The Cato Corporation reported sales results for the four weeks and first quarter ended May 4, 2013. For the four weeks, the company's sales were $77.0 million, a 9% decrease from sales of $84.9 million for the four weeks ended April 28, 2012. Same-store sales increased 1% for the month.

Sales for the first quarter ended May 4, 2013 were $267.2 million, a 2% decrease from sales of $272.8 million for the first quarter ended April 28, 2012. Same-store sales for the first quarter decreased 5%. The shift of Easter from early April last year to late March 2013 favorably impacted April sales, while March sales were unfavorably impacted. Because of this shift, the best measure for performance is the combined sales for the two months, which decreased 3% overall and were down 6% to the prior year on a same-store basis.

The company now expects first quarter earnings per diluted share will be in the range of $1.02 to $1.04 versus $1.09 last year, a decrease of 6% to 5% from last year.

During the month of April, the company opened two stores and relocated one store. New stores opened in Maplewood, MO and Wichita, KS and the relocated store was in Monroeville, AL. As of May 4, 2013, the company operated 1,307 stores in 31 states, compared to 1,293 stores in 31 states as of April 28, 2012.