Nordstrom Reports Third Quarter 2023 Earnings

• Third quarter total revenue of $3.3 billion
• Reports EPS of $0.41, adjusted EPS of $0.25¹
• Reaffirms fiscal 2023 revenue outlook, narrows EPS range

SEATTLE, Nov. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported third quarter net earnings of $67 million, or earnings per diluted share ("EPS") of $0.41, and earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT") of $102 million. Excluding a favorable true-up related to the wind-down of Canadian operations, the Company reported adjusted EPS of $0.25.¹

For the third quarter ended October 28, 2023, net sales decreased 6.8 percent versus the same period in fiscal 2022. Gross merchandise value ("GMV") decreased 7.1 percent. Third quarter net sales include a 270 basis point negative impact from the wind-down of Canadian operations. Anniversary Sale timing, with one week shifting from the second quarter to the third quarter, had a positive impact of approximately 200 basis points on net sales compared with 2022. Excluding the impacts of the Canadian wind-down and Anniversary Sale timing shift, net sales would have been down approximately 6 percent. During the quarter, Nordstrom banner net sales decreased 9.4 percent and GMV decreased 9.8 percent. Net sales for Nordstrom Rack decreased 1.8 percent. During the third quarter, active grew by double-digits, and beauty and accessories were up by low single-digits, versus 2022.

"In the third quarter we continued to make progress against our priorities, and we're especially pleased with the resulting improvements in gross margin and earnings," said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom, Inc. "Given continued uncertainty and softening consumer spend, we're remaining agile and focused on serving our customers."

"Thanks to solid execution by our merchants, we're heading into holiday in a favorable inventory position across both banners," said Pete Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom, Inc. "We have a strong and relevant assortment of brands and products we know our customers respond to, and we're excited to help them celebrate the moments that matter this holiday season."

As previously announced, on November 15, 2023, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on December 13, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 28, 2023.

THIRD QUARTER 2023 SUMMARY

• Total Company net sales decreased 6.8 percent and GMV decreased 7.1 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2022. The wind-down of Canadian operations had a negative impact on total Company net sales of 270 basis points. The timing shift of the Anniversary Sale, with roughly one week falling into the third quarter of 2023 versus one day in 2022, had a positive impact on net sales of approximately 200 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2022.
• For the Nordstrom banner, net sales decreased 9.4 percent and GMV decreased 9.8 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2022. The wind-down of Canadian operations had a negative impact on Nordstrom banner net sales of 410 basis points. The timing shift of the Anniversary Sale had a positive impact on Nordstrom banner net sales of approximately 300 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2022.
• For the Nordstrom Rack banner, net sales decreased 1.8 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2022. Eliminating store fulfillment for Nordstrom Rack digital orders during the third quarter of fiscal 2022 negatively impacted third quarter Rack banner sales by approximately 100 basis points.
• Digital sales decreased 11.3 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2022. Eliminating store fulfillment for Nordstrom Rack digital orders during the third quarter of fiscal 2022 negatively impacted third quarter digital sales by approximately 100 basis points. The timing shift of the Anniversary Sale had a positive impact on Company digital sales of approximately 400 basis points compared with the third quarter of 2022. Digital sales represented 34 percent of total sales during the quarter.
• Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, of 35.0 percent increased 180 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2022 primarily due to lower markdowns, increased inventory productivity and lower buying and occupancy costs, partially offset by deleverage on lower sales.
• Ending inventory decreased 8.8 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2022, versus a 6.8 percent decrease in sales.
• Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, as a percentage of net sales, of 36.3 percent decreased 5 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2022. SG&A expenses increased 200 basis points when compared with adjusted SG&A expenses in fiscal 2022, primarily due to deleverage from lower sales and higher labor costs, partially offset by improvements in variable costs from supply chain efficiency initiatives. Adjusted SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales, of 34.3 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 excluded a $70 million supply chain technology and related asset impairment charge.
• EBIT was $102 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared with $3 million during the same period in fiscal 2022. Adjusted EBIT of $77 million in the third quarter of 2023 excluded a $25 million favorable true-up related to the wind-down of Canadian operations. Adjusted EBIT of $73 million in the third quarter of 2022 excluded an impairment charge associated with supply chain technology and related assets.²
• Interest expense, net, of $24 million decreased from $32 million during the same period in fiscal 2022 due to higher interest income.
• Income tax expense was $11 million, or 14.2 percent of pretax earnings, compared with income tax benefit of $9 million, or 30.6 percent of pretax loss, in the same period in fiscal 2022. The decrease in the rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was driven by additional tax benefits associated with the wind-down of Canadian operations.
• The Company ended the third quarter with $1.2 billion in available liquidity, including $375 million in cash and the full $800 million available on its revolving line of credit.

