8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

October 6, 2005

(Date of Report, date of earliest event reported)

Stage Stores, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1-14035

(Commission File Number)

NEVADA (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	91-1826900 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
10201 Main Street, Houston, Texas (Address of principal executive offices)	77025 (Zip Code)

(800) 579-2302

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 6, 2005, Stage Stores, Inc. (the "Company") issued a news release announcing the Company's September sales and updating sales and earnings guidance.  A copy of the news release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

99 News release issued by Stage Stores, Inc. on October 6, 2005 announcing the Company’s September 2005 sales and updating sales and earnings guidance. A copy of the news release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	STAGE STORES, INC.
October 10, 2005	/s/ Michael E. McCreery
(Date)	Michael E. McCreery
	Executive Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson

Vice President, Investor Relations

800-579-2302

(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stage Stores Reports September Sales; Updates Sales and

 Earnings Guidance

HOUSTON, TX, October 6, 2005 - Stage Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: STGS) today reported that total sales for the five-week period ended October 1, 2005 increased 0.7% to $98.5 million from $97.8 million in the prior year five-week period ended October 2, 2004. Comparable store sales decreased 2.6% versus an increase of 2.5% last year.

With regard to its major categories of business, the Company reported that its accessories, cosmetics, junior sportswear, special sizes and young men’s departments all had comparable store sales increases during September.

SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales Trend % Increase (Decrease)		Total Sales ($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period	2005	2004	2005	2004
1st Quarter	4.9%	4.5%	$310.1	$289.7
2nd Quarter	7.0	(3.2)	309.4	279.9
August	1.5	8.1	111.2	105.7
September	(2.6)	2.5	98.5	97.8
3rd Qtr-To-Date	(0.5)	5.3	209.7	203.5
Year-To-Date	4.2	1.8	829.2	773.1

--more--

Stage Stores Reports

September Sales

Page - 2

Jim Scarborough, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “September was an extremely challenging month as we experienced two major Gulf Coast hurricanes, as well as unseasonably hot weather which was prevalent in our southern and eastern markets throughout the month.”

Mr. Scarborough continued, “The two hurricanes caused us to close as many as 130 of our stores for various periods of time, and these store closures combined with mandatory evacuation activities clearly disrupted our normal store operations and customer traffic patterns. Additionally, the hotter than normal weather that we experienced in August continued throughout September and dampened enthusiasm for our fall products. This resulted in a sales mix during September that was comprised of a much higher percentage of clearance goods as compared to last year.”

Mr. Scarborough concluded, “As we move into Autumn, demand for our fall and winter goods should grow with the onset of cooler weather, and we feel confident in our ability to achieve a low single digit comparable store sales increase in the fourth quarter.”

Store Activity

The Company stated that, of the 118 stores originally reported closed as a result of Hurricane Rita, only 9 remain closed. Of this group, the Company expects that 6 of these stores will reopen in the near future as power is restored in their respective areas. The Company believes that the remaining 3 stores, which are located in Orange and Port Arthur, TX, and Moss Bluff, LA, will not reopen until March or April of next year. The Company further stated that it closed its store in Chalmette, LA as a result of damage incurred from Hurricane Katrina, and closed its store in Myrtle Beach, SC. Accordingly, the company has removed all of these locations from its comparable store sales base.

Looking forward, the Company continues to expect to open 8 new stores in October, including its first store in Georgia, and 8 new stores in November. These 16 new stores will bring the number of stores opened during the year to 36.

Updated Guidance

Principally due to the issues highlighted above, the Company is revising its guidance for the 2005 third and fourth quarters, as well as for the fiscal year.

--more--

Stage Stores Reports

September Sales

Page - 3

Fiscal 2005 - 3^rd Quarter:

For the third quarter, the Company now anticipates that revenues will be in a range of $294 to $298 million, with the expectation of a slightly positive comparable store sales increase. Net income is currently projected to be in the range of $7.4 to $8.2 million, or earnings of $0.25 to $0.28 per diluted share, using an estimated diluted share count of 29.5 million shares. This compares to the Company’s previously provided earnings guidance of $0.31 to $0.34 per diluted share for the third quarter.

Fiscal 2005 - 4^th Quarter:

For the fourth quarter, the Company now anticipates that revenues will be in a range of $406 to $414 million, with the expectation of a comparable store sales increase in the low single digits. Net income is currently projected to be in the range of $18.5 to $19.5 million, or earnings of $0.65 to $0.68 per diluted share, using an estimated diluted share count of 28.6 million shares. This compares to the Company’s previously provided earnings guidance of $0.66 to $0.69 per diluted share for the fourth quarter.

Fiscal 2005 - Full Year:

Adjusting its 2005 full year outlook to reflect its updated third and fourth quarter guidance, the Company now anticipates that revenues will be in a range of $1.319 to $1.331 billion, with the expectation of a comparable store sales increase in the upper low single digits. Net income is currently projected to be in the range of $52.9 to $54.7 million, or earnings of $1.80 to $1.86 per diluted share, using an estimated diluted share count of 29.4 million shares. This compares to the Company’s previously provided earnings guidance of $1.87 to $1.93 per diluted share for the fiscal year.

About Stage Stores

Stage Stores, Inc. brings nationally recognized brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear for the entire family to small and mid-size towns and communities through 543 stores located in 30 states. The Company operates under the Bealls, Palais Royal and Stage names throughout the South Central states, and under the Peebles name throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern and Midwestern states. For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company’s web site at www.stagestores.com.

--more--

Stage Stores Reports

September Sales

Page - 4

“Safe Harbor” Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including comments regarding the Company's outlook and expectations for the third quarter of the 2005 fiscal year, the fourth quarter of the 2005 fiscal year and for the entire 2005 fiscal year, comments regarding the timing of reopening of closed stores and comments regarding the Company’s store opening plans for October and November. The Company intends forward looking terminology such as "believes", "expects", "may", "will", "should", "could", "anticipates", "plans" or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 28, 2005, in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC and other factors as may periodically be described in other Company filings with the SEC.

####