<page> Exhibit 99.1 NORDSTROM For release: May 14, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. PT - -------------------------------------------- NORDSTROM REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2009 EARNINGS SEATTLE, Wash. - May 14, 2009 - Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported net earnings of $81 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended May 2, 2009. For the same quarter last year, Nordstrom reported net earnings of $119 million, or $0.54 per diluted share. Included in the 2009 first quarter results was a benefit of approximately $12 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, related to the closure of the company's 2007 federal tax return audit. Excluding this benefit, 2009 first quarter net earnings were $69 million, or $0.31 per share. Net sales in the first quarter were $1.71 billion, a decrease of 9.2 percent compared with sales of $1.88 billion during the same period in fiscal 2008. First quarter same-store sales decreased 13.2 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2008. FIRST QUARTER SUMMARY In the first quarter, overall business trends were consistent with the company's business plans. The company planned sales based on recent trends and maintained its discipline with respect to inventory and expenses, allowing it to exceed earnings plans. -Full-line same-store sales decreased 16.5 percent. Sales for Nordstrom Direct were approximately flat. Top-performing merchandise categories were dresses, junior women's apparel and cosmetics, while the South and Mid- Atlantic regions were the top-performing geographic areas. -Nordstrom Rack outperformed most of its off-price competitors with a same-store sales increase of 1.2 percent. -Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, decreased 215 basis points compared with last year's first quarter. Approximately half of the decline was due to the impact of fixed buying and occupancy costs as a percentage of reduced sales. The company was effective in aligning its inventory levels with its current sales trends. Quarter-end total inventory per square foot was down 12 percent from the prior year, which is better than total company sales trends. -Retail selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $46 million compared with last year's first quarter. Excluding $17 million in additional expenses from stores opened since the first quarter of 2008, retail selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $63 million. The company opened 6 full-line stores and 10 Nordstrom Rack stores since the first quarter of 2008, increasing retail square footage by 1.2 million or 5.7 percent. -Credit selling, general and administrative expenses increased $42 million compared with last year's first quarter due to higher charge-offs and additions to reserves for bad debt. EXPANSION UPDATE On March 6, 2009, Nordstrom relocated and opened a full-line store at Fashion Place in Murray, Utah. On March 27, 2009, it opened a 143,000-square- foot full-line store at Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and on April 17, 2009, it opened a 143,000-square-foot full-line store at Northshore Mall in Peabody, Massachusetts. <page> During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, Nordstrom also opened four Nordstrom Rack stores at Bergen Town Center in Paramus, New Jersey, Park Lane in Dallas, Texas, The Commons at Southtowne in Sandy, Utah and Orland Park Place in Orland Park, Illinois. On May 7, 2009, Nordstrom opened a Nordstrom Rack store at Ravenswood 101 in East Palo Alto, California. FISCAL YEAR 2009 OUTLOOK Based on first quarter performance, the company is revising its outlook for the 2009 fiscal year to reflect increases in gross profit and credit card revenue, partly offset by an increase in bad debt expense. For the 2009 fiscal year, Nordstrom expects earnings per diluted share in the range of $1.25 to $1.50, increased from the previous range of $1.10 to $1.40. The company's revised expectations for fiscal 2009, which include the impact of $0.06 per diluted share tax benefit described above, are as follows: Same-store Sales 10% to 15% decrease Gross Profit (%) 130 to 200 basis point decrease Retail Selling, General and Admin. Expense ($) $100 to $200 million decrease Credit Card Revenue $75 to $80 million increase Credit Selling, General and Admin. Expense ($) $35 to $45 million increase Total Selling, General and Admin. Expense (%) 90 to 120 basis point increase Interest Expense, net $20 to $25 million increase Effective Tax Rate 36.5% to 37.0% Earnings per Diluted Share $1.25 to $1.50 Diluted Shares Outstanding 218 million CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION The company's senior management will host a conference call to discuss first quarter results at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time today. To listen, please dial 630-395-0076 (passcode: NORD). A telephone replay will be available beginning approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call by dialing 203-369-0463 until the close of business on May 21, 2009. Interested parties may also listen to the live 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 in the Webcasts section through August 12, 2009. ABOUT NORDSTROM Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation's leading fashion specialty retailers, with 176 stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 111 full-line stores, 61 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques, and two clearance stores. Nordstrom also serves customers through its online presence at http://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 involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, anticipated financial outlook for the fiscal year ending January 30, 2010, anticipated annual same-store sales rate, anticipated store openings and trends in company operations. Such statements are based upon current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. 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 deteriorating economic and market conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending patterns, the company's ability to respond to the business environment and fashion trends, the company's ability to safeguard its brand and reputation, effective inventory management, efficient and proper allocation of the company's capital resources, successful execution of the company's store growth strategy including the timely completion of construction associated with newly planned stores, relocations and remodels, all of which may be impacted by the financial health of third <page> parties, the company's compliance with applicable banking and related laws and regulations impacting the company's ability to extend credit to its customers, trends in personal bankruptcies and bad debt write-offs, availability and cost of credit, changes in interest rates, disruptions in the company's supply chain, the company's ability to maintain its relationship with vendors and developers who may be experiencing economic difficulties, the geographic locations of the company's stores, the company's ability to maintain its relationships with its employees and to effectively train and develop its future leaders, the company's 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 the company's information technology strategy, successful