JWN Nordstrom Inc

• Positive sales growth at both banners during third quarter, driving margin expansion
• Reports EPS of $0.27, adjusted EPS of $0.33¹
• Updates fiscal 2024 revenue and comparable sales outlook

SEATTLE, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported third quarter net earnings of $46 million, or earnings per diluted share ("EPS") of $0.27, and earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT") of $83 million. Excluding a charge related to accelerated technology depreciation, the Company reported adjusted EBIT of $97 million and adjusted EPS of $0.33.[1]

For the third quarter ended November 2, 2024, net sales increased 4.6 percent versus the same period in fiscal 2023, and total Company comparable sales increased 4.0 percent. Gross merchandise value ("GMV") increased 5.3 percent. Anniversary Sale timing, with one week shifting from the third quarter to the second quarter, had a negative impact of approximately 100 basis points on net sales compared with 2023. During the quarter, Nordstrom banner net sales increased 1.3 percent and comparable sales increased 4.0 percent. Net sales for Nordstrom Rack increased 10.6 percent and comparable sales increased 3.9 percent.

"The continued sales growth across the company and strong gross margin in the third quarter indicate our team's focus and efforts are working," said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom, Inc. "Our customers have a lot of choices, and our results give us encouragement that we're on the right path. Looking ahead, we'll continue to improve our shopping experience as we strive to maintain the positive momentum we've worked towards all year."

In the third quarter, women's apparel and active had double-digit growth, and shoes, men's apparel and kids were up mid to high single-digits, versus 2023. Growth in women's apparel, shoes and men's apparel accelerated sequentially from the second quarter.

"Our third quarter results demonstrate that our strategic focus on curating a compelling brand assortment is resonating with customers," said Pete Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom, Inc. "Our actions throughout this year have led to this moment, and we feel well-positioned for a successful holiday season and look forward to helping our customers celebrate the moments that matter. I'm grateful to our dedicated team for consistently delivering the high level of service our customers have come to expect from Nordstrom."

As previously announced, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on December 18, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2024.

THIRD QUARTER 2024 SUMMARY

• Total Company net sales increased 4.6 percent and comparable sales increased 4.0 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. GMV increased 5.3 percent. The timing shift of the Anniversary Sale, with one day falling in the third quarter of 2024 versus eight days in 2023, had a negative impact on net sales of approximately 100 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2023.
• Nordstrom banner net sales increased 1.3 percent and comparable sales increased 4.0 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. GMV increased 2.4 percent. The timing shift of the Anniversary Sale had a negative impact on Nordstrom banner net sales of approximately 200 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2023.
• Nordstrom Rack banner net sales increased 10.6 percent and comparable sales increased 3.9 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023.
• Digital sales increased 6.4 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. The timing shift of the Anniversary Sale had a negative impact on Company digital sales of approximately 100 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2023. Digital sales represented 34 percent of total sales during the quarter.
• Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, of 35.6 percent increased 60 basis points compared with 35.0 percent in the same period in fiscal 2023, primarily due to strong regular price sales.
• Ending inventory increased 5.9 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023, versus a 4.6 percent increase in sales.
• Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, as a percentage of net sales, of 36.6 percent increased 25 basis points compared with 36.3 percent in the same period in fiscal 2023, primarily due to higher labor costs and a charge related to accelerated technology depreciation, partially offset by leverage on higher sales and improvements in variable costs across the business. Excluding the $14 million charge related to accelerated technology depreciation, adjusted SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales, were 36.2 percent.
• EBIT was $83 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared with $102 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBIT of $97 million in the third quarter of 2024 excluded the accelerated technology depreciation. Adjusted EBIT of $77 million in the third quarter of 2023 excluded a favorable $25 million true-up related to the wind-down of Canadian operations.[2]
• Interest expense, net, of $26 million increased 8.8 percent compared with $24 million during the same period in fiscal 2023 primarily due to lower interest income.
• Income tax expense was $11 million, or 18.9 percent of pretax earnings, compared with income tax expense of $11 million, or 14.2 percent of pretax earnings, in the same period in fiscal 2023. The increase in the rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was driven primarily by tax benefits in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 associated with the wind-down of Canadian operations.
• The Company ended the third quarter with $1.2 billion in available liquidity, including $397 million in cash.

