 68.4% of retail sales, in Ñscal 2004 compared to $509.0 million,
or 69.6% of retail sales, in Ñscal 2003. The decrease in cost of goods sold as a percent of retail sales resulted
primarily from reduced markdowns. Cost of goods sold includes merchandise costs, net of discounts and
allowances, buying costs, distribution costs, occupancy costs, freight and inventory shrinkage. Net merchan-
dise costs and in-bound freight are capitalized as inventory costs. Buying and distribution costs include payroll,
payroll-related costs and operating expenses for the buying departments and distribution center. Occupancy
expenses include rent, real estate taxes, insurance, common area maintenance, utilities and maintenance for
stores and distribution facilities. Total gross margin dollars (retail sales less cost of goods sold) increased by
10% to $244.9 million in Ñscal 2004 from $222.8 million in Ñscal 2003. Gross margin as presented may not be
comparable to those of other entities. For example, others may include internal transfer costs in selling,
general and administrative expenses while the Company classiÑes them as cost of goods sold.
12
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) primarily include corporate and store payroll,
related payroll taxes and beneÑts, insurance, supplies, advertising, bank and credit card processing fees and
bad debts and were $187.6 million in Ñscal 2004 compared to $174.2 million in Ñscal 2003, an increase of 8%.
As a percent of retail sales, SG&A was 24.2% compared to 23.8% in the prior year. The overall increase in
SG&A resulted primarily from increased incentive and discretionary bonuses and increased infrastructure
expenses attributable to the Company's store development activities.
Depreciation expense was $20.4 million in Ñscal 2004 compared to $18.7 million in Ñscal 2003. The 9%
increase in Ñscal 2004 resulted primarily from the Company's store development activity.
Interest and other income was $2.7 million in Ñscal 2004 compared to $3.6 million in Ñscal 2003. The
25% decrease in Ñscal 2004 resulted primarily from the Company's lower cash and short-term investment
position following the repurchase of $98.3 million of Company stock in Ñscal 2003.
Income tax expense was $19.9 million, or 2.6% of retail sales in Ñscal 2004 compared to $17.7, or 2.4% of
retail sales in Ñscal 2003. The increase resulted from higher pre-tax income. The eÅective tax rate was 36.3%
in both Ñscal 2004 and Ñscal 2003. The Company expects the eÅective rate in 2005 to be in the range of 36%
to 37%.
Fiscal 2003 Compared to Fiscal 2002
Retail sales were Öat at $731.8 million in Ñscal 2003 compared to $732.7 million in Ñscal 2002. Total
revenues were Öat at $747.3 million in Ñscal 2003 compared to $748.3 million in Ñscal 2002. The Company
operated 1,102 stores at January 31, 2004 compared to 1,022 stores operated at February 1, 2003.
The Öat retail sales in Ñscal 2003 were attributable to the soft economy. In Ñscal 2003, the Company
increased its number of stores 8% by opening 87 new stores, relocating 28 stores, remodeling 15 stores and
closing 7 stores.
Credit revenues increased $0.5 million from $14.0 million in 2002 to $14.5 million in 2003 mainly due to
increased Ñnance charges and late fees. Credit revenues represented 1.9% of total revenues in both 2003 and
2002. Related expenses totaled $9.7 million in 2003 compared to $8.5 million in 2002 principally due to higher
bad debt expenses in 2003. Total credit income before taxes decreased $0.8 million from $5.5 million in 2002
to $4.7 million in 2003 as a result of the increased costs partially oÅset by increased credit revenue. Total
credit income in 2003 represented 9.7% of income before taxes of $48.7 million.
Other income in total, as included in total revenues in Ñscal 2003, decreased slightly to $15.5 million from
$15.6 million in Ñscal 2002. The decrease resulted primarily from a decline in layaway fees.
Cost of goods sold was $509.0 million, or 69.6% of retail sales, in Ñscal 2003 compared to $497.0 million,
or 67.8% of retail sales, in Ñscal 2002. The increase in cost of goods sold as a percent of retail sales resulted
primarily from lower than planned sales and additional markdowns.
SG&A expenses were $174.2 million in Ñscal 2003 compared to $168.9 million in Ñscal 2002, an increase
of 3%. As a percent of retail sales, SG&A was 23.8% compared to 23.1% in the prior year. The overall increase
in SG&A resulted primarily from increased selling-related expenses and increased infrastructure expenses
attributable to the Company's store development activities.
Depreciation expense was $18.7 million in Ñscal 2003 compared to $14.9 million in Ñscal 2002. The 25%
increase in Ñscal 2003 resulted primarily from the Company's store development and the implementation of an
enterprise-wide information system.
Interest and other income was $3.6 million in Ñscal 2003 compared to $3.7 million in Ñscal 2002. The 3%
decrease in Ñscal 2003 resulted primarily from the Company's lower cash and short-term investment position
following the repurchase of $98.3 million of Company stock in Ñscal 2003.
Income tax expense was $17.7 million, or 2.4% of retail sales in Ñscal 2003 compared to $25.8 million, or
3.5% of retail sales in Ñscal 2002. The decrease resulted from lower pre-tax income.
13
OÅ Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company is not a party to any oÅ-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to
have, a current or future material eÅect on the Company's Ñnancial condition, revenues, expenses, results of
operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company's accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements. As disclosed in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the preparation of the
Company's Ñnancial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires manage-
ment to make estimates and assumptions about future events that aÅect the amounts reported in the Ñnancial
statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their eÅects cannot be determined with absolute
certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results
inevitably will diÅer from those estimates, and such diÅerences may be material to the Ñnancial statements.
The most signiÑcant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of the Company's Ñnancial statements
include the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, reserves relating to workers' compensation, general
and auto insurance liabilities, reserves for inventory markdowns, calculation of asset impairment, shrink
accrual and tax contingency reserves.
The Company's critical accounting policies and estimates are discussed with the Audit Committee.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company evaluates the collectibility of accounts receivable and records an allowance for doubtful
accounts based on estimates of actual write-oÅs and the accounts receivable aging roll rates over a period of up
to 12 months. The allowance is reviewed for adequacy and adjusted, as necessary, on a monthly basis. The
Company also provides for estimated uncollectible late fees charged based on historical write-oÅs. The
Company's Ñnancial results can be signiÑcantly impacted by changes in bad debt write-oÅ experience and the
aging of the accounts receivable portfolio.
Insurance Liabilities
The Company is primarily self-insured for health care, property loss, workers' compensation and general
liability costs. These costs are signiÑcant primarily due to the large number of the Company's retail locations
and employees. The Company's self-insurance liabilities are based on the total estimated costs of claims Ñled
and estimates of claims incurred but not reported, less amounts paid against such claims, and are not
discounted. Management reviews current and historical claims data in developing its estimates. The Company
also uses information provided by outside actuaries with respect to workers' compensation and general liability
claims. If the underlying facts and circumstances of the claims change or the historical experience upon which
insurance provisions are recorded is not indicative of future trends, then the Company may be required to
make adjustments to the provision for insurance costs that could be material to the Company's reported
Ñnancial condition and results of operations. Historically, actual results have not signiÑcantly deviated from
estimates.
Revenue Recognition
While the Company's recognition of revenue is predominantly derived from routine retail transactions
and does not involve signiÑcant judgement, revenue recognition represents an important accounting policy of
the Company. As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company recognizes
sales at the point of purchase when the customer takes possession of the merchandise and pays for the
purchase, generally with cash or credit. Sales from purchases made with Cato credit, gift cards and layaway
sales are also recorded when the customer takes possession of the merchandise. Gift cards, layaway deposits
and merchandise credits granted to customers are recorded as deferred revenue until they are redeemed or
forfeited. A provision is made for estimated product returns based on sales volumes and the Company's
experience; actual returns have not varied materially from amounts provided historically.
14
Credit revenue on the Company's private label credit card portfolio is recognized as earned under the
interest method. Late fees are recognized as earned, less provisions for estimated uncollectible fees.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company primarily invests in property and equipment in connection with the opening and
remodeling of stores and in computer software and hardware. Most of the Company's store leases give the
Company the option to terminate the lease if certain speciÑed sales volumes are not achieved during the Ñrst
few years of the lease although we have exercised this right infrequently. The Company periodically reviews its
store locations and estimates the recoverability of its assets, recording an impairment charge, if necessary,
when the Company decides to close the store or otherwise determines that future undiscounted cash Öows
associated with those assets will not be suÇcient to recover the carrying value. This determination is based on
a number of factors, including the store's historical operating results and cash Öows, estimated future sales
growth, real estate development in the area and perceived local market conditions that can be diÇcult to
predict and may be subject to change. In addition, the Company regularly evaluates its computer-related and
other long-lived assets and may accelerate depreciation over the revised useful life if the asset is expected to be
replaced or has limited future value. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related
accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is
reÖected in income for that period.
Tax Reserves
The Company provides for estimated liabilities for potential income and other tax assessments for which
actual settlement may diÅer materially from amounts provided.
Merchandise Inventories
The Company's inventory is valued using the retail method of accounting and is stated at the lower of cost
(Ñrst-in, Ñrst-out method) or market. Under the retail inventory method, the valuation of inventory at cost and
resulting gross margin are calculated by applying an average cost to retail ratio to the retail value of inventory.
The retail inventory method is an averaging method that has been widely used in the retail industry. Inherent
in the retail method are certain signiÑcant estimates including initial merchandise markup, markdowns and
shrinkage, which signiÑcantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost and the resulting gross margins.
Physical inventories are conducted throughout the year to calculate actual shrinkage and inventory on hand.
Estimates based on actual shrinkage results are used to estimate inventory shrinkage, which is accrued for the
period between the last inventory and the Ñnancial reporting date. The Company continuously reviews its
inventory levels to identify slow moving merchandise and uses markdowns to clear slow moving inventory. The
general economic environment for retail apparel sales could result in an increase in the level of markdowns,
which would result in lower inventory values and increases to cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales in
future periods. Management makes estimates regarding markdowns based on inventory levels on hand and
customer demand, which may impact inventory valuations. Markdown exposure with respect to inventories on
hand is limited due to the fact that seasonal merchandise is not carried forward. Historically, actual results
have not signiÑcantly deviated from those determined using the estimates described above.
Lease Accounting
The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term as deÑned in
SFAS No. 13. Our lease agreements generally provide for scheduled rent increases during the lease term or
rent holidays, including rental payments commencing at a date other than the date of initial occupancy. We
include any rent escalation and rent holidays in our straight-line rent expense. In addition, we record landlord
allowances for normal tenant improvements as deferred rent, which is included in other non-current liabilities
in the consolidated balance sheets. This deferred rent is amortized over the lease term as a reduction of rent
expense. Also, leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of their
estimated useful lives or the related lease term. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for
further information on the Company's accounting for its leases.
15
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Market Risk
The Company has consistently maintained a strong liquidity position. Cash provided by operating
activities during Ñscal 2004 was $79.9 million as compared to $59.3 million in Ñscal 2003. These amounts have
enabled the Company to fund its regular operating needs, capital expenditure program, cash dividend
payments and any repurchase of the Company's Common Stock. In addition, the Company maintains
$35 million of unsecured revolving credit facilities for short-term Ñnancing of seasonal cash needs.
