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Nordstrom Reports First Quarter 2018 Earnings

May 17, 2018 4:05 PM

Double-Digit Growth in Digital Sales

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported earnings per diluted share for the first quarter ended May 5, 2018 of $0.51, compared with the first quarter ended April 29, 2017 of $0.37, which included a debt refinancing charge of $0.06.

Total Company net sales increased 5.8 percent for the first quarter ended May 5, 2018 compared with the quarter ended April 29, 2017. This reflected an increase of approximately 250 basis points primarily due to the shift of a Nordstrom Rewards loyalty event into the first quarter relative to the second quarter last year. Comparable sales for the first quarter ended May 5, 2018 increased 0.6 percent, compared with the 13-week period ended May 6, 2017.

The Company continues to invest in new market opportunities and digital capabilities to drive customer engagement and market share gains. During the quarter, the Company made the following achievements in executing its growth plans:

FIRST QUARTER SUMMARY

EXPANSION UPDATE

To date in fiscal 2018, the Company opened eight stores and closed one store. The Company opened the following stores in the first quarter of 2018:

Location Store Name

SquareFootage(000's)

Timing
Full-price
U.S. - Nordstrom full-line
New York, New York

Nordstrom Men's Store NYC

47

April 12
Canada - Nordstrom Rack
Toronto, Ontario

Vaughan Mills

38

March 22
Calgary, Alberta

Deerfoot Meadows

30

April 26
Toronto, Ontario

One Bloor

39

May 3
Off-price
U.S. - Nordstrom Rack
Bridgewater, New Jersey

Chimney Rock Crossing

36

March 8
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Shoppes at Belmont

26

March 8
Shenandoah, Texas

Portofino Shopping Center

27

March 18
Santa Clarita, California

Promenade at Town Center

30

April 19
Number of stores May 5, 2018 April 29, 2017
Full-price
U.S. - Nordstrom full-line1 117 117
Canada - Nordstrom full-line 6 5
Canada - Nordstrom Rack 3 —
Other Full-price2 9 9
Off-price
U.S. - Nordstrom Rack 236 220
Last Chance clearance stores 2 2
Total 373 353
1 U.S. - Nordstrom full-line includes the Nordstrom Local store in California.
2 Other Full-price includes Trunk Club clubhouses and Jeffrey boutiques.
Gross square footage 30,420,000 29,764,000

FISCAL YEAR 2018 OUTLOOK

The Company updated its annual outlook expectations for earnings per diluted share to incorporate first quarter results. Nordstrom's current expectations for fiscal 2018 are as follows:

Prior Outlook Current Outlook
Net sales $15.2 to $15.4 billion No change
Comparable sales (percent) 0.5 to 1.5 No change
EBIT $885 to $940 million $895 to $940 million
Earnings per diluted share (excluding the impact of any future share repurchases) $3.30 to $3.55 $3.35 to $3.55

The Company’s updated annual outlook expectations incorporated the following assumptions:

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company's senior management will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2018 results and fiscal 2018 outlook at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time today. To listen to the live call online and view the conference call slides and the speakers' prepared remarks, visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's corporate website at http://investor.nordstrom.com. An archived webcast with the speakers' prepared remarks and the conference call slides will be available in the Quarterly Earnings section for at least 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 13679678, until the close of business on May 24, 2018.

ABOUT NORDSTROM

Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 373 stores in 40 states, including 122 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 239 Nordstrom Rack stores; two Jeffrey boutiques; two clearance stores; seven Trunk Club clubhouses; and its Nordstrom Local service concept. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook, and TrunkClub.com. Nordstrom, Inc.'s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