STORES UPDATE

To date in fiscal 2023, the Company has opened or relocated 20 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 U.S. Nordstrom store and one Nordstrom Local service hub.

FISCAL YEAR 2023 OUTLOOK

The Company updated its financial outlook for fiscal 2023, which includes a 53rd week and reflects the true-up related to the wind-down of Canadian operations and related tax impacts recorded in the third quarter:

• Revenue decline, including retail sales and credit card revenues, of 4.0 to 6.0 percent versus fiscal 2022, including an approximately 250 basis point negative impact from the wind-down of Canadian operations and an approximately 130 basis point positive impact from the 53rd week
• EBIT margin (including the negative impact of charges related to the wind-down of Canadian operations) of 1.8 to 2.1 percent of sales
• Adjusted EBIT margin (excluding charges related to the wind-down of Canadian operations) of 3.8 to 4.1 percent of sales³
• Income tax rate of approximately 21 percent, including an approximately 800 basis point favorable impact primarily from the one-time Canada charges
• EPS (including the negative impact of charges related to the wind-down of Canadian operations) of $0.74 to $0.94, excluding the impact of share repurchase activity, if any
• Adjusted EPS (excluding charges related to the wind-down of Canadian operations) of $1.90 to $2.10, excluding the impact of share repurchase activity, if any³

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company's senior management will host a conference call to provide a business update and to discuss third quarter 2023 financial results and fiscal 2023 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 13742508, until the close of business on November 28, 2023.

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 digital-first platform 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 January 28, 2023, and our Form 10-Qs for the fiscal quarters ended April 29, 2023, July 29, 2023 and October 28, 2023, to be filed with the SEC on or about December 1, 2023. In addition, forward-looking statements contained in this release may be impacted by the actual outcome of events or occurrences related to the wind-down of business operations in Canada. 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.

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 (loss). 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 (loss) 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, Nordstrom Local and ASOS | Nordstrom. Nordstrom also included Canada operations prior to March 2, 2023, inclusive of Nordstrom.ca, Nordstrom Canadian stores and Nordstrom Rack Canadian stores, and TrunkClub.com prior to October 2022. 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 October 28, 2023, compared with the quarter and nine months ended October 29, 2022:

NORDSTROM, INC.
FISCAL YEAR 2023 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 2023 excludes the impacts from certain items that we do not consider representative of our core operating performance. These items include charges from the wind-down of Canadian operations recognized in the nine months ended October 28, 2023.

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 2023 Outlook:

The following is a reconciliation of expected diluted EPS to expected adjusted EPS included within our Fiscal Year 2023 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. In addition, we have incorporated it in our executive incentive measures and we believe it is an important indicator of shareholders' return over the long term. 

Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, the Adjusted ROIC calculation was updated to exclude certain items that we do not consider representative of our core operating performance. Refer to non-operating related adjustments included within adjusted net operating profit after tax and adjusted average invested capital. Prior periods have been modified to conform with current period presentation.

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 the updates in 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. Our goal is to manage debt levels to achieve and maintain investment-grade credit ratings while operating with an efficient capital structure.

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:

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SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc.