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

March 2, 2006

(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:

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

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

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

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

Item 8.01 Other Events.

February Sales Release

On March 2, 2006, Stage Stores, Inc. (the "Company") issued a news release announcing the Company's February 2006 sales results.  A copy of the news release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

On March 3, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 2.5 cents per share on the Company's common stock, payable on March 29, 2006 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 2006. A copy of the news release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.2.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits.

99.1 News release issued by Stage Stores, Inc. on March 2, 2006 announcing the Company's February 2006 sales results.

99.2 News release issued by Stage Stores, Inc. on March 3, 2006 announcing its Board of Directors declaration of a quarterly cash dividend.

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.
March 6, 2006	/s/ Michael E. McCreery
(Date)	Michael E. McCreery
	Executive Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:

Bob Aronson

Vice President, Investor Relations

800-579-2302

(baronson@stagestores.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STAGE STORES REPORTS FEBRUARY SALES

HOUSTON, TX, March 2, 2006 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: STGS) today reported that total sales for the four-week period ended February 25, 2006 increased 0.9% to $93.1 million from $92.3 million in the prior year four-week period ended February 26, 2005. Comparable store sales decreased 0.9% versus an increase of 3.7% last year.

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

Jim Scarborough, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our February sales results are reflective of the erratic weather patterns that we experienced in our various geographic market areas throughout the month. With temperatures ranging from above normal at times to below normal at other times, and with severe winter precipitation affecting our traffic patterns, it was difficult for us to get any consistency from week to week in the sales of either our winter clearance goods, or our early spring merchandise."

Mr. Scarborough continued, "Looking forward, we expect that our comparable store sales results for March will be negatively impacted by the Easter calendar shift from March 27^th last year to April 16^th this year. Accordingly, we expect that our sales results for April will benefit from this calendar shift. For the first quarter, we are currently projecting our overall comparable store sales increase to be in the low single digit range."

SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales Trend			Total Sales
	% Increase (Decrease)			($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period		2006	2005		2006	2005
February		(0.9)%	3.7%		$93.1	$92.3

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Stage Stores Reports

February Sales

Page - - 2

Store Activity

On February 27, 2006, the Company purchased B.C. Moore & Sons, Inc., and acquired 78 retail locations located in small markets throughout Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

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. The Company currently operates 376 Bealls, Palais Royal and Stage stores throughout the South Central states, and operates 174 Peebles stores throughout the Midwestern, Southeastern, Mid-Atlantic and New England states. On February 27, 2006, the Company purchased B.C. Moore & Sons, Inc., and acquired 78 retail locations. The Company currently plans to convert 69 of the acquired stores to its Peebles name and format, in phases, beginning in mid July. For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company's web site at www.stagestores.com.

"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 comparable store sales outlook for the first quarter of the 2006 fiscal year. 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 Report on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC and other factors as may periodically be described in other Company filings with the SEC.

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