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Exhibit 99.1
For release: Thurs., May 15, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. PT
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NORDSTROM REPORTS 2008 FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS PER SHARE OF 54 CENTS
SEATTLE - May 15, 2008 - Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported net
earnings of $119 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, for the first quarter
ended May 3, 2008. For the same quarter last year, Nordstrom reported net
earnings of $157 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.60.
Total sales in the first quarter were $1.88 billion, a decrease of 3.8
percent compared to sales of $1.95 billion during the same period in fiscal
2007. First quarter same-store sales decreased 6.5 percent.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
The company's focus on expense management and continued inventory control
enabled it to achieve the high end of its earnings per share plan, despite the
challenging retail environment. Earnings per diluted share decreased 10
percent compared to the same quarter last year.
-Same-store sales decreased 6.5 percent for the quarter, below the
company's planned 3 to 5 percent same-store sales decline. Merchandise
categories with performance above the same-store average for the quarter were
cosmetics, designer products across all categories, and women's activewear and
intimate apparel.
-Gross profit, as a percent of sales, decreased 57 basis points compared
to last year's first quarter. Merchandise margins declined over prior year as
the company utilized markdowns to align inventory with sales trends. Quarter-
end inventory per square foot was down 7 percent from the prior year. Three
percent of the decline was due to the sale of the company's Faconnable
business in the third quarter of 2007. The decline in merchandise margin rate
was partially offset by lower buying and occupancy costs.
-Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 2 percent, or $11
million, compared to last year's first quarter. Retail square footage grew by
5 percent over last year due to the opening of seven full-line stores and one
Rack store since May 2007. The company's focus on controlling expenses offset
the costs associated with these new stores and increased bad debt expense.
-In the first quarter of 2008, Nordstrom repurchased 4.6 million shares
totaling $162 million, with an average price of $35.56. The company had $1.2
billion remaining on its existing authorization. First quarter share
repurchases had a $0.01 impact on first quarter earnings per diluted share.
EXPANSION UPDATE
During the first quarter, Nordstrom opened four full-line stores:
-On February 15, 2008, a 172,000-square-foot store at Aventura Mall in
Aventura, Fla.;
-On March 7, 2008, a 211,000-square-foot store at the Ala Moana Center in
Honolulu, Hawaii;
-On March 28, 2008, a 143,000-square foot-store at the Burlington Mall in
Burlington, Mass.;
-On April 18, 2008, a 122,000-square-foot-store at The Mall at Partridge
Creek in Clinton Township, Michigan.
FISCAL YEAR 2008 OUTLOOK
Based on current business trends, the company has taken a more cautious
approach to planning the remainder of 2008. The company is reducing operating
expenses to mitigate the impact of lower sales expectations on earnings. For
the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009, the company anticipates earnings per
diluted share in the range of $2.65 to $2.80, decreased from the previous
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range of $2.75 to $2.90. The company's revised expectations for fiscal year
2008 are as follows:
Fiscal 2008
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Same-store Sales 4% to 6% decrease
Gross Profit (%) 60 to 90 basis point decrease
Selling, General and Admin. Expense (%) 25 to 60 basis point increase
Interest Expense, net $55 to $60 million increase
Finance Charges and Other, net $30 to $40 million increase
Effective Tax Rate 39.0%
Earnings per Diluted Share $2.65 to $2.80
Diluted Shares Outstanding 222 million
SECOND QUARTER 2008 OUTLOOK
For the second quarter of 2008, earnings per diluted share are expected
in the range of $0.65 to $0.70, based on a same-store sales plan of -5 percent
to -7 percent. Due to an earlier start date of our Half-Yearly Sale for Women
and Kids, the company expects May same-store sales to be 1500 - 1700 basis
points above the quarterly plan and June same-store sales are expected to be
1300 - 1500 basis points below the quarterly plan. The earlier start date
does not impact the quarterly same-store sales expectations and July sales
should be consistent with the second quarter rate.
CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION:
The company's senior management will host a conference call and webcast to
discuss first quarter results and related business matters at 4:30 p.m. (ET)
today. To listen, please dial 888-390-0675 or 210-234-0003 ten minutes prior
to the call (passcode: NORD). A telephone replay will be available beginning
approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call by dialing 800-456-
9487 or 402-998-1620 until the close of business on May 22, 2008. Interested
parties may also listen to the call over the Internet by visiting the Investor
Relations section of the company's corporate Web site at
http://investor.nordstrom.com. An archived webcast will be available at this
location until the close of business on August 13, 2008.
Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers,
with 159 U.S. stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in
Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 105 full-line stores, 50 Nordstrom Racks,
two Jeffrey boutiques, and two clearance stores. In addition, Nordstrom serves
customers through its online presence at www.nordstrom.com and through its
catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.
Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking" information
(as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that
involves risks and uncertainties, including anticipated results for the fiscal
year ending January 31, 2009 and its second quarter, anticipated quarterly and
annual same-store sales rate, the timing and amounts of share repurchases, and
trends in company operations. Actual future results and trends may differ
materially from historical results or current expectations depending upon
factors including, but not limited to the impact of economic and market
conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending patterns, our ability
to respond to the business environment and fashion trends, effective inventory
management, successful execution of our store growth strategy including the
timely completion of construction associated with newly planned stores,
relocations, and remodels, our compliance with applicable banking and related
laws and regulations impacting our ability to extend credit to our customers,
our compliance with information security and privacy laws and regulations,
employment laws and regulations and other laws and regulations applicable to
the company, successful execution of our multi-channel strategy, our ability
to safeguard our brand and reputation, efficient and proper allocation of our
capital resources, successful execution of our technology strategy, trends in
personal bankruptcies and bad debt write-offs, changes in interest rates, our
ability to maintain our relationships with our employees and to effectively
train and develop our future leaders, our ability to control costs, risks
related to fluctuations in world currencies, weather conditions and hazards of
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nature that affect consumer traffic and consumers' purchasing patterns, and
the timing and amounts of share repurchases by the company. Our SEC reports,
including our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008, 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.
Investor Contact: Media Contact:
Chris Holloway Michael Boyd
(206) 303-3290 (206) 373-3038
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NORDSTROM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - 1st Quarter
(unaudited; amounts in millions,
except per share data and percentages)
<table>
<caption>
Quarter % of sales(1) Quarter % of sales(1)
ended (except as ended (except as
5/3/08 indicated) 5/5/07 indicated)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
<s> <c> <c> <c> <c>
Net sales $ 1,879 100.0% $ 1,954 100.0%
Cost of sales and related buying
& occupancy costs (1,179) (62.7%) (1,215) (62.2%)
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Gross profit 700 37.3% 739 37.8%
Selling, general and administrative
expenses (545) (29.0%) (534) (27.3%)
Finance charges and other, net 72 3.9% 56 2.9%
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Earnings before interest and income
taxes 227 12.1% 261 13.4%
Interest expense, net (31) (1.7%) (7) (0.4%)
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Earnings before income tax expense 196 10.4% 254 13.0%
Income tax expense (77) (39.3%)(2) (97) (38.2%)(2)
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Net earnings $ 119 6.3% $ 157 8.0%
Earnings per share
Basic $ 0.54 $ 0.61
Diluted $ 0.54 $ 0.60
ADDITIONAL DATA
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic 218.6 257.9
Diluted 221.7 262.7
</table>
(1) Subtotals and totals may not foot due to rounding.
(2) Percent of earnings before income tax expense.
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NORDSTROM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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(unaudited; amounts in millions)
<table>
<caption>
5/3/08 2/2/08 5/05/07
---------- ---------- ----------
<s> <c> <c> <c>
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 119 $ 358 $ 745
Accounts receivable, net 1,806 1,788 1,602
Merchandise inventories 1,079 956 1,105
Current deferred tax assets, net 181 181 176
Prepaid expenses and other 75 78 60
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Total current assets 3,260 3,361 3,688
Land, buildings and equipment, net 2,061 1,983 1,790
Goodwill 53 53 51
Acquired tradename - - 84
Other assets 212 203 218
----------- ----------- -----------
Total assets $ 5,586 $ 5,600 $ 5,831
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Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 638 $ 556 $ 700
Accrued salaries, wages and related
benefits 197 268 177
Other current liabilities 487 492 411
Income taxes payable 81 58 122
Current portion of long-term debt 260 261 7
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Total current liabilities 1,663 1,635 1,417
Long-term debt, net 2,235 2,236 1,475
Deferred property incentives, net 381 369 363
Other liabilities 249 245 257
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value: 1,000 shares
authorized; 216.9, 220.9, and 258.1
shares issued and outstanding 957 936 862
Retained earnings 123 201 1,470
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (22) (22) (13)
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Total shareholders' equity 1,058 1,115 2,319
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Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 5,586 $ 5,600 $ 5,831
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NORDSTROM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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(unaudited; amounts in millions)
<table>
<caption>
Quarter ended Quarter ended
5/3/08 5/5/07
----------- -----------
<s> <c> <c>
Operating Activities
Net earnings $ 119 $ 157
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of buildings
and equipment 72 69
Amortization of deferred property incentives
and other, net (10) (9)
Stock-based compensation expense 6 6
Deferred income taxes, net (10) (19)
Tax benefit of stock-based payments 2 8
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payments (2) (7)
Provision for bad debt expense 26 9
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (43) (926)
Investment in asset backed securities - 420
Merchandise inventories (139) (135)
Prepaid expenses - 5
Other assets 1 (25)
Accounts payable 110 93
Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits (71) (160)
Other current liabilities (5) (23)
Income taxes payable 23 57
Deferred property incentives 28 17
Other liabilities 4 6
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Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 111 (457)
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Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (142) (86)
Other, net (1) 5
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Net cash used in investing activities (143) (81)
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Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt - 1,000
Principal payments on long-term debt (2) (151)
Increase in cash book overdrafts 2 43
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 5 9
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 9 9
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payments 2 7
Cash dividends paid (35) (35)
Repurchase of common stock (188) -
Other, net - (2)
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Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (207) 880
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Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (239) 342
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 358 403
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 119 $ 745
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