The Company believes that its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, together with cash
Öows 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 over the next twelve months
and for the foreseeable future beyond twelve months.
At January 29, 2005, the Company had working capital of $133.8 million compared to $117.4 million at
January 31, 2004. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in Ñscal 2004 is primarily the result
of an increase in net income of $3.8 million; an increase in depreciation expense of $1.7 million due to store
expansion; a reduction in accounts receivable from strong collection eÅorts of $1.4 million; a reduction of
merchandise inventories of $1.2 million; a reduction of prepaid expense of $4.7 million; and an increase in
accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities of $15.0 million. OÅsetting these increases in net cash
provided by operating activities was a decrease in deferred income taxes of $5.6 million and decrease of
$1.5 million in accrued income taxes.
Additionally, the Company had $1.8 million invested in privately managed investment funds at
January 31, 2005, which are reported under other assets of the consolidated balance sheets.
At January 29, 2005, the Company had an unsecured revolving credit agreement, which provided for
borrowings of up to $35 million. The revolving credit agreement is committed until August 2006. This
agreement replaced a prior revolving credit agreement which was due to expire in October 2004. The credit
agreement contains various Ñnancial covenants and limitations, including the maintenance of speciÑc Ñnancial
ratios with which the Company was in compliance as of January 29, 2005. There were no borrowings
outstanding under these credit facilities during the Ñscal year ended January 29, 2005 or January 31, 2004.
The Company had approximately $3.5 million and $5.4 million at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004,
respectively, of outstanding irrevocable letters of credit relating to purchase commitments.
Expenditures for property and equipment totaled $25.3 million, $20.6 million and $29.0 million in Ñscal
2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The expenditures for Ñscal 2004 were primarily for store development, store
remodels and investments in new technology. In Ñscal 2005, the Company is planning to invest approximately
$33 million in capital expenditures. This includes expenditures to open 90 new stores, relocate 20 stores and
close 10 stores. In addition, the Company plans to remodel 15 stores and has planned for additional
investments in technology scheduled to be implemented over the next 12 months.
During 2003, the Company repurchased 5,137,484 shares of Class B Common Stock from a limited
partnership and trust aÇliated with Wayland H. Cato, Jr., a Company founder and then Chairman of the
Board, and a limited partnership aÇliated with Edgar T. Cato, a Company founder and then a member of the
Board of Directors. Shares were purchased at $18.50 per share for a total cost of $95,043,454. Including
related expenses of $520,000 for investment banking and related professional fees, the total cost was
$95,563,454 or an average purchase price of $18.60 per share. The repurchase was funded by the Company
through a new $30 million Ñve-year term loan facility and approximately $65 million of cash and liquidated
short-term investments. Payments on the new term loan were due in monthly installments of $500,000 plus
accrued interest, based on LIBOR. The LIBOR rate at January 29, 2005 was 2.59%.
During 2003, the Company entered into retirement agreements with Mr. Wayland H. Cato, Jr., a
Company founder and Chairman of the Board and Mr. Edgar T. Cato, a Company founder and a member of
the Board of Directors. The agreements provided for the retirement of Mr. Wayland Cato and Mr. Edgar Cato
from the Company and the Board of Directors eÅective January 31, 2004. The Company recognized an
expense of $2.8 million representing the present value of certain payments and beneÑts under the terms of the
16
agreements. The after-tax charge was $1.8 million or $.08 per diluted share in Ñscal 2003. Additionally, during
2003, the Company repurchased 165,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for $2,740,619, or an average
market price of $16.61 per share.
Over the course of 2003, the Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend by 7% from $.15 per
share to $.16 per share. During Ñscal 2004, the Company increased its quarterly dividend by 9% from $.16 per
share to $.175 per share.
On April 5, 2005, the Company repaid the remaining balance of $20.5 million on the $30 million Ñve-year
term loan facility. With the early retirement of this loan, the Company had no outstanding debt as of April 5,
2005.
The Company does not use derivative Ñnancial instruments. At January 29, 2005, the Company's
investment portfolio was invested in governmental and other debt securities with maturities of up to
36 months. These securities are classiÑed as available-for-sale and are recorded on the balance sheet at fair
value with unrealized gains and temporary losses reported net of taxes as accumulated other comprehensive
income. Other than temporary declines in fair value of investments are recorded as a reduction in the cost of
investments in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a reduction of interest and other income
in the accompanying Statements of Consolidated Income.
The following table shows the Company's obligations and commitments as of January 29, 2005, to make
future payments under contractual obligations (in thousands):
Payments Due During One Year Fiscal Period Ending
Contractual Obligations
Total
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010°
Merchandise letters of credit ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Operating leases ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Loan payment ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$
3,469
138,490
22,000
$ 3,469
46,769
6,000
$
Ì $
Ì $
38,375
6,000
28,757
6,000
Ì $ Ì $ Ì
229
6,990
Ì
Ì
17,370
4,000
Total Contractual Obligations ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$163,959
$56,238
$44,375
$34,757
$21,370
$6,990
$229
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (""FASB'') issued Statement No. 123R
(""SFAS 123R''), ""Share-Based Payment,'' a revision of FASB issued Statement No. 123 (""SFAS 123''),
""Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.'' SFAS 123R required the measurement of all stock-based
payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and stock purchase rights granted pursuant
to certain employee stock purchase plans, using a fair-value based method and the recording of such expense
in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The accounting provisions of SFAS 123R are
eÅective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. Accordingly, we are required to adopt
SFAS 123R in the Ñrst quarter of 2006. The pro forma disclosures previously permitted under SFAS 123 will
no longer be an alternative to Ñnancial statement recognition. See Note 1 to the accompanying consolidated
Ñnancial statements for the pro forma net income and earnings per share amounts for Ñscal 2002 through Ñscal
2004, as if we had used a fair-value based method similar to the methods required under SFAS 123R to
measure compensation expense for employee stock-based compensation awards. We are currently evaluating
the provisions of SFAS 123R. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material eÅect on our
consolidated Ñnancial statements. Based on our current projections, we expect the future expense to be
recognized as a result of the adoption of SFAS 123R to be similar to the pro forma amounts disclosed for Ñscal
2004 in the notes to our consolidated Ñnancial statements.
In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement No. 151 (""SFAS 151''), ""Inventory Costs.'' SFAS 151
amends the guidance in Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, ""Inventory Pricing,'' to clarify the accounting
for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage).
SFAS 151 requires that those items be recognized as current period changes and that the allocation of Ñxed
production overheads to the cost of converting work in process to Ñnished goods be based on the normal
capacity of the production facilities. This statement is eÅective for inventory costs incurred during Ñscal years
17
beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on our
consolidated Ñnancial statements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk:
The Company is subject to market rate risk from exposure to changes in interest rates based on its
Ñnancing, investing and cash management.
18
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004
(as restated) and February 1, 2003 (as restated)ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 (as restated)ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31,
2004 (as restated) and February 1, 2003 (as restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005,
January 31, 2004 (as restated) and February 1, 2003 (as restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Notes to Consolidated Financial StatementsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Schedule I Ì Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's Consent ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Schedule II Ì Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves for the Ñscal years ended
January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Page
20-21
22
23
24
25
26
27
S-1
S-2
19
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The Cato Corporation:
We have completed an integrated audit of The Cato Corporation's 2004 consolidated Ñnancial statements
and of its internal control over Ñnancial reporting as of January 29, 2005 and audits of its 2003 consolidated
Ñnancial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.
Consolidated Ñnancial statements and Ñnancial statement schedule
In our opinion, the consolidated Ñnancial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1)
present fairly, in all material respects, the Ñnancial position of The Cato Corporation and its subsidiaries at
January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash Öows for each of the
two years in the period ended January 29, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the Ñnancial statement schedule for the years ended
January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004, listed in the index appearing under Item 8 presents fairly, in all
material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated
Ñnancial statements. These Ñnancial statements and Ñnancial statement schedule are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these Ñnancial statements and
Ñnancial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance
with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Ñnancial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of Ñnancial statements includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the Ñnancial statements, assessing the accounting
principles used and signiÑcant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall Ñnancial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
As described in Note 1, Restatement of Prior Financial Information, the Company restated its previously
issued Ñnancial statements for year ended January 31, 2004.
Internal control over Ñnancial reporting
Also, in our opinion, management's assessment, included in Management's Report on Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A, that the Company maintained eÅective internal control
over Ñnancial reporting as of January 29, 2005 based on criteria established in Internal Control Ì Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), is
fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company
maintained, in all material respects, eÅective internal control over Ñnancial reporting as of January 29, 2005,
based on criteria established in Internal Control Ì Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The
Company's management is responsible for maintaining eÅective internal control over Ñnancial reporting and
for its assessment of the eÅectiveness of internal control over Ñnancial reporting. Our responsibility is to
express opinions on management's assessment and on the eÅectiveness of the Company's internal control over
Ñnancial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over Ñnancial reporting in
accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether eÅective
internal control over Ñnancial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control
over Ñnancial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over Ñnancial reporting,
evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating eÅectiveness of internal
control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company's internal control over Ñnancial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of Ñnancial reporting and the preparation of Ñnancial statements for external
20
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Ì (Continued)
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over
Ñnancial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that,
in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reÖect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
(ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of Ñnancial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of
the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material eÅect on the Ñnancial
statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over Ñnancial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of eÅectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
April 28, 2005
21
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The Cato Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash Öows of
The Cato Corporation and subsidiaries (the ""Company'') for the year ended February 1, 2003. Our audit also
included the Ñnancial statement schedule listed in the index at Item 15(a) for the year ended February 1,
2003. These Ñnancial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these Ñnancial statements and the Ñnancial statement schedule based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the Ñnancial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the Ñnancial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and signiÑcant estimates made by management, as
well as, evaluating the overall Ñnancial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated Ñnancial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the results of the
operations and cash Öows for the Ñscal year ended February 1, 2003 in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such Ñnancial statement schedule,
when considered in relation to the basic consolidated Ñnancial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in
all material respects the information set forth herein.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated Ñnancial statements, the accompanying consolidated statements of
income, stockholders' equity and cash Öows for the year ended February 1, 2003 have been restated.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
April 21, 2003 (April 25, 2005 as to the eÅects of the restatement discussed in Note 1)
22
THE CATO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
January 29,
2005
Fiscal Year Ended
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
February 1,
2003
(Restated)
REVENUES
Retail sales ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
Other income (principally Ñnance charges, late fees and
773,809
$
731,770
$
732,742
layaway charges) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
15,795
Total revenues ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
789,604
15,497
747,267
15,589
748,331
COSTS AND EXPENSES, NET
Cost of goods sold ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Selling, general and administrative ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Depreciation ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest and other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before income taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income tax expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
528,916
187,618
20,397
717
(2,739)
734,909
54,695
19,854
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
34,841
Basic earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
1.69
Basic weighted average shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
20,584,262
Diluted earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
1.66
Diluted weighted average shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
20,985,374
Dividends per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
.685
Comprehensive income:
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net
34,841
508,991
174,202
18,695
306
(3,614)
698,580
48,687
17,673
31,014
1.34
23,140,581
1.32
23,559,541
.63
496,954
168,914
14,913
21
(3,701)
677,101
71,230
25,785
45,445
1.78
25,465,543
1.75
25,947,457
.585
$
$
$
$
31,014
$
45,445
$
$
$
$
$
of deferred income tax liability or beneÑt ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
13
(195)
820
Net comprehensive incomeÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
34,854
$
30,819
$
46,265
See notes to consolidated Ñnancial statements.
23
THE CATO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
Short-term investments ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,122 at
January 29, 2005 and $6,335 at January 31, 2004 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Merchandise inventories ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deferred income taxesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Prepaid expenses ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total Current Assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Property and equipment Ì net ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
18,640
88,588
$
23,857
47,545
50,889
100,538
5,781
1,986
266,422
117,590
10,122
52,714
97,292
4,995
5,708
232,111
114,367
9,806
Total Assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $ 394,134
$ 356,284
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
Accrued expensesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accrued income taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Current portion of long-term debt ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total Current Liabilities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deferred income taxesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Long-term debt ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other noncurrent liabilities (primarily deferred rent) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
82,828
39,338
4,465
6,000
132,631
10,172
16,000
24,156
$
76,387
27,815
4,506
6,000
114,708
10,203
21,500
23,798
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $100 par value per share, 100,000 shares authorized, none issued
Class A common stock, $.033 par value per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized;
26,249,178 and 26,015,868 shares issued at January 29, 2005 and January 31,
2004, respectively ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Convertible Class B common stock, $.033 par value per share, 15,000,000 shares
authorized; 5,597,834 and 5,607,834 shares issued at January 29, 2005 and
January 31, 2004, respectively ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Additional paid-in capital ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Retained earningsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accumulated other comprehensive incomeÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unearned compensation Ì restricted stock awards ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Ì
875
Ì
867
187
103,366
265,499
71
(911)
187
99,676
244,792
58
(1,593)
369,087
343,987
Less Class A and Class B common stock in treasury, at cost (5,906,179 Class A
and 5,137,484 Class B shares at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004,
respectively) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
(157,912)
(157,912)
Total Stockholders' Equity ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
211,175
186,075
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $ 394,134
$ 356,284
See notes to consolidated Ñnancial statements.
24
THE CATO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
January 29,
2005
Fiscal Year Ended
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
(Dollars in thousands)
February 1,
2003
(Restated)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Amortization of investment premiums ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Provision for doubtful accounts ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Write-down of investmentsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deferred income taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Compensation expense related to restricted stock awardsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Loss on disposal of property and equipment ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Changes in operating assets and liabilities which provided (used)
cash:
Accounts receivableÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Merchandise inventories ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Prepaid and other assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accrued income taxesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
34,841
$ 31,014
$ 45,445
20,397
Ì
5,096
Ì
(817)
682
1,554
(3,271)
(3,246)
3,406
(41)
21,250
18,695
4
6,098
Ì
4,779
782
798
14,913
66
4,764
1,800
(159)
750
870
(4,696)
(4,463)
(1,312)
1,412
6,236
(6,587)
(13,016)
(470)
2,074
13,279
Net cash provided by operating activities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Expenditures for property and equipmentÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Purchases of short-term investments ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Sales of short-term investmentsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Net cash provided (used) in investing activities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash overdrafts included in accounts payable ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Dividends paid ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Purchases of treasury stock ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Proceeds of long term debt ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Payments to settle long term debt ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Proceeds from stock options exercised ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
79,851
59,347
63,729
(25,301)
(122,380)
81,350
(20,553)
(18,462)
45,589
(28,953)
(46,281)
13,735
(66,331)
6,574
(61,499)
(2,800)
(14,134)
Ì
Ì
(5,500)
478
3,219
6,400
(14,465)
(98,304)
30,000
(2,500)
507
4,233
Ì
(14,890)
(1,187)
Ì
Ì
509
3,631
Net cash used in Ñnancing activities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
(18,737)
(74,129)
(11,937)
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalentsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of yearÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
(5,217)
23,857
(8,208)
32,065
(9,707)
41,772
Cash and cash equivalents at end of yearÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $
18,640
$ 23,857
$ 32,065
See notes to consolidated Ñnancial statements.
25
THE CATO CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Class A
Common Common
Stock
Stock
Convertible
Class B Additional
Accumulated
Other
Unearned
Compensation
Restricted
Paid-in Retained Comprehensive
Capital Earnings Income (Loss) Stock Awards
(Restated)
(Dollars in thousands)
Total
Treasury Stockholders'
Stock
Equity
(Restated)
Balance Ì February 2, 2002.ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Restatement ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Balance Ì February 2, 2002 (Restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
*Comprehensive income:
Net income (Restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of
deferred income tax liability of $448 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Dividends paid ($.585 per share) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Class A common stock sold through employee stock
purchase plan Ì 32,487 shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Class A common stock sold through stock option
plans Ì 171,600 sharesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Class B common stock sold through stock option
plans Ì 172,500 sharesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income tax beneÑt from stock options exercisedÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Purchase of treasury shares Ì 66,000 shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Surrender of shares for stock options Ì 48,681 shares ÏÏÏ
Restricted stock awards Ì 100,000 shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unearned compensation Ì restricted stock awards ÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Balance Ì February 1, 2003 (Restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
*Comprehensive income:
Net income (Restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities, net
of deferred income tax beneÑt of $111 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Dividends paid ($.63 per share) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Class A common stock sold through employee stock
purchase plan Ì 28,306 shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Class A common stock sold through stock option
plans Ì 288,250 sharesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income tax beneÑt from stock options exercisedÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Purchase of treasury shares Ì 5,302,484 shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Shares reclassiÑed from Class B to Class A Ì 477,315
shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unearned compensation Ì restricted stock awards ÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Balance Ì January 31, 2004 (Restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
*Comprehensive income:
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of
deferred income tax liability of $7 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Dividends paid ($.685 per share) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Class A common stock sold through employee stock
purchase plan Ì 27,310 shares ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Class A common stock sold through stock option
plans Ì 196,000 sharesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income tax beneÑt from stock options exercisedÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unearned compensation Ì restricted stock awards ÏÏÏÏÏÏ
833
194
86,948 204,961
(567)
(394)
(57,277) 234,698
(7,273)
(7,273)
833
194
86,948 197,688
(567)
(394)
(57,277) 227,425
45,445
(14,890)
820
1
6
508
1,547
1,310
1,906
2,728
6
3
45,445
820
(14,890)
509
1,553
1,316
1,906
(1,187)
(1,144)
Ì
750
(1,187)
(1,144)
(2,731)
750
840
203
94,947 228,243
253
(2,375)
(59,608) 262,503
31,014
(14,465)
(195)
1
10
506
2,857
1,366
16
(16)
31,014
(195)
(14,465)
507
2,867
1,366
(98,304) (98,304)
782
Ì
782
867
187
99,676 244,792
58
(1,593)
(157,912) 186,075
34,841
(14,134)
13
34,841
13
(14,134)
478
2,361
859
682
682
1
7
477
2,354
859
Balance Ì January 29, 2005 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
875
187
103,366 265,499
71
(911)
(157,912) 211,175
* Total comprehensive income for the year ended January 29, 2005 was $34,854. Total restated comprehensive income for the years ended January 31,
2004 and February 1, 2003 was $30,819 and $46,265, respectively.
See notes to consolidated Ñnancial statements.
26
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Summary of SigniÑcant Accounting Policies:
Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated Ñnancial statements include the accounts of The
Cato Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (""the Company''). All signiÑcant intercompany accounts
and transactions have been eliminated.
Description of Business and Fiscal Year: The Company has two business segments Ì the operation of
women's fashion specialty stores and a credit card division. The apparel specialty stores operate under the
names ""Cato'', ""Cato Fashions'', ""Cato Plus'' and ""It's Fashion!'' and are located primarily in strip shopping
centers in the southeastern United States. The Company's Ñscal year ends on the Saturday nearest January 31.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of the Company's Ñnancial statements in conformity with account-
ing principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that aÅect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the Ñnancial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could diÅer from those estimates. SigniÑcant accounting estimates reÖected in
the Company's Ñnancial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, reserves relating
to self insured workers' compensation liabilities, general and auto insurance liabilities, reserves for inventory
markdowns, calculation of asset impairment, shrink accrual and tax contingency reserves.
Restatement of Prior Financial Information: The Company historically straight-lined lease expense
over the period from the open date of the store through the initial non-cancelable lease term expiration.
However, in accordance with FASB issued Statement No. 13 (""SFAS 13''), ""Accounting for leases,'' as
amended, FASB issued Technical Bulletin No. 88-1 (""FTB 88-1''), ""Issues Relating to Accounting for
Leases'', and FASB issued Technical Bulletin No. 85-3 (""FTB 85-3''), ""Accounting for Operating Leases with
Scheduled Rent Increases'', the Company corrected its lease accounting practices to recognize lease expense
on a straight-line basis over the lease term which begins on the date we obtain control of the property and
includes any renewal periods for which failure to renew imposes a penalty on the lessee such that renewal is
determined to be reasonably assured. Likewise, the Company corrected its practices to amortize landlord
allowances on a straight-line basis over the lease term. These corrections to our lease accounting practices
reduced net income by $484,000 and diluted earnings per share by $0.02 in Ñscal 2004. The corrections
decreased net income by $775,000 or $0.03 diluted share in Ñscal year 2003 and by $366,000 or $0.02 per
diluted share in Ñscal 2002.
In connection with this restatement of prior Ñnancial statements, the Company recorded certain
adjustments in prior periods in order to conform its accounting for the capitalization of inbound freight on
domestic purchases and certain discounts from vendors to the Company's current practices. Historically, the
Company fully expensed inbound freight and domestic purchases and certain discounts from vendors through
cost of goods sold. These adjustments had the eÅect of increasing net income by $400,000 or $0.01 per diluted
share in Ñscal 2003 and decreasing net income by $22,000 in Ñscal 2002.
The Company restated its consolidated balance sheet at January 31, 2004 and its consolidated statements
of income, cash Öows and stockholders' equity for the years ended January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003. The
Company also restated its quarterly Ñnancial information for Ñscal 2003 and the Ñrst three quarters of Ñscal
2004, as disclosed in Note 13. The restatement also aÅects periods prior to Ñscal 2002. The impact of the
restatement on such prior periods has been reÖected as an adjustment of $7.3 million to retained earnings as of
February 2, 2002 in the consolidated statement of stockholders' equity.