execution of the company's multi- channel strategy, risks related to fluctuations in world currencies, weather conditions and hazards of nature that affect consumer traffic and consumers' purchasing patterns, the effectiveness of planned advertising, marketing, and promotional campaigns, the company's ability to control costs, and the timing and amounts of share repurchases by the company. Our SEC reports, including our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009, 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: Rob Campbell Brooke White Nordstrom, Inc. Nordstrom, Inc. (206) 303-3290 (206) 373-3030 <page> NORDSTROM, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - 1st Quarter ------------------------------------------------------ (unaudited; amounts in millions, except per share data) <table> <caption> Quarter Quarter ended ended 5/2/09 5/3/08 ---------- ---------- <s> <c> <c> Net sales $ 1,706 $ 1,879 Credit card revenues 86 70 ---------- ---------- Total revenues 1,792 1,949 Cost of sales and related buying & occupancy costs (1,107) (1,179) Selling, general and administrative expenses: Retail stores, direct and other segments (447) (493) Credit segment (92) (50) ---------- ---------- Earnings before interest and income taxes 146 227 Interest expense, net (31) (31) ---------- ---------- Earnings before income taxes 115 196 Income tax expense (34) (77) ---------- ---------- Net earnings $ 81 $ 119 ========== ========== Earnings per share Basic $ 0.38 $ 0.54 Diluted $ 0.37 $ 0.54 ADDITIONAL DATA Weighted average shares outstanding Basic 215.9 218.6 Diluted 217.4 221.7 </table> <page> NORDSTROM, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ------------------------------------------------------ (unaudited; amounts in millions) <table> <caption> 5/2/09 5/3/08 ---------- ---------- <s> <c> <c> Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 78 $ 119 Accounts receivable, net 1,921 1,806 Merchandise inventories 1,004 1,079 Current deferred tax assets, net 220 181 Prepaid expenses and other 70 75 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 3,293 3,260 Land, buildings and equipment, net 2,231 2,061 Goodwill 53 53 Other assets 183 212 ---------- ---------- Total assets $ 5,760 $ 5,586 =========== =========== Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Commercial paper $ 265 $ - Accounts payable 594 638 Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits 182 197 Other current liabilities 539 568 Current portion of long-term debt 375 260 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 1,955 1,663 Long-term debt, net 1,862 2,235 Deferred property incentives, net 459 381 Other liabilities 210 249 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' equity: Common stock, no par value: 1,000 shares authorized; 216.2 and 216.9 shares issued and outstanding 1,014 957 Retained earnings 269 123 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (9) (22) ---------- ---------- Total shareholders' equity 1,274 1,058 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 5,760 $ 5,586 =========== =========== </table> <page> NORDSTROM, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS ------------------------------------------------------ (unaudited; amounts in millions) <table> <caption> Quarter Quarter ended ended 5/2/09 5/3/08 ----------- ----------- <s> <c> <c> Operating Activities Net earnings $ 81 $ 119 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization of buildings and equipment 77 72 Amortization of deferred property incentives and other, net (10) (10) Stock-based compensation expense 7 6 Deferred income taxes, net (20) (10) Tax benefit from stock-based payments 1 2 Excess tax benefit from stock-based payments (1) (2) Provision for bad debt expense 67 26 Change in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (16) (1) Merchandise inventories (114) (139) Prepaid expenses 3 - Other assets (4) 1 Accounts payable 84 110 Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits (32) (71) Other current liabilities (16) (5) Income taxes 47 23 Deferred property incentives 42 28 Other liabilities 9 4 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities 205 153 ----------- ----------- Investing Activities Capital expenditures (102) (142) Change in accounts receivable originated at third parties (30) (42) Other, net - (1) ----------- ----------- Net cash used in investing activities (132) (185) ----------- ----------- Financing Activities Payments on commercial paper (10) - Principal payments on long-term borrowings (1) (2) (Decrease) increase in cash book overdrafts (32) 2 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 3 5 Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 7 9 Excess tax benefit from stock-based payments 1 2 Cash dividends paid (35) (35) Repurchase of common stock - (188) ----------- ----------- Net cash used in financing activities (67) (207) ----------- ----------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 6 (239) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 72 358 ----------- ----------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 78 $ 119 =========== =========== </table> <page> NORDSTROM, INC. STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS BY SEGMENT - 1st Quarter ------------------------------------------------------ (unaudited; amounts in millions, except percentages) Our Retail Stores segment includes our full-line and Rack stores; our Direct segment includes our online store; and our Other segment includes our product development group and corporate center operations. The following table summarizes the results of our Retail Stores, Direct and Other segments for the quarter ended May 2, 2009 compared with the quarter ended May 3, 2008: <table> <caption> Quarter ended 5/2/09 Quarter ended 5/3/08 ------------------------- ------------------------- Amount % of sales(1) Amount % of sales(1) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- <s> <c> <c> <c> <c> Net sales $ 1,706 100.0% $ 1,879 100.0% Cost of sales and related buying & occupancy costs (1,095) (64.2%) (1,170) (62.2%) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit 611 35.8% 709 37.8% Selling, general and administrative expenses (447) (26.2%) (493) (26.2%) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Earnings before interest and income taxes 164 9.6% 216 11.5% Interest expense, net (21) (1.2%) (18) (1.0%) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Earnings before income taxes $ 143 8.4% $ 198 10.5% ========== ========== ========== ========== </table> (1) Subtotals and totals may not foot due to rounding. Our Credit segment earns finance charges and late fee income through operation of the Nordstrom private label and Nordstrom VISA credit cards. The following table summarizes the results of our Credit segment for the quarter ended May 2, 2009 compared with the quarter ended May 3, 2008: <table> <caption> Quarter Quarter ended ended 5/2/09 5/3/08 ---------- ---------- <s> <c> <c> Credit card revenues $ 86 $ 70 Interest expense (10) (13) ---------- ---------- Net credit card income 76 57 Cost of sales - loyalty program (12) (9) Selling, general and administrative expenses: Operational and marketing expense (25) (24) Bad debt expense (67) (26) ---------- ---------- Earnings before income taxes $ (28) $ (2) ========== ========== </table>