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 *
SWARTZ JOANNE
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
STAGE STORES INC [STGS]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP, Advertising and Marketing
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
10201 S MAIN ST.
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/19/2004
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77025
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 11/19/2004   M   12,500 A $ 13.75 12,500 D  
Common Stock 11/19/2004   M   9,205 A $ 15 21,705 D  
Common Stock 11/19/2004   S   15,000 (1) D $ 37.5 6,705 D  
Common Stock 11/19/2004   S   6,705 (1) D $ 38 0 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   M   3,295 A $ 15 3,295 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   M   5,000 A $ 16.25 8,295 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   900 (1) D $ 38.13 7,395 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   2,700 (1) D $ 38.12 4,695 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   1,200 (1) D $ 38.11 3,495 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   200 (1) D $ 38.09 3,295 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   100 (1) D $ 38.07 3,195 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   100 (1) D $ 38.05 3,095 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   895 (1) D $ 38.04 2,200 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   100 (1) D $ 38.035 2,100 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   1,100 (1) D $ 38.03 1,000 D  
Common Stock 11/23/2004   S   1,000 (1) D $ 38 0 D  

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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
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 13.75 11/19/2004   M     12,500 08/24/2004 08/24/2011 Common Stock 12,500 $ 0 62,500 (2) D  
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 15 11/19/2004   M     9,205 08/24/2004 08/24/2011 Common Stock 9,205 $ 0 53,295 (2) D  
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 15 11/23/2004   M     3,295 08/24/2004 08/24/2011 Common Stock 3,295 $ 0 50,000 (2) D  
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 16.25 11/23/2004   M     5,000 08/24/2004 08/24/2011 Common Stock 5,000 $ 0 45,000 (2) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
SWARTZ JOANNE
10201 S MAIN ST.
HOUSTON, TX 77025
      SVP, Advertising and Marketing  

Signatures

 /s/ Joanne Swartz   11/23/2004
**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) This sale was made pursuant to a pre-established, written plan for trading securities pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(2) On August 24, 2001, the reporting person was granted stock options for 150,000 shares in three groupings with per share exercise prices of $13.75, $15.00 and $16.25, respectively. The right to exercise these options vests over four years from August 24, 2001, with 25% of each grouping vesting at the end of each of the first four years following the date of grant, and will expire on the earlier of (i) sixty days after the termination of the Officer's employment with the Company, or (ii) ten years from the date of grant. The stock options exercised and reported on this Form 4 are a portion of that grant.

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