UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 7)*

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

812362101

(CUSIP Number)

Janice V. Sharry, Esq.

Haynes and Boone, LLP

2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75219

(214) 651-5000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

December 31, 2015

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box.  ¨

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

This Amendment No. 7 to Schedule 13D (this “Amendment No. 7”) relates to shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). This Amendment No. 7 amends the Schedule 13D, as previously amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by ESL Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Partners”), SPE I Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, SPE Master I, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, RBS Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“RBS”), ESL Institutional Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, RBS Investment Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, CRK Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, ESL Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ESL”), and Edward S. Lampert, a United States citizen, by furnishing the information set forth below. Except as otherwise specified in this Amendment No. 7, all previous Items are unchanged. Capitalized terms used herein which are not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Schedule 13D, as previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 2(a) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(a) This Schedule 13D is being filed by Partners, RBS, ESL and Edward S. Lampert by furnishing the information set forth below. Partners, RBS, ESL and Mr. Lampert are collectively defined as the “Reporting Persons.”

Attached as Annex A hereto and incorporated herein by reference is a list containing the (a) name, (b) citizenship, (c) present principal occupation or employment and (d) the name, principal business address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted, of each director and executive officer of Investments (the “ESL Directors and Officers”). Other than the ESL Directors and Officers, there are no persons or corporations controlling or ultimately in control of ESL.”

Item 2(c) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(c) The principal business of each of the Reporting Persons is purchasing, holding and selling securities for investment purposes. RBS is the general partner of Partners. ESL is the general partner of RBS. Mr. Lampert is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of ESL. Mr. Lampert is also a limited partner of RBS. Mr. Lampert is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sears Holdings Corporation (“Sears Holdings”). Each of the Reporting Persons may also serve as general partner or managing member of certain other entities engaged in the purchasing, holding and selling of securities for investment purposes.”

Item 2(f) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(f) Partners, RBS and ESL are organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Mr. Lampert is a United States citizen.”

Item 3 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:

“In various open market purchases between December 8, 2015 and January 4, 2016, Mr. Lampert acquired an aggregate of 332,332 shares of Common Stock for aggregate consideration of approximately $2,580,288 (excluding commissions) using personal funds.”

Item 5 is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(a)-(b) Each Reporting Person declares that neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor anything herein shall be construed as an admission that such person is, for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Act or any other purpose, the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this Schedule 13D.

Each Reporting Person may be deemed to be a member of a group with respect to the Issuer or securities of the Issuer for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Act. Each Reporting Person declares that neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor anything herein shall be construed as an admission that such person is, for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Act or any other purpose, (i) acting (or has agreed or is agreeing to act) with any other person as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or disposing of securities of the Issuer or otherwise with respect to the Issuer or any securities of the Issuer or (ii) a member of any syndicate or group with respect to the Issuer or any securities of the Issuer.

As of the time of filing on January 5, 2016, the Reporting Persons may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock of the Issuer set forth in the table below.

(c) Other than as set forth on Annex B hereto, there have been no transactions in the class of securities reported on that were effected by the Reporting Persons during the past sixty days or since the most recent filing of Schedule 13D, whichever is less.

(d) Not applicable.

(e) Not applicable.”

Item 7 is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“The following exhibits are filed as exhibits hereto:

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

EXHIBIT INDEX

ANNEX A

The names, business addresses, present principal occupations, and citizenship of the directors and executive officers of ESL Investments, Inc. are set forth below. If no address is given, the director’s or executive officer’s principal business address is 1170 Kane Concourse, Suite 200, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 33154. Unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an individual’s name refers to ESL Investments, Inc.

ANNEX B

RECENT TRANSACTIONS BY THE REPORTING PERSONS IN THE SECURITIES OF SEARS HOMETOWN AND OUTLET STORES, INC.

EXHIBIT 99.6

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

January 5, 2016

Pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder, each party hereto hereby agrees to the joint filing, on behalf of each of them, of any filing required by such party under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act or any rule or regulation thereunder (including any amendment, restatement, supplement, and/or exhibit thereto) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (and, if such security is registered on a national securities exchange, also with the exchange), and further agrees to the filing, furnishing, and/or incorporation by reference of this agreement as an exhibit thereto. This agreement shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by any party hereto in a signed writing provided to each other party hereto, and then only with respect to such revoking party.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto, being duly authorized, has caused this agreement to be executed and effective as of the date set forth below.