Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
HUNTER STEVEN L
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
STAGE STORES INC [SSI]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, COO - Gordmans
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
2425 WEST LOOP SOUTH
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/27/2019
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77027
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 03/27/2019   M(1)   18,750 A $ 0 118,439 D  
Common Stock 03/27/2019   D(1)   18,750 D $ 0.95 99,689 D  
Common Stock 03/28/2019   M(2)   18,750 A $ 0 118,439 D  
Common Stock 03/28/2019   D(2)   18,750 D $ 0.98 99,689 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
2018 Restricted Stock Unit - 3/27/2018 (3) 03/27/2019   M(1)     18,750   (4)   (4) Common Stock 18,750 (5) $ 0 56,250 D  
2017 Restricted Stock Unit - 3/28/2017 (3) 03/28/2019   M(2)     18,750   (6)   (6) Common Stock 18,750 (7) $ 0 37,500 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
HUNTER STEVEN L
2425 WEST LOOP SOUTH
HOUSTON, TX 77027
      EVP, COO - Gordmans  

Signatures

 /s/ R.E. Stasyszen, Attorney in Fact for Steven L. Hunter   03/29/2019
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Represents the vesting and cash settlement of restricted stock units ("RSU") in accordance with the terms of the award agreement granted on March 27, 2018.
(2) Represents the vesting and cash settlement of restricted stock units ("RSU") in accordance with the terms of the award agreement granted on March 28, 2017.
(3) Each restricted stock unit (RSU) represents the right to receive, at settlement, cash equal to the fair market value of one share of the Issuer's common stock on the vesting date. Upon vesting, each cash settlement shall not exceed five times the per share fair market value of the Issuer's common stock on the grant date multiplied by the number of RSUs vesting.
(4) The RSUs vest 25% per year on the first four anniversary dates from the grant date of March 27, 2018.
(5) Represents the portion of the cash-settled RSUs granted on March 27, 2018 that vested on March 27, 2019.
(6) The RSUs vest 25% per year on the first four anniversary dates from the grant date of March 28, 2017.
(7) Represents the portion of the cash-settled RSUs granted on March 28, 2017 that vested on March 28, 2019.

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