Certain statements in this news release contain or may suggest "forward-looking" information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our anticipated financial outlook for the fiscal year ending February 2, 2019, our anticipated annual total and comparable sales rates, our anticipated new store openings in existing, new and international markets, our anticipated Return on Invested Capital and trends in our operations. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Our actual future results may differ materially from historical results or current expectations depending upon factors including, but not limited to: successful execution of our customer strategy to provide a differentiated and seamless experience across all Nordstrom channels; timely and effective implementation of our plans to evolve our business model, including development of applications for electronic devices, improvement of customer-facing technology, timely delivery of products purchased digitally, enhancement of inventory management systems, greater and more fluid inventory availability between our digital channels and retail store locations, and greater consistency in marketing and pricing strategies, as well as our ability to manage the costs associated with this evolving business model; our ability to evolve our business model as necessary to respond to the business and retail environment, as well as fashion trends and consumer preferences, including changing expectations of service and experience in stores and online; our ability to properly balance our investments in existing and new store locations, especially our investments in our Nordstrom Men's Store NYC and Nordstrom NYC; successful execution of our information technology strategy; our ability to effectively utilize data in strategic planning and decision making; timely completion of construction associated with newly planned stores, relocations and remodels, all of which may be impacted by the financial health of third parties and consumer traffic to the locations; efficient and proper allocation of our capital resources; effective inventory management processes and systems, fulfillment and supply chain processes and systems, disruptions in our supply chain and our ability to control costs; the impact of any systems or network failures, cybersecurity and/or security breaches, including any security breach of our systems or those of a third party provider that results in the theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or Company information or compliance with information security and privacy laws and regulations in the event of such an incident; our ability to safeguard our reputation and maintain our vendor relationships; our ability to maintain relationships with and motivate our employees and to effectively attract, develop and retain our future leaders; our ability to realize the expected benefits, respond to potential risks and appropriately manage costs associated with our program agreement with TD; the effectiveness of planned advertising, marketing and promotional campaigns in the highly competitive and promotional retail industry; market fluctuations, increases in operating costs, exit costs and overall liabilities and losses associated with owning and leasing real estate; potential goodwill impairment charges, future impairment charges and fluctuations in the fair values of reporting units or of assets in the event projected financial results are not achieved within expected time frames; compliance with debt covenants and operating covenants, availability and cost of credit, changes in our credit rating and changes in interest rates; the timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases by the Company, if any, or any share issuances by the Company; the impact of the seasonal nature of our business and cyclical customer spending; the impact of economic and market conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending and credit patterns; the impact of economic, environmental or political conditions in the U.S. and countries where our third party vendors operate; weather conditions, natural disasters, health hazards, national security or other market and supply chain disruptions, or the prospects of these events and the resulting impact on consumer spending patterns or information technology systems and communications; our compliance with applicable domestic and international laws, regulations and ethical standards, including those related to employment and tax, and the outcome of claims and litigation and resolution of such matters; the impact of the current regulatory environment and financial system, health care, and tax reforms; and the impact of changes in accounting rules and regulations, changes in our interpretation of the rules or regulations, or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments. Our SEC reports, including our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018, contain other information on these and other factors that could affect our financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking information we may provide. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances, except as required by law.

NORDSTROM, INC.CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS(unaudited; amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

Quarter Ended
May 5, 2018 April 29, 2017
Net sales $ 3,469 $ 3,279
Credit card revenues, net 92 75
Total revenues 3,561 3,354
Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs (2,288 ) (2,155 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses (1,120 ) (1,048 )
Earnings before interest and income taxes 153 151
Interest expense, net (28 ) (48 )
Earnings before income taxes 125 103
Income tax expense (38 ) (40 )
Net earnings $ 87 $ 63
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.52 $ 0.38
Diluted $ 0.51 $ 0.37
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic 167.8 167.3
Diluted 170.2 169.1
Percent of net sales:
Gross profit 34.1 % 34.3 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses 32.3 % 32.0 %
Earnings before interest and income taxes 4.4 % 4.6 %

NORDSTROM, INC.CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(unaudited; amounts in millions)

May 5, 2018 February 3, 2018 April 29, 2017
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 966 $ 1,181 $ 653
Accounts receivable, net 186 145 209
Merchandise inventories 2,120 2,027 2,160
Prepaid expenses and other 291 150 147
Total current assets 3,563 3,503 3,169
Land, property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $6,227, $6,105 and $5,742) 3,887 3,939 3,872
Goodwill 249 238 238
Other assets 317 435 492
Total assets $ 8,016 $ 8,115 $ 7,771
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 1,575 $ 1,409 $ 1,590
Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits 317 578 319
Other current liabilities 1,307 1,246 1,225
Current portion of long-term debt 56 56 11
Total current liabilities 3,255 3,289 3,145
Long-term debt, net 2,680 2,681 2,731
Deferred property incentives, net 495 495 530
Other liabilities 516 673 688
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value: 1,000 shares authorized; 167.8, 167.0 and 166.0 shares issued and outstanding 2,852 2,816 2,730
Accumulated deficit (1,738 ) (1,810 ) (1,999 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (44 ) (29 ) (54 )
Total shareholders' equity 1,070 977 677
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 8,016 $ 8,115 $ 7,771