27
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
As a result of this restatement, the Company's Ñnancial results have been restated as follows (in
thousands, except per share data):
Deferred income taxesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Current Assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total Assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accrued income taxÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Current Liabilities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other noncurrent liabilities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total Liabilities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Retained earningsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total Stockholders' Equity ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
RevenuesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cost of Goods Sold ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before taxesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income tax provision ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Net income (loss) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
As Previously
Reported
January 31,
2004
$
284
227,400
351,573
4,290
114,492
11,267
157,462
252,828
194,111
$351,573
As Previously
Reported
January 31,
2004
$747,267
508,401
49,277
17,888
$ 31,389
Basic earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Diluted earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$
$
1.36
1.33
RevenuesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cost of Goods Sold ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before taxesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income tax provision ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Net income (loss) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
As Previously
Reported
February 1,
2003
$748,331
496,345
71,839
26,006
$ 45,833
Basic earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Diluted earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$
$
1.80
1.77
Adjustments
$ 4,711
4,711
4,711
216
216
12,531
12,747
(8,036)
(8,036)
$ 4,711
Adjustments
$
0
590
(590)
(215)
$(375)
$ (.02)
$ (.01)
Adjustments
$
0
609
(609)
(221)
$(388)
$ (.02)
$ (.02)
As Restated
January 31,
2004
$
4,995
232,111
356,284
4,506
114,708
23,798
170,209
244,792
186,075
$356,284
As Restated
January 31,
2004
$747,267
508,991
48,687
17,673
$ 31,014
$
$
1.34
1.32
As Restated
February 1,
2003
$748,331
496,954
71,230
25,785
$ 45,445
$
$
1.78
1.75
All referenced amounts for prior periods in these Ñnancial statements and the notes thereto reÖect the
balances and amounts on a restated basis.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments: Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid
investments with original maturities of three months or less. Investments with original maturities beyond three
months are classiÑed as short-term investments. The fair values of short-term investments are based on quoted
market prices.
28
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
The Company's short-term investments are all classiÑed as available-for-sale. As they are available for
current operations, they are classiÑed in consolidated balance sheets as current assets. Available-for-sale
securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and temporary losses, net of income taxes, reported as
a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Other than temporary declines in fair value of
investments are recorded as a reduction in the cost of the investments in the accompanying Consolidated
Balance Sheets and a reduction of interest and other income in the accompanying Statements of Consolidated
Income. The cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to
maturity. The amortization of premiums, accretion of discounts and realized gains and losses are included in
Interest and other income.
Concentration of Credit Risk: Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a
concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company
places its cash equivalents with high credit qualiÑed institutions and, by practice, limits the amount of credit
exposure to any one institution. Concentrations of credit risks with respect to accounts receivable are limited
due to the dispersion across diÅerent geographies of the Company's customer base.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Income tax payments, net of refunds received, for the Ñscal
years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 were $18,454,000, $12,643,000 and
$21,982,000, respectively. Cash paid for interest for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004
and February 1, 2003 were $610,000, $306,400 and $21,000, respectively.
Inventories: Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost (Ñrst-in, Ñrst-out method) or
market as determined by the retail method.
Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs are
charged to operations as incurred; renewals and betterments are capitalized. The Company accounts for its
software development costs in accordance with the American Institute of CertiÑed Public Accountants
Statement of Position (""SOP'') 98-1, ""Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or
Obtained for Internal Use''. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the related assets excluding leasehold improvements. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the
shorter of the estimated useful life or lease term. Typical estimated useful lives are as follows:
ClassiÑcation
Estimated
Useful Lives
Land improvementsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
BuildingsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Leasehold improvements ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Fixtures, equipment and software ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
10 years
30 Ó 40 years
5 Ó 10 years
3 Ó 10 years
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company primarily invests in property and equipment in connection with the opening and
remodeling of stores and in computer software and hardware. Most of the Company's store leases give the
Company the option to terminate the lease if certain speciÑed sales volumes are not achieved during the Ñrst
few years of the lease. The Company periodically reviews its store locations and estimates the recoverability of
its assets, recording an impairment charge, if necessary, when the Company decides to close the store or
otherwise determines that future undiscounted cash Öows associated with those assets will not be suÇcient to
recover the carrying value. This determination is based on a number of factors, including the store's historical
operating results and cash Öows, estimated future sales growth, real estate development in the area and
perceived local market conditions that can be diÇcult to predict and may be subject to change. In addition,
the Company regularly evaluates its computer-related and other long-lived assets and may accelerate
depreciation over the revised useful life if the asset is expected to be replaced or has limited future value.
29
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation or
amortization are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reÖected in income for that
period.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes sales at the point of purchase when the customer takes possession of the
merchandise and pays for the purchase, generally with cash or credit. Sales from purchases made with
Cato credit, gift cards and layaway sales are also recorded when the customer takes possession of the
merchandise. Gift cards, layaway deposits and merchandise credits granted to customers are recorded as
deferred revenue until they are redeemed or forfeited. A provision is made for estimated product returns based
on sales volumes and the Company's experience; actual returns have not varied materially from amounts
provided historically.
Credit revenue on the Company's private label credit card portfolio is recognized as earned under the
interest method. Late fees are recognized as earned, less provisions for estimated uncollectible fees.
Cost of Goods Sold: Cost of goods sold includes merchandise costs, net of discounts and allowances,
buying costs, distribution costs, occupancy costs, freight, and inventory shrinkage. Net merchandise costs and
in-bound freight are capitalized as inventory costs. Buying and distribution costs include payroll, payroll-
related costs and operating expenses for our buying departments and distribution center. Occupancy expenses
include rent, real estate taxes, insurance, common area maintenance, utilities and maintenance for stores and
distribution facilities. Buying, distribution, occupancy and internal transfer costs are treated as period costs
and are not capitalized as part of inventory.
Credit Sales: The Company oÅers its own credit card to customers. All credit activity is performed by
the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries. None of the credit card receivables are secured. Finance income is
recognized as earned under the interest method and late charges are recognized in the month in which they
are assessed, net of provisions for estimated uncollectible amounts. The Company evaluates the collectibility
of accounts receivable and records an allowance for doubtful accounts based on estimates of actual write-oÅs
and the accounts receivable.
Advertising: Advertising costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Advertising
expense was $5,504,000, $5,638,000 and $5,299,000 for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31,
2004 and February 1, 2003, respectively.
Earnings Per Share: FASB No. 128 requires dual presentation of basic EPS and diluted EPS on the
face of all income statements for all entities with complex capital structures. Basic EPS is computed as net
income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS
reÖects the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issuable through stock options, warrants
and other convertible securities. Unvested restricted stock is included in the computation of diluted EPS using
the treasury stock method for Ñscal 2004 and 2003, and had no impact on Ñscal 2002. The weighted-average
number of shares used in the basic earnings per share computations was 20,584,262, 23,140,581, and
25,465,543 for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004, and February 1, 2003, respectively.
The weighted-average number of shares representing the dilutive eÅect of stock options was 401,112, 418,960
and 481,914 for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, respectively.
The weighted-average number of shares used in the diluted earnings per share computations was 20,985,374,
23,559,541, and 25,947,457 for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1,
2003, respectively. There were an immaterial number of shares withheld in the computation of diluted
earnings per share due to potential anti-dilutive eÅects for the Ñscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Vendor Allowances: The Company receives certain allowances from vendors primarily related to
purchase discounts and markdown and damage allowances. All allowances are reÖected in cost of goods sold
30
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
as earned, generally as the related products are sold. The Company does not receive cooperative advertising
allowances.
In January 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force (""EITF'') issued EITF 02-16, ""Accounting by a
Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain Consideration Received from a Vendor.'' Under this EITF, cash
consideration received from a vendor is presumed to be a reduction of the purchase cost of merchandise and
should be reÖected as a reduction of cost of sales or revenue unless it can be demonstrated this consideration
oÅsets an incremental expense, in which case it can be netted against that expense. The adoption of
EITF 02-16 did not have a material eÅect on the Company's Ñnancial position or results of operations for
Ñscal year ended January 29, 2005 or January 31, 2004.
Income Taxes: The Company Ñles a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes are provided
based on the asset and liability method of accounting, whereby deferred income taxes are provided for
temporary diÅerences between the Ñnancial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company's assets and
liabilities.
Store Opening and Closing Costs: Costs relating to the opening of new stores or the relocating or
expanding of existing stores are expensed as incurred. A portion of construction, design, and site selection costs
are capitalized to new, relocated and remodeled stores.
Closed Store Lease Obligations: At the time stores are closed, provisions are made for the rentals
required to be paid over the remaining lease terms, reduced by expected sublease rentals.
Insurance: The Company is self-insured with respect to employee healthcare, workers' compensation
and general liability. The Company's self-insurance liabilities are based on the total estimated cost of claims
Ñled and estimates of claims incurred but not reported, less amounts paid against such claims, and are not
discounted. Management reviews current and historical claims data in developing its estimates. The Company
has stop-loss insurance coverage for individual claims in excess of $250,000 for employee healthcare, $350,000
for worker's compensation and $200,000 for general liability. Employee health claims are funded through a
VEBA trust to which the Company makes periodic contributions. Contributions to the VEBA trust were
$11,205,000, $8,995,000 and $8,970,000 in Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Accrued healthcare was
$1,318,000 and $1,380,000 and assets held in VEBA trust were $731,000 and $924,000 at January 29, 2005
and January 31, 2004, respectively. The Company paid worker's compensation and general liability claims of
$3,227,000, $3,019,000 and $2,609,000 in Ñscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Including claims
incurred, but not yet paid, the Company recognized an expense of $3,513,000, $3,764,000 and $3,284,000 in
Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Accrued workers' compensation and general liabilities was $4,254,000
and $3,968,000 at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004, respectively. The Company had no outstanding
letters of credit relating to such claims at January 29, 2005 or at January 31, 2004.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The Company's carrying values of Ñnancial instruments, such as
cash, cash equivalents, and debt, approximate their fair values due to their short terms to maturity and/or their
variable interest rates.
