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Nordstrom Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2018 Earnings

February 28, 2019 4:05 PM

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended February�2, 2019 of $1.48. Earnings were generally in-line with the Company’s updated expectations provided in its holiday sales release on January 15, 2019. Net sales decreased 4.7 percent, or increased 0.1 percent excluding the 53rd week in 2017 of approximately $220 million. Comparable sales, which were not impacted by the 53rd week, increased 0.1 percent.

For fiscal 2018, earnings per diluted share was $3.32, which included a $0.05 favorable income tax benefit related to prior periods and an estimated non-recurring credit-related charge of $0.28. Net sales for fiscal 2018 increased 2.3 percent, or 3.8 percent excluding the 53rd week. Comparable sales increased 1.7 percent.

Nordstrom aspires to be the best fashion retailer in a digital world, focused on better serving customers through three strategic pillars: providing a compelling product offering, delivering outstanding services and experiences, and leveraging the strength of the Nordstrom brand. In 2018, the Company achieved the following milestones in executing its customer strategy:

FOURTH QUARTER SUMMARY

FULL YEAR SUMMARY

EXPANSION UPDATE

Nordstrom has announced plans to open the following stores in fiscal 2019, consisting of two new full-line stores and five new Nordstrom Rack stores:

Location Store Name

Square
Footage
(000’s)

Timing
Full-Price
U.S. - Nordstrom full-line
New York, NY Nordstrom NYC 320 Fall
Norwalk, CT Norwalk 150 Fall
Off-Price
U.S. - Nordstrom Rack
Porter Ranch, CA The Vineyards at Porter Ranch 25 Spring
Westminster, CO The Orchard 25 Spring
Baltimore, MD The Shops at Canton Crossing 33 Spring
El Segundo, CA Plaza El Segundo 24 Fall
Staten Island, NY Empire Outlets 34 2019
Number of stores February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Full-Price
U.S. - Nordstrom full-line 115 116
Canada - Nordstrom full-line 6 6
Canada - Nordstrom Rack 6
Other Full-Price1 12 10
Off-Price
U.S. - Nordstrom Rack 238 232
Last Chance clearance stores 2 2
Total 379 366
1 Other Full-Price includes Trunk Club clubhouses, Jeffrey boutiques and Nordstrom Local neighborhood hubs.
Gross square footage 30,385,000 30,218,000

FISCAL YEAR 2019 OUTLOOK

Nordstrom remains committed to achieving its long-term financial targets, which support three strategic objectives in driving shareholder returns: continuing market share gains, improving profitability and returns, and maintaining disciplined capital allocation. The Company’s expectations for fiscal 2019 are as follows:

Net sales growth 1 percent to 2 percent
Credit card revenues Mid to high single-digit growth
EBIT $915 to $970 million
EBIT margin 5.9 percent to 6.1 percent
Earnings per diluted share (excluding the impact of any future share repurchase) $3.65 to $3.90

The Company’s guidance also incorporates the following assumptions:

Nordstrom plans to report quarterly results for fiscal 2019 on the following dates:

For the first quarter ending May 4, 2019 May 21, 2019
For the second quarter ending August 3, 2019 August 21, 2019
For the third quarter ending November 2, 2019 November 20, 2019
For the fourth quarter ending February 1, 2020 February 27, 2020

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company’s senior management will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and fiscal 2018 results and fiscal 2019 outlook at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time 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 http://investor.nordstrom.com. An archived webcast with the speakers’ prepared remarks and the conference call slides will be available on the website 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 13687183, until the close of business on March�7, 2019.

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 379 stores in 40 states, including 121 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 244 Nordstrom Rack stores; three Jeffrey boutiques; two clearance stores; six Trunk Club clubhouses; and three Nordstrom Local service concepts. 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 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 than 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 most recent reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February�3, 2018 and its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended May 5, 2018, August 4, 2018 and November 3, 2018. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, 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.

NORDSTROM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(unaudited; amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

Quarter Ended Year Ended
February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018 February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Net sales $ 4,383 $ 4,600 $ 15,480 $ 15,137
Credit card revenues, net 101 102 380 341
Total revenues 4,484 4,702 15,860 15,478
Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs (2,843 ) (2,969 ) (10,155 ) (9,890 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses (1,308 ) (1,383 ) (4,868 ) (4,662 )
Earnings before interest and income taxes 333 350 837 926
Interest expense, net (23 ) (31 ) (104 ) (136 )
Earnings before income taxes 310 319 733 790
Income tax expense (62 ) (168 ) (169 ) (353 )
Net earnings $ 248 $ 151 $ 564 $ 437
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 1.50 $ 0.90 $ 3.37 $ 2.62
Diluted $ 1.48 $ 0.89 $ 3.32 $ 2.59
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic 164.8 166.9 167.3 166.8
Diluted 167.1 169.4 170.0 168.9
Percent of net sales:
Gross profit 35.1 % 35.5 % 34.4 % 34.7 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses 29.8 % 30.1 % 31.5 % 30.8 %
Earnings before interest and income taxes 7.6 % 7.6 % 5.4 % 6.1 %
NORDSTROM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited; amounts in millions)

February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 957 $ 1,181
Accounts receivable, net 148 145
Merchandise inventories 1,978 2,027
Prepaid expenses and other 291 150
Total current assets 3,374 3,503
Land, property and equipment, net 3,921 3,939
Goodwill 249 238
Other assets 342 435
Total assets $ 7,886 $ 8,115
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 1,469 $ 1,409
Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits 580 578
Other current liabilities 1,324 1,246
Current portion of long-term debt 8 56
Total current liabilities 3,381 3,289
Long-term debt, net 2,677 2,681
Deferred property incentives, net 457 495
Other liabilities 498 673
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value: 1,000 shares authorized; 157.6 and 167.0 shares issued and outstanding 3,048 2,816
Accumulated deficit (2,138 ) (1,810 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (37 ) (29 )
Total shareholders’ equity 873 977
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 7,886 $ 8,115
NORDSTROM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Year Ended
February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Operating Activities
Net earnings $ 564 $ 437
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expenses 669 666
Amortization of deferred property incentives and other, net (75 ) (82 )
Deferred income taxes, net (34 ) 11
Stock-based compensation expense 90 77
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (4 ) 1
Proceeds from sale of credit card receivables originated at Nordstrom 39
Merchandise inventories 15 (62 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets (8 ) (21 )
Accounts payable 12 77
Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits 1 121
Other current liabilities 15 48
Deferred property incentives 53 64
Other liabilities (2 ) 24
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,296 1,400
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (654 ) (731 )
Proceeds from sale of credit card receivables originated at third parties 16
Other, net 1 31
Net cash used in investing activities (653 ) (684 )
Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term borrowings, net of discounts 635
Principal payments on long-term borrowings (56 ) (661 )
Decrease in cash book overdrafts (55 )
Cash dividends paid (250 ) (247 )
Payments for repurchase of common stock (678 ) (211 )
Proceeds from issuances under stock compensation plans 163 39
Tax withholding on share-based awards (20 ) (7 )
Other, net (26 ) (35 )
Net cash used in financing activities (867 ) (542 )
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (224 ) 174
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 1,181 1,007
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 957 $ 1,181

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

During the first quarter of 2018, we adopted the new revenue recognition standard (Revenue Standard) using the modified retrospective adoption method. Results beginning in the first quarter of 2018 are presented under the new Revenue Standard, 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, Canada, 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 for the quarter and year ended February 2, 2019 compared with the same periods in fiscal 2017:

Quarter Ended Year Ended
February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018 February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Net sales by business1:
Full-Price2 $ 2,985 $ 3,273 $ 10,299 $ 10,452
Off-Price3 1,398 1,437 5,181 4,956
Other (110 ) (271 )
Total net sales4 $ 4,383 $ 4,600 $ 15,480 $ 15,137
Comparable sales increase (decrease) by business:
Full-Price (1.6 %) 2.4 % 0.9 % 0.1 %
Off-Price 4.0 % 3.7 % 3.5 % 2.5 %
Total Company 0.1 % 2.6 % 1.7 % 0.8 %
Digital sales as % of total net sales5 33 % 30 % 30 % 27 %
1 We present our sales in the way that management views our results internally, including presenting 2018 under the new Revenue Standard while prior period amounts are not adjusted and allocating our sales return reserves and loyalty related adjustments to Full-Price and Off-Price. For 2017, Other primarily included unallocated sales return, in-transit and loyalty related adjustments necessary to reconcile sales by business to total net sales.
2 Full-Price net sales decreased 8.8% for the fourth quarter and 1.5% for the year ended February 2, 2019. This included a decrease of approximately 800 basis points for the fourth quarter and 300 basis points for the year ended February 2, 2019, due primarily to the 53rd week and loyalty related adjustments.
3 Off-Price net sales decreased 2.7% for the fourth quarter and increased 4.5% for the year ended February 2, 2019. This included a decrease of approximately 800 basis points for the fourth quarter and 250 basis points for the year ended February 2, 2019, due primarily to the 53rd week and loyalty related adjustments.
4 Total net sales decreased 4.7% for the fourth quarter and increased 2.3% for the year ended February 2, 2019. This included a decrease of approximately 500 basis points in the fourth quarter and 150 basis points for the year ended February 2, 2019, due to the 53rd week. The impact of adopting the new Revenue Standard was not material for the year ended February 2, 2019.
5 Digital 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.
ADJUSTED RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (“ADJUSTED ROIC”)
(NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES)
(unaudited; dollar 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. Adjusted 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 Adjusted ROIC into our executive incentive measures and it is an important indicator of shareholders’ return over the long term.

We define Adjusted ROIC as our adjusted net operating profit after tax divided by our average invested capital using the trailing 12-month average. Adjusted 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 Adjusted ROIC is return on assets. The following is a reconciliation of the components and adjustments to Adjusted ROIC and return on assets:

12 Fiscal Months Ended
February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Net earnings $ 564 $ 437
Add: income tax expense 169 353
Add: interest expense 119 141
Earnings before interest and income tax expense 852 931
Add: rent expense 251 250
Less: estimated depreciation on capitalized operating leases1 (134 ) (133 )
Adjusted net operating profit 969 1,048
Less: estimated income tax expense (223 ) (468 )
Adjusted net operating profit after tax $ 746 $ 580
Average total assets $ 8,282 $ 8,055
Less: average non-interest-bearing current liabilities (3,479 ) (3,261 )
Less: average deferred property incentives and deferred rent liability (616 ) (644 )
Add: average estimated asset base of capitalized operating leases1 2,018 1,805
Average invested capital $ 6,205 $ 5,955
Return on assets2 6.8 % 5.4 %
Adjusted ROIC2 12.0 % 9.7 %
1 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. We do not expect the adoption of the new Lease standard to have a material impact on our Adjusted ROIC.
2 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended February 2, 2019 include lower income tax expense primarily associated with corporate tax reform and a $72 unfavorable impact related to the estimated non-recurring credit-related charge. Results for the 12 fiscal months ended February 3, 2018 include a $42 unfavorable impact related to tax reform.

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.

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 $ 2,685 $ 2,737
Add: estimated capitalized operating lease liability2 2,009 2,001
Adjusted Debt $ 4,694 $ 4,738
Net earnings $ 564 $ 437
Add: income tax expense 169 353
Add: interest expense, net 104 136
Earnings before interest and income taxes 837 926
Add: depreciation and amortization expenses 669 666
Add: rent expense, net 251 250
Add: non-cash acquisition-related charges 1
Adjusted EBITDAR $ 1,757 $ 1,843
Debt to Net Earnings3 4.8 6.3
Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR3 2.7 2.6
1 The components of Adjusted Debt are as of February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, while the components of Adjusted EBITDAR are for the 12 months ended February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018.
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. We do not expect the adoption of the new Lease standard to have a material impact on our Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR.
3 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended February 2, 2019 include lower income tax expense primarily associated with corporate tax reform and a $72 unfavorable impact related to the estimated non-recurring credit-related charge. Results for the 12 fiscal months ended February 3, 2018 include a $42 unfavorable impact related to tax reform.

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.

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we no longer adjust free cash flow for cash dividends paid. We believe this presentation 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:

Year Ended
February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 1,296 $ 1,400
Less: capital expenditures (654 ) (731 )
Add: proceeds from sale of credit card receivables originated at third parties 16
Less: change in cash book overdrafts (55 )
Free Cash Flow $ 642 $ 630

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. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net earnings.

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:

Year Ended
February 2, 2019 February 3, 2018
Net earnings $ 564 $ 437
Add: income tax expense 169 353
Add: interest expense, net 104 136
Earnings before interest and income taxes 837 926
Add: depreciation and amortization expenses 669 666
Less: amortization of deferred property incentives (79 ) (79 )
Adjusted EBITDA $ 1,427 $ 1,513

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Trina Schurman

Nordstrom, Inc.

(206) 303-6503

MEDIA CONTACT:

Gigi Ganatra Duff

Nordstrom, Inc.

(206) 303-3030

Source: Nordstrom, Inc.

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