NORDSTROM, INC.CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Quarter Ended
May 5, 2018 April 29, 2017
Operating Activities
Net earnings $ 87 $ 63
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expenses 169 161
Amortization of deferred property incentives and other, net (18 ) (26 )
Deferred income taxes, net (22 ) (21 )
Stock-based compensation expense 23 16
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (42 ) (10 )
Merchandise inventories (30 ) (266 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets (173 ) (11 )
Accounts payable 212 272
Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits (259 ) (136 )
Other current liabilities 4 9
Deferred property incentives 24 32
Other liabilities (3 ) 6
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (28 ) 89
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (129 ) (153 )
Other, net (20 ) 9
Net cash used in investing activities (149 ) (144 )
Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term borrowings, net of discounts — 635
Principal payments on long-term borrowings (3 ) (653 )
Increase (decrease) in cash book overdrafts 27 (21 )
Cash dividends paid (62 ) (62 )
Payments for repurchase of common stock (13 ) (211 )
Proceeds from issuances under stock compensation plans 24 11
Tax withholding on share-based awards (11 ) (5 )
Other, net — 7
Net cash used in financing activities (38 ) (299 )
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (215 ) (354 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,181 1,007
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 966 $ 653

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

During the first quarter of 2018, we adopted the new revenue recognition guidance using the modified retrospective adoption method. Results beginning in the first quarter of 2018 are presented under the new guidance, while prior period amounts are not adjusted. Also beginning in 2018, we aligned our sales presentation with how we view the results of our operations internally and how our customers view us, by our Full-price and Off-price businesses.

Our Full-price business includes our Nordstrom U.S. full-line stores, Nordstrom.com, the Canadian operation, Trunk Club, Jeffrey and Nordstrom Local. Our Off-price business includes Nordstrom U.S. Rack stores, Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook and Last Chance clearance stores. The following table summarizes net sales and comparable sales within our business for the first quarter ended 2018 compared with the same period in fiscal 2017:

Quarter Ended
May 5, 20182 April 29, 2017
Net sales by business1:
Full-price $ 2,240 $ 2,156
Off-price 1,229 1,152
Other — (29 )
Total net sales $ 3,469 $ 3,279
Comparable sales increase (decrease) by business:
Full-price 0.7 % (2.9 %)
Off-price 0.4 % 2.3 %
Total Company 0.6 % (0.8 %)
Digitally enabled sales as % of total net sales3 29 % 25 %

1 We present our sales for 2018 and 2017 to align with how management views our results internally, including presenting 2018 under the new revenue recognition guidance and allocating our sales returns reserve to our Full-price and Off-price business. For 2017 and prior, Other primarily included unallocated sales return, in-transit and loyalty related adjustments necessary to reconcile sales by business to total net sales.

2 Total net sales in the first quarter of 2018 increased approximately 250 basis points due to the shift of a Nordstrom Rewards loyalty event into the first quarter relative to the second quarter and the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance. Full-price and Off-price net sales increased approximately 200 basis points and 100 basis points for the same impacts as total company, in addition to allocating sales return reserves to the Full-price and Off-price businesses.

3 Digitally enabled sales are online sales and digitally assisted store sales which include Buy Online, Pickup in Store (“BOPUS”), Reserve Online, Try on in Store (Store Reserve) and Style Board, a digital selling tool.

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

We believe that 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. ROIC adjusts our operating leases as if they met the criteria for capital leases or we had purchased the properties. This provides additional supplemental information that reflects the investment in our off-balance sheet operating leases, controls for differences in capital structure between us and our competitors and provides investors and credit agencies with another way to comparably evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of our capital investments over time. In addition, we incorporate ROIC into our executive incentive measures and it is an important component of shareholders’ return over the long term.

We define ROIC as our adjusted net operating profit after tax divided by our average invested capital using the trailing 12-month average. ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, return on assets, net earnings, total assets or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. Estimated depreciation on capitalized operating leases and average estimated asset base of capitalized operating leases are not calculated in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution of our results as reported under GAAP. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to ROIC is return on assets.

For the 12 fiscal months ended May 5, 2018, our ROIC increased to 9.9% compared with 8.7% for the 12 fiscal months ended April 29, 2017. Results for the prior period were negatively impacted by approximately 320 basis points due to the Trunk Club non-cash goodwill impairment charge in the third quarter of 2016.

The following is a reconciliation of the components of ROIC and return on assets:

12 Fiscal Months Ended
May 5, 2018 April 29, 2017
Net earnings $ 461 $ 371
Add: income tax expense1 351 341
Add: interest expense 123 140
Earnings before interest and income tax expense 935 852
Add: rent expense, net 254 212
Less: estimated depreciation on capitalized operating leases2 (135 ) (113 )
Adjusted net operating profit 1,054 951
Less: estimated income tax expense (456 ) (436 )
Adjusted net operating profit after tax $ 598 $ 515
Average total assets $ 8,067 $ 7,977
Less: average non-interest-bearing current liabilities3 (3,306 ) (3,013 )
Less: average deferred property incentives and deferred rent liability3 (642 ) (644 )
Add: average estimated asset base of capitalized operating leases2 1,893 1,570
Average invested capital $ 6,012 $ 5,890
Return on assets4 5.7 % 4.7 %
ROIC4 9.9 % 8.7 %

1 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended May 5, 2018 include a $42 impact related to the Tax Act.