Stock-based Compensation: The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25, ""Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees'', and related interpretations in accounting for its stock option plans. The exercise price
for all options awarded under the Company's Stock Option Plans has been equal to the fair market value of
the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been
recognized for options granted under the Plans. Had compensation expense for Ñscal 2004, 2003, and 2002
stock options granted been determined consistent with SFAS No. 148, ""Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation Ì Transition and Disclosure'', the Company's net income and basic and diluted earnings per
31
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
share amounts for Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 would approximate the following proforma amounts (dollars in
thousands, except per share data):
Net Income as Reported ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$34,841
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
$31,014
February 1,
2003
(Restated)
$45,445
Add: Stock-Based employee compensation expense
included in reported net income, net of related tax
eÅectsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation
expense determined under fair value based method for
all awards, net of related tax eÅects ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
435
498
479
(499)
(1,024)
(1,219)
Pro forma Net IncomeÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$34,777
$30,488
$44,705
Earnings per share:
Basic Ì as reported ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Basic Ì pro forma ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Diluted Ì as reported ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Diluted Ì pro forma ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$
$
$
$
1.69
1.69
1.66
1.66
$
$
$
$
1.34
1.32
1.32
1.29
$
$
$
$
1.78
1.76
1.75
1.72
The weighted-average fair value of each option granted during Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 is estimated at
$6.35, $5.84 and $8.29 per share, respectively. The fair value of each option grant is estimated using the Black-
Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions for grants issued in 2004, 2003 and 2002,
respectively: expected dividend yield of 3.00%, 3.01% and 3.29%; expected volatility of 38.13%, 44.34% and
57.06%, adjusted for expected dividends; risk-free interest rate of 3.74%, 3.29% and 2.60%; and an expected
life of 5 years for 2004, 2003 and 2002. The eÅects of applying SFAS 148 in this proforma disclosure are not
indicative of future amounts.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (""FASB'') issued Statement No. 123R
(""SFAS 123R''), ""Share-Based Payment,'' a revision of FASB issued Statement No. 123 (""SFAS 123''),
""Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.'' SFAS 123R requires the measurement of all stock-based
payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and stock purchase rights granted pursuant
to certain employee stock purchase plans, using a fair-value based method and the recording of such expense
in our consolidated statements of operations. The accounting provisions of SFAS 123R are eÅective for
reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. Accordingly, we are required to adopt SFAS 123R in
the Ñrst quarter of 2006. The pro forma disclosures previously permitted under SFAS 123 will no longer be an
alternative to Ñnancial statement recognition. See Note 1 to the accompanying consolidated Ñnancial
statements for the pro forma net income and earnings per share amounts for Ñscal 2002 through Ñscal 2004, as
if we had used a fair-value based method similar to the methods required under SFAS 123R to measure
compensation expense for employee stock-based compensation awards. We are currently evaluating the
provisions of SFAS 123R. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material eÅect on our
consolidated Ñnancial statements. Based on our current projections, we expect the future expense to be
recognized as a result of the adoption of SFAS 123R to be similar to the pro forma amounts disclosed for Ñscal
2004 in the notes to our consolidated Ñnancial statements.
In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement No. 151 (""SFAS 151''), ""Inventory Costs.'' SFAS 151
amends the guidance in Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, ""Inventory Pricing,'' to clarify the accounting
for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage).
32
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
SFAS 151 requires that those items be recognized as current period changes and that the allocation of Ñxed
production overheads to the cost of converting work in process to Ñnished goods be based on the normal
capacity of the production facilities. This statement is eÅective for inventory costs incurred during Ñscal years
beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on our
consolidated Ñnancial statements.
ReclassiÑcations: Certain reclassiÑcations have been made to the consolidated Ñnancial statements for
prior Ñscal years to conform with the current year presentation.
2.
Interest and Other Income:
The components of Interest and other income are shown below in gross amounts (in thousands):
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
February 1,
2003
Dividend incomeÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Miscellaneous income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
(Gain)/loss investment sales ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$
(20)
(1,499)
(1,473)
253
$
(2)
(1,704)
(1,235)
(673)
$
(10)
(3,046)
(2,342)
1,697
Interest and other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$(2,739)
$(3,614)
$(3,701)
3. Short-Term Investments:
Short-Term investments at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 include the following (in thousands):
January 29, 2005
Unrealized
Estimated
Gain/(Loss) Fair Value
January 31, 2004
Unrealized
Estimated
Gain/(Loss) Fair Value
Cost
Cost
$ 3,603
$
(5)
$ 3,598
$ Ì
$ Ì
$ Ì
Security Type:
Debt Securities issued by U.S.
Treasury & other U.S. government
corporations and agencies:
With unrealized (loss)ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Debt Securities issued by states of
the United States and political
subdivisions of the states:
With unrealized gain ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
With unrealized (loss)ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Corporate debt securities:
With unrealized gain ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
With unrealized (loss)ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Ì
Ì
Ì
85,087
Ì
(97)
Ì
Ì
Ì 37,777
7,500
84,990
Ì
Ì
Ì
2,500
146
(345)
Ì
(33)
37,923
7,155
Ì
2,467
Total ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$88,690
$(102)
$88,588
$47,777
$(232)
$47,545
The accumulated unrealized losses in short-term investments at January 29, 2005 of $65,000, net of a
deferred income tax beneÑt of $37,000 oÅset by the accumulated unrealized gains in equity investments of
$136,000, net of a deferred income tax liability of $77,000 and the accumulated unrealized losses of
January 31, 2004 of $148,000, net of a deferred income tax beneÑt of $84,000 oÅset by the accumulated
unrealized gains in equity investments of $206,000 net of a deferred income tax liability of $117,000 are
reÖected in accumulated other comprehensive gains (losses) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All
unrealized losses disclosed were in a loss position for less than 12 months.
33
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
The Company's short-term investments are all classiÑed as available-for-sale. As they are available for
current operations, they are classiÑed in the consolidated balance sheets as current assets. Available-for-sale
securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and temporary losses, net of income taxes, reported as
a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Other than temporary declines in fair value of
investments are recorded as a reduction in the cost of the investments in the accompanying Consolidated
Balance Sheets and a reduction of interest and other income in the accompanying Statements of Consolidated
Income. The cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to
maturity. The amortization of premiums, accretion of discounts and realized gains and losses are included in
Interest and other income.
As reported in Note 2, the Company had realized losses of $253,000 in Ñscal 2004, realized gains of
$673,000 in Ñscal 2003 and realized losses of $1,697,000 in Ñscal 2002.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at January 29, 2005, by contractual
maturity, are shown below (in thousands):
Security Type
Cost
Due in one year or less ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Due in one year through three years ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$85,087
3,603
Estimated
Fair Value
$84,990
3,598
Total ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$88,690
$88,588
Additionally, the Company had $1.8 million invested in privately managed investment funds at
January 29, 2005 and $1.6 million at January 31, 2004, which are reported under other assets in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets.
4. Accounts Receivable:
Accounts receivable consist of the following (in thousands):
Customer accounts Ì principally deferred payment accountsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Miscellaneous trade receivables ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$53,337
3,674
Total ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Less allowance for doubtful accounts ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
57,011
6,122
$55,480
3,569
59,049
6,335
Accounts receivable Ì net ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$50,889
$52,714
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
Finance charge and late charge revenue on customer deferred payment accounts totaled $13,918,000,
$14,169,000 and $13,672,000 for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1,
2003, respectively, and the allowance for doubtful accounts was $5,096,000, $6,098,000 and $4,763,000 for the
Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, respectively. Expenses charged
relating to the allowance for doubtful accounts are classiÑed as a component of selling, general and
administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
34
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
5. Property and Equipment:
Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
Land and improvements ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Buildings ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Leasehold improvements ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Fixtures, equipment and softwareÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Construction in progress ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Less accumulated depreciation ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
$
2,019
17,751
43,317
170,367
4,015
237,469
119,879
$
2,019
17,751
39,354
155,394
2,534
217,052
102,685
Property and equipment Ì net ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$117,590
$114,367
Construction in progress primarily represents costs related to a warehouse management system to be
implemented in 2005.
6. Accrued Expenses:
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
Accrued bonus and retirement savings plan contributionsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accrued payroll and related items ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accrued advertising ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Closed store lease obligations ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Property and other taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accrued insurance ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$ 8,103
7,189
963
487
10,539
5,572
6,485
$ 2,784
4,348
976
616
8,719
5,348
5,024
Total ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$39,338
$27,815
7. Financing Arrangements:
At January 29, 2005, the Company had an unsecured revolving credit agreement which provided for
borrowings of up to $35 million. A new revolving credit agreement was entered into on August 22, 2003 and is
committed until August 2006. The credit agreement contains various Ñnancial covenants and limitations,
including the maintenance of speciÑc Ñnancial ratios with which the Company was in compliance as of
January 29, 2005. There were no borrowings outstanding during the Ñscal year ended January 29, 2005 or
January 31, 2004. Interest is based on LIBOR, which was 2.59% on January 29, 2005.
On August 22, 2003, the Company entered into a new unsecured $30 million Ñve-year term loan facility,
the proceeds of which were used to purchase Class B Common Stock from the Company's founders.
Payments are due in monthly installments of $500,000 plus accrued interest. Interest is based on LIBOR,
which was 2.59% on January 29, 2005.
On April 5, 2005, the Company repaid the remaining balance of $20.5 million on this loan facility. With
the early retirement of this loan, the Company had no outstanding debt as of April 5, 2005.
35
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
The Company had approximately $3,469,000 and $5,365,000 at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004,
respectively, of outstanding irrevocable letters of credit relating to purchase commitments.
8. Stockholders' Equity:
The holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share, whereas the holders of Class B
Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Each share of Class B Common Stock may be converted at
any time into one share of Class A Common Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of
Preferred Stock that may be outstanding at the time, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company, holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to receive a preferential distribution of $1.00 per
share of the net assets of the Company. Cash dividends on the Class B Common Stock cannot be paid unless
cash dividends of at least an equal amount are paid on the Class A Common Stock.
The Company's charter provides that shares of Class B Common Stock may be transferred only to certain
""Permitted Transferees'' consisting generally of the lineal descendants of holders of Class B Stock, trusts for
their beneÑt, corporations and partnerships controlled by them and the Company's employee beneÑt plans.
Any transfer of Class B Common Stock in violation of these restrictions, including a transfer to the Company,
results in the automatic conversion of the transferred shares of Class B Common Stock held by the transferee
into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock.
During 2003, the Company repurchased 5,137,484 shares of Class B Common Stock from a limited
partnership and trust aÇliated with Wayland H. Cato, Jr., a Company founder and then Chairman of the
Board, and a limited partnership aÇliated with Edgar T. Cato, a Company founder and a then member of the
Board of Directors. Shares were purchased at $18.50 per share for a total cost of $95,043,454. Including
related expenses of $520,000 for investment banking and related professional fees, the total cost was
$95,563,454 or an average purchase price of $18.60 per share. The repurchase was funded by the Company
through a new $30 million Ñve-year term loan facility and approximately $65 million of cash and liquidated
short-term investments. Additionally, during 2003, the Company repurchased 165,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock for $2,740,619, or an average market price of $16.61 per share.
In October 1993, the Company registered 250,000 shares of Class A Common Stock available for
issuance under an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ""Plan''). In May 1998, the shareholders approved an
amendment to the Plan to increase the maximum number of Class A shares of Common Stock authorized to
be issued from 250,000 to 500,000 shares. The ""1993'' Plan expired October 1, 2003. In May 2003, the
shareholders approved a new 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 250,000 Class A shares of Common
Stock authorized. Under the terms of the Plan, substantially all employees may purchase Class A Common
Stock through payroll deductions of up to 10% of their salary, up to a maximum market value of $25,000 per
year. The Class A Common Stock is purchased at the lower of 85% of market value on the Ñrst or last business
day of a six-month payment period. Additionally, each April 15, employees are given the opportunity to make
a lump sum purchase of up to $10,000 of Class A Common Stock at 85% of market value. The number of
shares purchased by participants through the plan were 27,310 shares, 28,306 shares and 32,487 shares for the
years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003, respectively.
In December 2003, the Board of Directors authorized a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
""Right'') for each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each par value $.031/3 per
share (""Common Shares''), of the Company outstanding at the close of business on January 7, 2004 (the
""Record Date''). In connection with the authorization of Rights, the Company entered into a Rights
Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2003 (the ""Rights Agreement''), with Wachovia Bank, National
Association, a national banking association, as Rights Agent (the ""Rights Agent'').
The Company has an Incentive Stock Option Plan and a Non-QualiÑed Stock Option Plan for key
employees of the Company. Total shares issuable under the plans are 3,900,000, of which 825,000 shares are
36
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
issuable under the Incentive Stock Option Plan and 3,075,000 shares are issuable under the Non-QualiÑed
Stock Option Plan. The purchase price of the shares under the option must be at least 100 percent of the fair
market value of Class A Common Stock at the date of the grant. Options granted under these plans vest over a
5-year period and expire 10 years after the date of the grant unless otherwise expressly authorized by the
Board of Directors.
In August 1999, the Board of Directors adopted the 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan, of which
1,000,000 shares are issuable. No awards may be granted after July 31, 2004 and shares must be exercised
within 10 years of the grant date unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors.
In August 1999, the Board of Directors granted under the 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan, restricted
stock awards of 100,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, with a per share fair value of $11.81 to a key
executive. In May 2002, the Board of Directors approved and granted under the 1999 Incentive Compensation
Plan restricted stock awards of 100,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, with a per share fair value of $27.31
to a key executive. These stock awards cliÅ vest after four years and the unvested portion is included in
stockholders' equity as unearned compensation in the accompanying Ñnancial statements. The charge to
compensation expense for these stock awards was $682,000, $782,000 and $750,000 in Ñscal 2004, 2003 and
2002, respectively.
In April 2004, the Board of Directors adopted the 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan, of which 900,000
shares are issuable. As of January 29, 2005, 33,000 shares had been granted from this Plan.
Option plan activity for the three Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005 is set forth below:
Options
Range of
Option Prices
Weighted
Average
Price
Outstanding options,
February 2, 2002 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Granted ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
ExercisedÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cancelled ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
1,755,250
45,500
(344,100)
(14,700)
$ 4.94 Ó $18.91
18.05 Ó 26.76
4.94 Ó 17.63
8.25 Ó 12.28
$10.39
20.89
8.11
11.27
Outstanding options,
February 1, 2003 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Granted ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
ExercisedÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cancelled ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
1,441,950
19,500
(288,250)
(18,800)
4.94 Ó 26.76
16.65 Ó 21.29
4.94 Ó 18.86
8.25 Ó 18.86
Outstanding options,
January 31, 2004 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Granted ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
ExercisedÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cancelled ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
1,154,400
75,750
(196,000)
(30,600)
5.13 Ó 26.76
19.64 Ó 23.13
5.13 Ó 21.01
9.59 Ó 21.90
11.20
17.66
9.94
12.75
11.54
21.55
11.97
17.27
Outstanding options,
January 29, 2005 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
1,003,550
$ 7.69 Ó $26.76
$12.08
37
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
The following tables summarize stock option information at January 29, 2005:
Range of
Exercise Prices
$ 7.69 Ó $ 9.59
12.22 Ó 14.13
16.65 Ó 19.64
20.13 Ó 26.76
Options
376,750
508,750
36,700
81,350
$ 7.69 Ó $26.76
1,003,550
Options Outstanding
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
2.30 years
3.94 years
7.97 years
8.92 years
3.87 years
Options Exercisable
$ 8.19
12.98
18.05
21.73
$12.08
Range of
Exercise Prices
$ 7.69 Ó $ 9.59
12.22 Ó 14.13
16.65 Ó 19.64
20.13 Ó 26.76
$ 7.69 Ó $26.76
Options
374,250
503,750
7,300
5,700
891,000
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
$ 8.18
12.98
17.79
22.73
$11.07
Outstanding options at January 29, 2005 covered 702,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and 301,550
shares of Class A Common Stock. Outstanding options at January 31, 2004 covered 702,000 shares of Class B
Common Stock and 452,400 shares of Class A Common Stock. Options available to be granted under the
option plans were 880,318 at January 29, 2005 and 406,600 at January 31, 2004.
In May 2004, the Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend by 9% from $.16 per share to
$.175 per share.
Total comprehensive income for the years ended January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1,
2003 is as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
January 29,
2005
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities ÏÏÏ
Income tax eÅect ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$34,841
20
7
Unrealized gains (losses) net of taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
13
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
$31,014
(306)
(111)
(195)
February 1,
2003
(Restated)
$45,445
1,268
(448)
820
Total comprehensive income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$34,854
$30,819
$46,265
The net unrealized gain/loss on investments held reÖected in comprehensive income for the periods
presented were net of reclassiÑcation adjustments for gains/(losses) reported in income in the amounts of
($161,000), $429,000 and ($1,083,000) for Ñscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, net of income taxes.
9. Employee BeneÑt Plans:
The Company has a deÑned contribution retirement savings plan (401(k)) which covers all employees
who meet minimum age and service requirements. The 401(k) plan allows participants to contribute up to
60% of their annual compensation up to the maximum elective deferral, designated by the IRS. The Company
38
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
is obligated to make a minimum contribution to cover plan administrative expenses. Further Company
contributions are at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company's contributions for the years ended
January 29, 2005, January 31, 2004 and February 1, 2003 were approximately $1,663,000, $1,764,000 and
$1,906,000, respectively.
The Company has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which covers substantially all
employees who meet minimum age and service requirements. The Board of Directors determines contribu-
tions to the ESOP. No contributions were made to the ESOP for the years ended January 29, 2005,
January 31, 2004 or February 1, 2003.
The Company is primarily self-insured for healthcare, workers' compensation and general liability costs.
These costs are signiÑcant primarily due to the large number of the Company's retail locations and employees.
The Company's self-insurance liabilities are based on the total estimated costs of claims Ñled and estimates of
claims incurred but not reported, less amounts paid against such claims, and are not discounted. Management
reviews current and historical claims data in developing its estimates. If the underlying facts and circum-
stances of the claims change or the historical trend is not indicative of future trends, then the Company may
be required to record additional expense or a reduction to expense which could be material to the reported
Ñnancial condition and results of operations. The Company has stop-loss insurance coverage for individual
claims in excess of $250,000. Employee health claims are funded through a VEBA trust to which the
Company makes periodic contributions. Contributions to the VEBA trust were $11,205,000, $8,995,000 and
$8,970,000 in Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Accrued liabilities for healthcare costs were $1,318,000
and $1,380,000 and assets held in the VEBA trust were $731,000 and $924,000 at January 29, 2005 and
January 31, 2004, respectively.
10. Leases:
The Company has operating lease arrangements for store facilities and equipment. Facility leases
generally are Ñxed rate for periods of Ñve years with renewal options and most provide for additional
contingent rentals based on a percentage of store sales in excess of stipulated amounts. For leases with
landlord capital improvement funding, the funded amount is recorded as a deferred liability and amortized
over the term of the lease as a reduction to rent expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Equipment leases are generally for one to three year periods.
The minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases are (in thousands):
Fiscal Year
2005 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2006 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2007 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2008 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2009 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
2010 ° ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$ 46,769
38,375
28,757
17,370
6,990
229
Total minimum lease paymentsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$138,490
The following schedule shows the composition of total rental expense for all leases (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
February 1,
2003
Minimum rentals ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Contingent rent ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$44,493
85
Total rental expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$44,578
$39,998
165
$40,163
$37,848
389
$38,237
39
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
11. Related Party Transactions:
The Company leases certain stores from entities in which Mr. George S. Currin, a director of the
Company has a controlling or non-controlling ownership interest. Rent expense and related charges totaling
$286,860, $261,660 and $221,584 were paid to entities controlled by Mr. Currin or his family in Ñscal 2004,
2003, and 2002, respectively, under these leases. Rent expense and related charges totaling $800,929,
$610,947, and $661,783 were paid to entities in which Mr. Currin or his family had a non-controlling
ownership interest in Ñscal 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively, under these leases.
12.
Income Taxes:
The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
Current income taxes:
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
February 1,
2003
(Restated)
Federal ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
StateÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$20,142
535
$12,806
337
$24,529
1,364
TotalÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
20,677
13,143
25,893
Deferred income taxes:
Federal ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
StateÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
TotalÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
(735)
(88)
(823)
4,048
482
4,530
(91)
(17)
(108)
Total income tax expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$19,854
$17,673
$25,785
SigniÑcant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of January 29, 2005 and
January 31, 2004 are as follows (in thousands):
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
(Restated)
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Inventory valuationÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Restricted stock optionsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deferred rent ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Capital loss carryoverÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Accrued expenses ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$ 2,338
1,643
684
4,998
446
4,856
830
Total deferred tax assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
15,795
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assetsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Unrealized gains on short-term investments ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total deferred tax liabilities ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
19,442
40
704
20,186
$ 2,426
946
428
4,712
669
3,872
763
13,816
17,974
33
1,017
19,024
Net deferred tax liabilitiesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$ 4,391
$ 5,208
40
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
Capital loss carryovers included in the Company's deferred tax assets have a limited life and realization of
these assets is not assured and will expire in 2008.
The reconciliation of the Company's eÅective income tax rate with the statutory rate is as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
Federal income tax rate ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
State income taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
EÅective income tax rateÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
February 1,
2003
35.0%
1.3
36.3%
35.0%
1.3
36.3%
35.0%
1.2
36.2%
13. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited):
Summarized quarterly Ñnancial results are as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
Fiscal 2004
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Retail sales ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total revenues ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Cost of goods sold ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Gross margin ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before income taxes ÏÏÏ
Net income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Basic earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Diluted earnings per share ÏÏÏÏÏ
(Restated)
$205,193
209,201
132,398
72,795
26,372
16,799
0.82
0.81
$
$
(As Previously
Reported)
$205,193
209,201
132,344
72,849
26,399
16,816
0.82
0.81
$
$
(Restated)
$197,068
200,884
136,185
60,883
12,777
8,139
0.39
0.38
$
$
(As Previously
Reported)
$197,068
200,884
136,051
61,017
12,844
8,182
0.40
0.39
$
$
(Restated)
$163,611
167,514
115,640
47,971
2,825
1,800
0.09
0.09
$
$
(As Previously
Reported)
$163,612
167,514
115,481
48,131
2,904
1,850
0.09
0.09
$
$
$207,937
212,005
144,693
63,244
12,721
8,103
0.39
0.38
$
$
Fiscal 2003
First
Second
Third
Fourth
(Restated) (As Previously (Restated) (As Previously (Restated) (As Previously (Restated) (As Previously
Retail sales ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ $197,304
201,210
Total revenues ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
127,316
Cost of goods sold ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
69,988
Gross margin ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
27,126
Income before income taxes
17,280
Net incomeÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
0.68
Basic earnings per share ÏÏÏ $
0.67
$
Diluted earnings per share
Reported)
$197,304
201,210
126,998
70,306
27,444
17,482
0.69
0.68
$
$
$188,218
191,993
132,782
55,436
11,971
7,625
0.30
0.29
$
$
Reported)
$188,218
191,993
132,616
55,602
12,137
7,731
0.30
0.30
$
$
$153,171
157,129
109,003
44,168
805
513
0.02
0.02
$
$
Reported)
$153,171
157,129
108,557
44,614
1,251
797
0.04
0.04
$
$
$193,077
196,935
139,890
53,187
8,785
5,596
0.27
0.27
$
$
Reported)
$193,077
196,935
140,230
52,847
8,445
5,379
0.26
0.26
$
$
41
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
14. Reportable Segment Information:
The Company has two reportable segments: retail and credit. The Company operates its women's fashion
specialty retail stores in 29 states, principally in southeastern United States. The Company oÅers its own credit
card to its customers and all credit authorizations, payment processing, and collection eÅorts are performed by
a separate subsidiary of the Company.