STORES UPDATE

To date in fiscal 2024, the Company has opened 23 stores:

The Company has also announced plans to open the following stores:

The Company had the following store counts as of quarter-end:

During the third quarter, the Company closed one Nordstrom Rack store.

FISCAL YEAR 2024 OUTLOOK

The Company updated its financial outlook for fiscal 2024, which reflects the estimated accelerated technology depreciation impacts expected in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024:

• Revenue range, including retail sales and credit card revenues, of flat to 1.0 percent growth versus the 53-week fiscal 2023, which includes an approximately 135 basis point unfavorable impact from the 53rd week
• Comparable sales growth of 1.0 to 2.0 percent versus 52 weeks in fiscal 2023
• EBIT margin of 3.0 to 3.4 percent of sales
• Adjusted EBIT margin of 3.6 to 4.0 percent of sales[3]
• Income tax rate of approximately 27 percent
• EPS of $1.40 to $1.70, excluding the impact of share repurchase activity, if any
• Adjusted EPS of $1.75 to $2.05, excluding the impact of share repurchase activity, if any[4]

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company's senior management will host a conference call to provide a business update and to discuss third quarter 2024 financial results and fiscal 2024 outlook at 4:45 p.m. EST today. To listen to the live call online and view the speakers' prepared remarks and the conference call slides, visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's corporate website at investor.nordstrom.com. An archived webcast with the speakers' prepared remarks and the conference call slides will be available in the Quarterly Results section for one year. Interested parties may also dial 201-689-8354. A telephone replay will be available beginning approximately three hours after the conclusion of the call by dialing 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415 and entering Conference ID 13750079, until the close of business on December 3, 2024.

ABOUT NORDSTROM

At Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN), we exist to help our customers feel good and look their best. Since starting as a shoe store in 1901, how to best serve customers has been at the center of every decision we make. This heritage of service is the foundation we're building on as we provide convenience and true connection for our customers. Our interconnected model enables us to serve customers when, where and how they want to shop – whether that's in-store at more than 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local and Nordstrom Rack locations or digitally through our Nordstrom and Rack apps and websites. Through it all, we remain committed to leaving the world better than we found it.

Certain statements in this press release contain or may suggest "forward-looking" information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involves risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different from expectations. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "targets," "anticipates," "assumptions," "plans," "expects" or "expectations," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts," "guidance" and similar expressions identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The Company also may provide forward-looking statements in oral statements or other written materials released to the public. All statements contained or incorporated in this press release or in any other public statements that address such future events or expectations are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024, our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 4, 2024, our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 3, 2024 and our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 2, 2024, to be filed with the SEC on or about December 5, 2024. In addition, forward-looking statements contained in this release may be impacted by the actual outcome of events or occurrences related to the Company's announcement of the exploration of possible avenues to enhance shareholder value, including consideration by a special committee of the board of directors of a proposal brought forward by members of the Nordstrom family to take the Company private. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date made, and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances. In addition, the actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors, contractual commitments, market and economic conditions and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules. This earnings release includes references to websites, website addresses and additional materials, including reports and blogs, found on those websites. The content of any websites and materials named, hyperlinked or otherwise referenced in this earnings release are not incorporated by reference into this earnings release or in any other report or document we file with the SEC, and any references to such websites and materials are intended to be inactive textual references only. The information on those websites is not part of this earnings release.

NORDSTROM, INC.
ADJUSTED EBIT, ADJUSTED EBITDA, ADJUSTED EBIT MARGIN AND ADJUSTED EPS
(NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES)
(unaudited; amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

The following are key financial metrics and, when used in conjunction with GAAP measures, we believe they provide useful information for evaluating our core business performance, enable comparison of financial results across periods and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management for financial and operational decision-making. Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBIT margin and adjusted EPS exclude certain items that we do not consider representative of our core operating performance. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to adjusted EBIT and adjusted EBITDA is net earnings. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to adjusted EBIT margin is net earnings as a percent of net sales. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to adjusted EPS is diluted EPS.

Adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBIT margin and adjusted EPS are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net earnings, net earnings as a percent of net sales, operating cash flows, earnings per share, earnings per diluted share or other financial measures performed in accordance with GAAP. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies' financial measures and therefore may not be comparable to methods used by other companies.

The following is a reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBIT and adjusted EBITDA and net earnings as a percent of net sales to adjusted EBIT margin:

The following is a reconciliation of diluted EPS to adjusted EPS:

NORDSTROM, INC.
SUMMARY OF NET SALES
(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Our Nordstrom brand includes Nordstrom.com, Nordstrom U.S. stores and Nordstrom Local. Nordstrom also included Canada operations prior to March 2, 2023, inclusive of Nordstrom.ca, Nordstrom Canadian stores and Nordstrom Rack Canadian stores, and ASOS | Nordstrom prior to December 2023. Our Nordstrom Rack brand includes NordstromRack.com, Nordstrom Rack U.S. stores and Last Chance clearance stores. The following table summarizes net sales for the quarter and nine months ended November 2, 2024, compared with the quarter and nine months ended October 28, 2023:

NORDSTROM, INC.
FISCAL YEAR 2024 FORWARD-LOOKING NON-GAAP MEASURES
(NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES)
(unaudited)

Our adjusted EBIT as a percent of net sales ("adjusted EBIT margin") and adjusted EPS outlook for fiscal year 2024 excludes the impacts from certain items that we do not consider representative of our core operating performance. These items include charges primarily related to a supply chain asset impairment in the second quarter of 2024 and accelerated technology depreciation to be recognized in the second half of fiscal 2024.

The following is a reconciliation of expected net earnings as a percent of net sales to expected adjusted EBIT margin included within our Fiscal Year 2024 Outlook:

The following is a reconciliation of expected diluted EPS to expected adjusted EPS included within our Fiscal Year 2024 Outlook:

NORDSTROM, INC.
ADJUSTED RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL ("ADJUSTED ROIC")
(NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)
(unaudited; amounts in millions)

We believe that Adjusted ROIC is a useful financial measure for investors in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the capital we have invested in our business to generate returns over time. Our Adjusted ROIC calculation excludes certain items that we do not consider representative of our core operating performance. 

Adjusted ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, return on assets, net earnings, total assets or other GAAP financial measures. Our method of calculating a non-GAAP financial measure may differ from other companies' methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted ROIC is return on assets. The following shows the components to reconcile the return on assets calculation to Adjusted ROIC:

NORDSTROM, INC.
ADJUSTED DEBT TO EBITDAR (NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)
(unaudited; dollars in millions)

Adjusted debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent ("EBITDAR") is one of our key financial metrics and we believe that our debt levels are best analyzed using this measure, as it provides a reflection of our creditworthiness, which could impact our credit ratings and borrowing costs. This metric is calculated in accordance with our Revolver covenant and is a key component in assessing whether our revolving credit facility is secured or unsecured, as well as our ability to make dividend payments and share repurchases.

Adjusted debt to EBITDAR is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, debt to net earnings, net earnings, debt or other GAAP financial measures. Our method of calculating a non-GAAP financial measure may differ from other companies' methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted debt to EBITDAR is debt to net earnings. The following shows the components to reconcile the debt to net earnings calculation to Adjusted debt to EBITDAR:

NORDSTROM, INC.
FREE CASH FLOW (NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)
(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Free Cash Flow is one of our key liquidity measures and, when used in conjunction with GAAP measures, we believe it provides investors with a meaningful analysis of our ability to generate cash from our business. 

Free Cash Flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating cash flows or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating a non-GAAP financial measure may differ from other companies' methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Free Cash Flow is net cash provided by operating activities. The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow:

[1]Adjusted EBIT and adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the "Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT Margin and Adjusted EPS" section of this release for additional information as well as reconciliations between the Company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial results.

[2]Adjusted EBIT is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT Margin and Adjusted EPS" section of this release for additional information as well as reconciliations between the Company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial results.

[3]Adjusted EBIT margin is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Measures" section of this release for additional information as well as reconciliations between the Company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial expectations.

[4]Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Measures" section of this release for additional information as well as reconciliations between the Company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial expectations.

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SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc.