8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

May 6, 2010

(Date of Report, Date of Earliest Event Reported)

Stage Stores, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in 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(b) 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 8.01                      Other Events

On May 6, 2010, Stage Stores, Inc. issued a News Release reporting its April 2010 sales results and providing first quarter earnings outlook update.  A copy of the News Release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.

Item 9.01                      Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)                     Exhibits

99           News Release issued by Stage Stores, Inc. on May 6, 2010, reporting its April 2010 sales results and providing first quarter earnings outlook update.

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.
May 7, 2010	/s/ Edward J. Record
(Date)	Edward J. Record
	Chief Financial Officer and
	Chief Operating 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 APRIL SALES

PROVIDES Q1 EPS OUTLOOK UPDATE

HOUSTON, TX, May 6, 2010 - Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) today reported that its total sales for the four week April period ended May 1, 2010 decreased 5.8% to $101 million from $108 million in the prior year four week period ended May 2, 2009.  Comparable store sales decreased 8.3% this year versus a decrease of 1.5% last year.

For the nine week March and April period, which eliminates the impact of the Easter calendar shift, total sales increased 3.7% to $241 million from $233 million in the same period last year.  Comparable store sales during the nine week period increased 0.8% this year versus a decrease of 9.2% last year.

With regard to its major categories of business, during the nine week March and April period, the Company achieved comparable store sales increases in accessories, children’s, cosmetics, footwear, intimates, junior’s, petites and young men’s.  Geographically, the Southeast was the Company’s best performing region and the South Central was its weakest.

SALES SUMMARY

	Comparable Store Sales Trend		Total Sales
	% Increase (Decrease)		($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period	2010	2009	2010	2009
February	(3.9)%	(8.6)%	$99	$101
March	8.6	(15.0)	140	125
April	(8.3)	(1.5)	101	108
March/April( 9 Weeks)	0.8	(9.2)	241	233
1st Quarter	(0.6)	(9.0)	340	334

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Stage Stores Reports

April Sales

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Andy Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased with our 0.8% comparable store sales increase for the nine week March and April period.  Total first quarter sales exceeded the high end of our guidance range due to the strength of our new store sales performance and the nine week March and April positive comparable store sales.  Based on our sales performance and an improved gross margin rate, we expect first quarter EPS to be $0.04 to $0.05, which will exceed the high end of our current guidance of $0.02 per diluted share.”

The Company plans to report its first quarter results before the market opens on Thursday, May 20, 2010, and will hold a conference call and webcast the same day beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Store Activity

The Company opened six new stores during April.  New Goody’s stores were opened in Poplar Bluff, MO, New Castle, IN, and Newport and Springfield, TN.  A new Bealls store was opened in Tyler, TX, and a new Stage store was opened in Donaldsonville, LA.  The Company also closed its tornado-damaged store in Yazoo City, MS during the month.  For the first quarter, a total of 18 new stores were opened and one store was closed.  Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company closed its store in Ashland, TN due to damage caused by flooding.

The Company stated that it plans to open two new stores during the second quarter.

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 774 stores located in 39 states.  The Company operates its stores under the five names of Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles and Stage.  For more information about Stage Stores, visit the Company’s web site at www.stagestoresinc.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements reflect our expectations regarding future events and operating performance and often contain words such as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "could", "anticipate", "plan" or similar words.  In this document, forward-looking statements include comments regarding the Company’s first quarter EPS outlook, as well as comments regarding the number of new stores that the Company plans to open during the second quarter.  Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which

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Stage Stores Reports

April Sales

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could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 30, 2010, and other factors as may periodically be described in our other filings with the SEC.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document.  We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

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