2 Capitalized operating leases is our best estimate of the asset base we would record for our leases that are classified as operating if they had met the criteria for a capital lease or we had purchased the property. The asset base is calculated based upon the trailing 12-month average of the monthly asset base. The asset base for each month is calculated as the trailing 12 months of rent expense multiplied by eight. The multiple of eight times rent expense is a commonly used method of estimating the asset base we would record for our capitalized operating leases.

3 Balances associated with our deferred rent liability have been classified as long-term liabilities as of January 28, 2017.

4 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended April 29, 2017 include the $197 impact of the Trunk Club non-cash goodwill impairment charge in the third quarter of 2016, which negatively impacted the prior period return on assets by approximately 240 basis points and ROIC by approximately 320 basis points.

NORDSTROM, INC.ADJUSTED DEBT TO EBITDAR (NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)(unaudited; dollar amounts 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. Our goal is to manage debt levels to maintain an investment-grade credit rating and operate with an efficient capital structure. In evaluating our debt levels, this measure provides a reflection of our credit worthiness that could impact our credit rating and borrowing costs. We also have a debt covenant that requires an adjusted debt to EBITDAR leverage ratio of no more than four times. As of May 5, 2018, our Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR was 2.6, and as of April 29, 2017, it was 2.3.

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 financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures 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 is a reconciliation of the components of Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR and debt to net earnings:

20181 20171
Debt $ 2,736 $ 2,742
Add: estimated capitalized operating lease liability2 2,029 1,700
Adjusted Debt $ 4,765 $ 4,442
Net earnings $ 461 $ 371
Add: income tax expense 351 341
Add: interest expense, net 116 138
Earnings before interest and income taxes 928 850
Add: depreciation and amortization expenses 674 649
Add: rent expense, net 254 212
Add: non-cash acquisition-related charges3 1 207
Adjusted EBITDAR $ 1,857 $ 1,918
Debt to Net Earnings4 5.9 7.4
Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR 2.6 2.3

1 The components of Adjusted Debt are as of May 5, 2018 and April 29, 2017, while the components of Adjusted EBITDAR are for the 12 months ended May 5, 2018 and April 29, 2017.

2 Based upon the estimated lease liability as of the end of the period, calculated as the trailing 12 months of rent expense multiplied by eight. The multiple of eight times rent expense is a commonly used method of estimating the debt we would record for our leases that are classified as operating if they had met the criteria for a capital lease or we had purchased the property.

3 Non-cash acquisition-related charges for the 12 months ended April 29, 2017 included the goodwill impairment charge of $197 related to Trunk Club.

4 Results for the period ended April 29, 2017 include the $197 impact of the Trunk Club goodwill impairment charge, which approximates 260 basis points.

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, provides investors with a meaningful analysis of our ability to generate cash from our business. For the quarter ended May 5, 2018, we had Free Cash Flow of ($130) compared with ($85) for the first quarter ended 2017.

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we no longer reduce free cash flow by cash dividends paid. We believe that no longer reducing free cash flow by dividends paid is more reflective of our operating performance and more consistent with the way we manage our business, how our peers calculate free cash flows, and prevailing industry practice. Prior period Free Cash Flow financial measures have been recast to conform with current period presentation.

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 determining non-GAAP financial measures 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:

Quarter Ended
May 5, 2018 April 29, 2017
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities $ (28 ) $ 89
Less: capital expenditures (129 ) (153 )
Add (Less): change in cash book overdrafts 27 (21 )
Free Cash Flow $ (130 ) $ (85 )

NORDSTROM, INC.ADJUSTED EBITDA (NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is our key financial metric to reflect our view of cash flow from net earnings. Adjusted EBITDA excludes significant items which are non-operating in nature in order to evaluate our core operating performance against prior periods and increase comparability with our peers. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net earnings. As of May 5, 2018 and April 29, 2017, Adjusted EBITDA was $301 and $293.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for net earnings, overall change in cash or liquidity of the business as a whole. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The following is a reconciliation of net earnings to Adjusted EBITDA:

Quarter Ended
May 5, 2018 April 29, 2017
Net earnings $ 87 $ 63
Add: income tax expense 38 40
Add: interest expense, net 28 48
Earnings before interest and income taxes 153 151
Add: depreciation and amortization expenses 169 161
Less: amortization of deferred property incentives (21 ) (19 )
Adjusted EBITDA $ 301 $ 293

Nordstrom, Inc.

Investors:

Trina Schurman, 206-303-6503

or

Media:

Gigi Ganatra Duff, 206-303-3030

Source: Nordstrom, Inc.

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