The following schedule summarizes certain segment information (in thousands):
Fiscal 2004
Retail
Credit
Total
Revenues ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
DepreciationÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest and other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Capital expenditures ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Fiscal 2003
Revenues ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Depreciation ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest and other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total assets ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Capital expenditures ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Fiscal 2002
Revenues ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Depreciation ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Interest and other income ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Income before taxes ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Capital expenditures ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$775,421
20,320
(2,739)
49,268
329,010
25,102
Retail
(Restated)
$732,796
18,617
(3,614)
43,963
293,911
20,549
Retail
(Restated)
$734,352
14,851
(3,701)
65,766
28,953
$14,183
77
0
5,427
65,124
199
Credit
$14,471
78
0
4,724
62,373
4
Credit
$13,979
62
0
5,464
0
$789,604
20,397
(2,739)
54,695
394,134
25,301
Total
(Restated)
$747,267
18,695
(3,614)
48,687
356,284
20,553
Total
(Restated)
$748,331
14,913
(3,701)
71,230
28,953
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of signiÑcant
accounting policies. The Company evaluates performance based on proÑt or loss from operations before
income taxes. The Company does not allocate certain corporate expenses or income taxes to the segments.
The following schedule summarizes the credit segment and related direct expenses which are reÖected in
selling, general and administrative expenses (in thousands):
January 29,
2005
January 31,
2004
February 1,
2003
Bad debt expense ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Payroll ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
PostageÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Other expenses ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$5,096
1,142
1,075
1,366
Total expensesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$8,679
$6,098
1,101
1,131
1,339
$9,669
$4,764
1,117
1,121
1,451
$8,453
42
THE CATO CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Ì (Continued)
15. Commitments and Contingencies:
Workers compensation and general liability claims are settled through a claims administrator and are
limited by stop-loss insurance coverage for individual claims in excess of $350,000 and $200,000, respectively.
The Company paid claims of $3,227,000, $3,019,000 and $2,609,000 in Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002,
respectively. Including claims incurred, but not yet paid, the Company recognized an expense of $3,513,000,
$3,764,000 and $3,284,000 in Ñscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Accrued workers' compensation and
general liabilities was $4,254,000 and $3,968,000 at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004, respectively. The
Company had no outstanding letters of credit relating to such claims at January 29, 2005 or at January 31,
2004. See Note 7 for letters of credit related to purchase commitments, Note 9 for 401(k) plan contribution
obligations and Note 10 for lease commitments.
The Company does not have any guarantees with third parties. The Company has placed a $2 million
deposit with Cedar Hill National Bank (""Cedar Hill''), a wholly owned subsidiary, as security and collateral
for the payment of amounts due from CatoWest LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, to Cedar Hill. The deposit
has no set term. The deposit was made at the request of the OÇce of the Comptroller of the Currency because
the receivable is not settled immediately and Cedar Hill has a risk of loss until payment is made.
CatoWest LLC purchases receivables from Cedar Hill on a daily basis (generally one day in arrears). In the
event CatoWest LLC fails to transfer to Cedar Hill the purchase price for any receivable within two business
days, Cedar Hill has the right to withdraw any amount necessary from the account established by the
Company to satisfy the amount due Cedar Hill from CatoWest LLC. Although the amount of potential future
payments is limited to the amount of the deposit, Cedar Hill may require, at its discretion, the Company to
increase the amount of the deposit with no limit on the increase. The deposit is based upon the amount of
payments that would be due from CatoWest LLC to Cedar Hill for the highest credit card sales weekends of
the year that would remain unpaid until the following business day. The Company has no obligations related to
the deposit at year-end. No recourse provisions exist nor are any assets held as collateral that would reimburse
the Company if Cedar Hill withdraws a portion of the deposit.
The Company is a defendant in legal proceedings considered to be in the normal course of business and
none of which, singularly or collectively, are considered to be material to the Company as a whole.
43
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on
Accounting and Consolidated Financial Disclosure:
As previously reported on a Form 8-K/A Ñled October 6, 2003, on September 16, 2003, the Company
engaged the accounting Ñrm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants to audit the
Company's Ñnancial statements for the Ñscal year ending January 31, 2004 to succeed Deloitte & Touche LLP
as the Company's principal independent accountants.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures:
Conclusion Regarding the EÅectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our principal executive oÇcer and principal
Ñnancial oÇcer, of the eÅectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of January 29, 2005. Based on
this evaluation, our principal executive oÇcer and principal Ñnancial oÇcer concluded that, as of January 29,
2005, our disclosure controls and procedures, as deÑned in Rule 13a-15(e), were eÅective to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it Ñles or submits under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the ""Exchange Act'') are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the
time periods speciÑed in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over Ñnancial
reporting, as deÑned in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including our principal executive oÇcer and principal Ñnancial oÇcer, we carried out an
evaluation of the eÅectiveness of our internal control over Ñnancial reporting as of January 29, 2005 based on
the Internal Control Ì Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (""COSO''). Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal
control over Ñnancial reporting was eÅective as of January 29, 2005.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting Ñrm, has audited our
management's assessment of the eÅectiveness of our internal control over Ñnancial reporting as of January 29,
2005 as stated in their report which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No change was made in the Company's internal control over Ñnancial reporting during the Company's
most recent Ñscal quarter that has materially aÅected, or is reasonably likely to materially aÅect, the
Company's internal control over Ñnancial reporting.
Management's Consideration of the Restatement
In coming to the conclusion that our internal control over Ñnancial reporting was eÅective as of
January 29, 2005, our management considered, among other things, the control deÑciency related to periodic
review of the application of generally accepted accounting principles, which resulted in the need to restate our
previously issued Ñnancial statements as disclosed in Note 1 to the accompanying consolidated Ñnancial
statements included in this Form 10-K. After reviewing and analyzing the Securities and Exchange
Commission's StaÅ Accounting Bulletin (""SAB'') No. 99, ""Materiality,'' Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 28, ""Interim Financial Reporting,'' paragraph 29 and SAB Topic 5F, ""Accounting Changes Not
Retroactively Applied Due to Immateriality,'' and taking into consideration (i) that the restatement
adjustments did not have a material impact on the Ñnancial statements of prior interim or annual periods taken
as a whole; (ii) that the cumulative impact of the restatement adjustments on stockholders' equity was not
material to the Ñnancial statements of prior interim or annual periods; and (iii) that we decided to restate our
previously issued Ñnancial statements solely because the cumulative impact of the error, if recorded in the
current period, would have been material to the current year's reported net income, our management
concluded that the control deÑciency that resulted in the restatement of the prior period Ñnancial statements
was not in itself a material weakness and that when aggregated with other deÑciencies did not constitute a
material weakness.
44
Item 10. Directors and Executive OÇcers of the Registrant:
PART III
Information contained under the captions ""Election of Directors,'' ""Meetings and Committees,''
""Corporate Governance Matters'' and ""Section 16(a) BeneÑcial Ownership Reporting and Compliance'' in
the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 2005 annual stockholders' meeting (the ""2005 Proxy Statement'') is
incorporated by reference in response to this Item 10. The information in response to this Item 10 regarding
executive oÇcers of the Company is contained in Item 4A, Part I hereof under the caption ""Executive
OÇcers of the Registrant''.
Item 11. Executive Compensation:
Information contained under the captions ""Summary Compensation Table,'' ""Employment and Sever-
ance Agreements,'' ""Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values'' in
the Company's 2005 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in response to this Item.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain BeneÑcial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
Equity Compensation Plan Information.
The following table provides information about stock options outstanding and shares available for future
awards under all of Cato's equity compensation plans. The information is as of January 29, 2005.
Plan Category
Equity compensation plans approved
by security holder ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders ÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Total ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
(a)
(b)
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights(1)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights(1)
(c)
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reÖected in
column (a)(2)
1,003,550
Ì
1,003,550
$12.08
Ì
$12.08
1,102,086
Ì
1,102,086
(1) This column contains information regarding employee stock options only; there are no outstanding
warrants or stock appreciation rights.
(2) Includes the following:
867,000 shares available for grant under the Company's stock incentive plan, referred to as the 2004
Incentive Compensation Plan. Under this plan, non-qualiÑed stock options may be granted to key
employees. Additionally, 13,318 shares available for grant under the Company's stock incentive plan,
referred to as the ""1987'' Non-qualiÑed Stock Option Plan. Stock options have terms of 10 years, vest
evenly over 5 years, and are assigned an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of the
Company's stock on the date of grant; and
221,768 shares available under the 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Eligible employees may
participate in the purchase of designated shares of the Company's common stock. The purchase price of
this stock is equal to 85% of the lower of the closing price at the beginning or the end of each semi-annual
stock purchase period.
Information contained under ""Security Ownership of Certain BeneÑcial Owners and Management in the
2005 Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference in response to this Item.
45
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions:
Information contained under the caption ""Certain Transactions'' in the 2005 Proxy Statement is
incorporated by reference in response to this Item.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled ""Audit
Fees'' and ""Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Service by the
Independent Auditor'' in the 2005 Proxy Statement.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules:
(a) The following documents are Ñled as part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005,
January 31, 2004 (as restated) and February 1, 2003 (as restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 (as restated)ÏÏÏ
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Ñscal years ended January 29, 2005,
January 31, 2004 (as restated) and February 1, 2003 (as restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Ñscal years ended January 29,
2005, January 31, 2004 (as restated) and February 1, 2003 (as restated) ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Notes to Consolidated Financial StatementsÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Page
20-21
22
23
24
25
26
27
(2) Financial Statement Schedules: The following report and Ñnancial statement schedules are Ñled
herewith:
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's Consent ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Schedule II Ì Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and ReservesÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
S-1
S-2
All other schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented
in the consolidated Ñnancial statements or related notes thereto.
46
(3) Index to Exhibits: The following exhibits are Ñled with this report or, as noted, incorporated by
reference herein.
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
3.1
3.2
4.1
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
16.1
21
23.1
23.2
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
Registrant's Restated CertiÑcate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated March 6, 1987, incorporated by
reference to Form S-8 of the Registrant Ñled February 7, 2000.
Registrant's By Laws incorporated by reference to Form S-8 of the Registrant Filed February 7, 2000.
Share Rights Agreement dated December 18, 2003, incorporated by reference to Form 8-A12G of the
Registrant Ñled December 22, 2003 and as amended in Form 8-A12B/A Ñled on January 6, 2004.
Employment Agreement dated May 20, 1999 between The Cato Corporation and John P. Derham Cato,
incorporated by reference to Form 10-K of the Registrant for the Ñscal year ended January 29, 2000.
1999 Incentive Compensation Plan dated August 26, 1999, incorporated by reference to Form S-8 of the
Registrant Ñled February 7, 2000.
Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2003, between the Registrant and Wayland H. Cato, Jr., incorporated
by reference to Form 8-K of the Registrant Ñled on July 22, 2003.
Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2003, between the Registrant and Edgar T. Cato, incorporated by
reference to Form 8-K of the Registrant Ñled on July 22, 2003.
Retirement Agreements between Registrant and Wayland H. Cato, Jr. and Edgar T. Cato dated
August 29, 2003 incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q of the Registrant for quarter ended August 2,
2003.
Change in the Registrants Independent Accountants from Deloitte & Touche, LLP to
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP eÅective September 16, 2003, incorporated by reference to Form 8-K of
the Registrant Ñled September 23, 2003 and as amended in Form 8-K/A Ñled on October 6, 2003.
Subsidiary of Registrant.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CertiÑcation of Chief Executive OÇcer.
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CertiÑcation of Chief Financial OÇcer.
Section 1350 CertiÑcation of Chief Executive OÇcer.
Section 1350 CertiÑcation of Chief Financial OÇcer.
47
EXHIBIT INDEX
Designation
of Exhibit
Page
49
Subsidiaries of the RegistrantÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
21
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
50
23.2 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ S-1
52
31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CertiÑcation of Chief Executive OÇcerÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
53
31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CertiÑcation of Chief Financial OÇcer ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
54
Section 1350 CertiÑcation of Chief Executive OÇcerÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
32.1
55
Section 1350 CertiÑcation of Chief Financial OÇcer ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
32.2
48
EXHIBIT 21
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
Name of Subsidiary
State of
Incorporation/Organization
Name under which Subsidiary does
Business
CHW LLC
Providence Insurance Company,
Delaware
A Bermudian Company
CHW LLC
Providence Insurance Company,
Limited
CatoSouth LLC
Cato of Texas L.P.
Cato Southwest, Inc.
CaDel LLC
CatoWest LLC
Cedar Hill National Bank
catocorp.com, LLC
North Carolina
Texas
Delaware
Delaware
Nevada
A Nationally Chartered Bank
Delaware
Limited
CatoSouth LLC
Cato of Texas L.P.
Cato Southwest, Inc.
CaDel LLC
CatoWest LLC
Cedar Hill National Bank
catocorp.com, LLC
49
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement No. 333-119300 on
Form S-8 pertaining to The Cato Corporation 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan, in Registration Statement
No. 333-119299 pertaining to The Cato Corporation 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Registration
Statement No. 333-96283 on Form S-8 pertaining to The Cato Corporation 1999 Incentive Compensation
Plan, in Registration Statement No. 33-41314 on Form S-8 pertaining to The Cato Corporation 1987
Incentive Stock Option Plan, in Registration Statement No. 33-41315 on Form S-8 pertaining to The Cato
Corporation 1987 NonqualiÑed Stock Option Plan, and in Registration Statement Nos. 33-69844 and
333-96285 on Forms S-8 pertaining to The Cato Corporation 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, of our
report dated April 28, 2005 relating to the Ñnancial statements, Ñnancial statement schedule, management's
assessment of the eÅectiveness of internal control over Ñnancial reporting and the eÅectiveness of internal
control over Ñnancial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
April 28, 2005
50
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Cato has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
By /s/
JOHN P. DERHAM CATO
By /s/ MICHAEL O. MOORE
The Cato Corporation
Michael O. Moore
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial OÇcer and Secretary
John P. Derham Cato
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive OÇcer
By /s/ ROBERT M. SANDLER
Robert M. Sandler
Senior Vice President
Controller
Date: April 28, 2005
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below
by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated:
/s/
JOHN P. DERHAM CATO
/s/ GRANT L. HAMRICK
John P. Derham Cato
(Director)
Grant L. Hamrick
(Director)
/s/ MICHAEL O. MOORE
/s/
JAMES H. SHAW
Michael O. Moore
(Director)
James H. Shaw
(Director)
/s/ ROBERT W. BRADSHAW, JR.
/s/ A.F. (PETE) SLOAN
Robert W. Bradshaw, Jr.
(Director)
A.F. (Pete) Sloan
(Director)
/s/ GEORGE S. CURRIN
/s/ D. HARDING STOWE
George S. Currin
(Director)
/s/ WILLIAM H. GRIGG
William H. Grigg
(Director)
D. Harding Stowe
(Director)
51
EXHIBIT 31.1
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John P. Derham Cato, Chairman, President and Chief Executive OÇcer of The Cato Corporation,
certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Cato Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the Ñnancial statements, and other Ñnancial information included in this report,
fairly present in all material respects the Ñnancial condition, results of operations and cash Öows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying oÇcer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
controls and procedures (as deÑned in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control
over Ñnancial reporting (as deÑned in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures
to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over Ñnancial reporting, or caused such internal control over Ñnancial
reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of Ñnancial reporting and the preparation of Ñnancial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the eÅectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this
report our conclusions about the eÅectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end
of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over Ñnancial reporting that
occurred during the registrant's most recent Ñscal quarter (the registrant's fourth Ñscal quarter in the
case of an annual report) that has materially aÅected, or is reasonably likely to materially aÅect, the
registrant's internal control over Ñnancial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying oÇcer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal
control over Ñnancial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All signiÑcant deÑciencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over
Ñnancial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely aÅect the registrant's ability to record,
process, summarize and report Ñnancial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
signiÑcant role in the registrant's internal control over Ñnancial reporting.
Date: April 28, 2005
/s/ John P. Derham Cato
John P. Derham Cato
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive OÇcer
52
EXHIBIT 31.2
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Michael O. Moore, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial OÇcer and Secretary of The Cato
Corporation, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Cato Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the Ñnancial statements, and other Ñnancial information included in this report,
fairly present in all material respects the Ñnancial condition, results of operations and cash Öows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying oÇcer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
controls and procedures (as deÑned in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control
over Ñnancial reporting (as deÑned in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures
to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant,
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over Ñnancial reporting, or caused such internal control over Ñnancial
reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of Ñnancial reporting and the preparation of Ñnancial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the eÅectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this
report our conclusions about the eÅectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end
of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over Ñnancial reporting that
occurred during the registrant's most recent Ñscal quarter (the registrant's fourth Ñscal quarter in the
case of an annual report) that has materially aÅected, or is reasonably likely to materially aÅect, the
registrant's internal control over Ñnancial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying oÇcer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal
control over Ñnancial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All signiÑcant deÑciencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over
Ñnancial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely aÅect the registrant's ability to record,
process, summarize and report Ñnancial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
signiÑcant role in the registrant's internal control over Ñnancial reporting.
Date: April 28, 2005
/s/ Michael O. Moore
Michael O. Moore
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial OÇcer and Secretary
53
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT
I, John P. Derham Cato, Chairman, President and Chief Executive OÇcer of The Cato Corporation, certify,
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that on the date of this
CertiÑcation:
1. the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the annual period ended January 29, 2005 (the
""Report'') fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934; and
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the Ñnancial condition and
results of operations of the Company.
Dated: April 28, 2005
/s/ John P. Derham Cato
John P. Derham Cato
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive OÇcer
54
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT
I, Michael O. Moore, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial OÇcer and Secretary of The Cato
Corporation, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that
on the date of this CertiÑcation:
1. the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the annual period ended January 29, 2005 (the
""Report'') fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934; and
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the Ñnancial condition and
results of operations of the Company.
Dated: April 28, 2005
/s/ Michael O. Moore
Michael O. Moore
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial OÇcer and Secretary
55
EXHIBIT 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-96283 on Form S-8
pertaining to The Cato Corporation 1999 Incentive Compensation Plan, in Registration Statement
No. 33-41314 on Form S-8 pertaining to The Cato Corporation 1987 Incentive Stock Option Plan, in
Registration Statement No. 33-41315 on Form S-8 pertaining to The Cato Corporation 1987 NonqualiÑed
Stock Plan, and in Registration Statement No. 33-69844 and 333-96285 on Forms S-8 pertaining to The Cato
Corporation 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, of our report dated April 21, 2003 (April 25, 2005 as to the
eÅects of the restatement discussed in Note 1) (which report expresses an unqualiÑed opinion and includes an
explanatory paragraph relating to the restatement discussed in Note 1) relating to the consolidated Ñnancial
statements and Ñnancial statement schedule of The Cato Corporation appearing in and incorporated by
reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2005.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
April 26, 2005
S-1
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
SCHEDULE II
Balance at February 2, 2002 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Additions charged to costs and expenses ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Additions charged to other accounts ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deductions ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Balance at February 1, 2003 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Additions charged to costs and expenses ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Additions charged to other accounts ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deductions ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Balance at January 31, 2004 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Additions charged to costs and expenses ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Additions charged to other accounts ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Deductions ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Allowance
for
Doubtful
Accounts(a)
$ 5,968
4,763
887(d)
(5,519)(e)
6,099
6,098
858(d)
(6,720)(e)
6,335
5,096
1,069(d)
(6,378)(e)
Reserve for
Rental
Commitments(b)
(In thousands)
$ 1,077
1,000
Ì
(1,121)
956
1,062
Ì
(1,402)
616
1,373
Ì
(1,502)
Allowance
for Sales
Returns(c)
$ Ì
390
Ì
Ì
390
10
Ì
Ì
400
22
Ì
Ì
Balance at January 29, 2005 ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ
$ 6,122
$
487
$422
(a) Deducted from trade accounts receivable.
(b) Provision for the diÅerence between costs and revenues from non-cancelable subleases over the lease
terms of closed stores.
(c) Gross margin revenue on return sales.
(d) Recoveries of amounts previously written oÅ.
(e) Uncollectible accounts written oÅ.
S-2
CORPORATE INFORMATION
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 is available
to shareholders without charge upon written request to Mr. Michael O. Moore,
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, The Cato
Corporation, P.O. Box 34216, Charlotte, North Carolina 28234.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
The Cato Corporation
8100 Denmark Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28273-5975
Telephone: (704) 554-8510
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 34216
Charlotte, North Carolina 28234
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
CORPORATE COUNSEL
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28246
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Wachovia Bank, N.A.
Securities Transfer Department, CMG-5
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders
11:00 a.m.,Thursday, May 26, 2005
Corporate Office, 8100 Denmark Road,
Charlotte, NC 28273-5975
MARKET & DIVIDEND INFORMATION
The Company’s Class A Common Stock trades on the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol CTR. Below is the
market range and dividend information for the four quarters of
2004 and 2003.
2004
HIGH
LOW
DIVIDEND
PRICE
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
$ 21.60
$ 19.47
$ .16
22.82
23.35
30.10
18.90
20.35
23.54
PRICE
.175
.175
.175
2003
HIGH
LOW
DIVIDEND
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
$ 20.50
$ 16.28
$ .15
24.10
25.11
21.57
18.20
19.95
18.84
.16
.16
.16
As of March 29, 2005 the approximate number of record holders
of the Company’s Class A Common Stock was 1,279 and there were
3 record holders of the Company’s Class B Common Stock.
THE CATO CORPORATION
8100 Denmark Road
Charlotte, NC 28273-5975
www.catocorp.com