Strong sales growth at both banners during first quarter Nordstrom Rack net sales up double-digits, with comparable sales up 8 percent Gross profit constrained due to timing and other factors Reaffirms fiscal 2024 outlook SEATTLE, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) today reported a first quarter net loss of $39 million, or loss per share of $0.24, and loss before interest and taxes of $21 million. For the first quarter ended May 4, 2024, net sales increased 5.1 percent versus the same period in fiscal 2023, and total Company comparable sales increased 3.8 percent. Gross merchandise value ("GMV") increased 4.9 percent. First quarter net sales include a 75 basis point negative impact from the wind-down of Canadian operations. During the quarter, Nordstrom banner net sales increased 0.6 percent and comparable sales increased 1.8 percent. Net sales for Nordstrom Rack increased 13.8 percent and comparable sales increased 7.9 percent. "The positive sales growth we saw across the company in the first quarter is very encouraging, and we're particularly excited about the progress that our Rack banner is making," said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom, Inc. "While we're pleased with our topline growth, profitability fell short of our expectations. Looking ahead, our strong sales performance gives us momentum heading into the rest of the year and the confidence to reaffirm our 2024 guidance." In the first quarter, active, kids' apparel and women's apparel had strong double-digit growth versus 2023, and beauty increased by high single-digits. "We're set up well going forward in regards to the health of our inventory, both in managing levels and providing compelling content with good sell-through," said Pete Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom, Inc. "As we reflect on the legacy that our dad left behind, we've been reminded of his firmly held and consistent values—especially his commitment to serving our customers. Those values have been integral to Nordstrom's growth, and they remain at the core of the decisions we make as a company. We want to thank our teams for bringing our values to life as we stay focused on our priorities for 2024." As previously announced, on May 22, 2024, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on June 19, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 4, 2024. FIRST QUARTER 2024 SUMMARY Total Company net sales increased 5.1 percent and comparable sales increased 3.8 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. GMV increased 4.9 percent. The wind-down of Canadian operations had a negative impact on total Company net sales of 75 basis points, as the first quarter of 2023 included one month of Canadian sales. Nordstrom banner net sales increased 0.6 percent and comparable sales increased 1.8 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. GMV increased 0.3 percent. The wind-down of Canadian operations had a negative impact on Nordstrom banner net sales of 110 basis points. Nordstrom Rack banner net sales increased 13.8 percent and comparable sales increased 7.9 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. Digital sales decreased 0.2 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. Digital sales represented 34 percent of total sales during the quarter. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, of 31.6 percent decreased 225 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. The strength in first quarter sales drove strong gross profit and leverage, which were more than offset primarily by timing matters related to both higher loyalty activity and reserves, as well as external theft in the Company's transportation network and inventory cleanup in the Company's supply chain as facilities are consolidated. Ending inventory decreased 6.3 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023, versus a 5.1 percent increase in sales. Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of net sales, of 35.8 percent decreased 20 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2023, primarily due to leverage on higher sales and improvements in variable costs in supply chain and across the business, partially offset by higher labor costs. Loss before interest and taxes was $21 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared with loss before interest and taxes of $259 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT") of $50 million in the first quarter of 2023 excluded one-time charges of $309 million related to the wind-down of Canadian operations.1 Interest expense, net, of $27 million decreased from $28 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. Income tax benefit was $9 million, or 17.5 percent of pretax loss, compared with income tax benefit of $82 million, or 28.6 percent of pretax loss, in the same period in fiscal 2023. The effective tax rate decreased in the first quarter of 2024, compared with the same period in fiscal 2023, primarily due to nonrecurring tax benefits related to the wind-down of Canadian operations in 2023. Excluding the impacts of the Canada wind-down, the rate decrease was due to the impact of unfavorable stock-based compensation on pretax loss in 2024, compared with pretax earnings in 2023. The Company ended the first quarter with $1.2 billion in available liquidity, including $428 million in cash. The Company strengthened its financial position in April by retiring the $250 million notes that were due using cash on hand. STORES UPDATE During and subsequent to the first quarter of 2024, the Company opened nine stores: City Location Square Footage (000s) Timing of Opening Nordstrom Rack Pinole, CA Pinole Vista Crossing 23 March 7, 2024 Snellville, GA Presidential Markets 35 March 7, 2024 Kennesaw, GA Barrett Place 25 March 21, 2024 Macedonia, OH Macedonia Gateway 28 April 11, 2024 Gilroy, CA Gilroy Crossing 25 April 25, 2024 Jacksonville Beach, FL South Beach Regional 30 May 2, 2024 Queen Creek, AZ Queen Creek Marketplace 28 May 16, 2024 Elk Grove, CA The Ridge Elk Grove 25 May 30, 2024 Wheaton, IL Danada Square East 29 May 30, 2024 The Company has also announced plans to open the following stores: City Location Square Footage (000s) Timing of Opening Nordstrom Rack Oceanside, CA Pacific Coast Plaza 31 June 6, 2024 Bay Shore, NY Gardiner Manor Mall 24 June 13, 2024 San Mateo, CA Bridgepointe Shopping Center 36 Fall 2024 San Diego, CA Clairemont Town Square 26 Fall 2024 Mason, OH Deerfield Towne Center 30 Fall 2024 San Antonio, TX Bandera Pointe 25 Fall 2024 Mooresville, NC Mooresville Crossing 28 Fall 2024 Franklin, TN Cool Springs Market 24 Fall 2024 Noblesville, IN Hamilton Town Center 25 Fall 2024 Omaha, NE Village Pointe 30 Fall 2024 Houston, TX Meyerland Plaza 34 Fall 2024 Fort Myers, FL Bell Tower 31 Fall 2024 Raleigh, NC Triangle Town Place 32 Fall 2024 Davis, CA The Davis Collection 25 Spring 2025 Matthews, NC Sycamore Commons 25 Spring 2025 Geneva, IL Randall Square 25 Spring 2025 Manalapan Township, NJ Manalapan Commons 26 Spring 2025 Apple Valley, MN Fischer Marketplace 30 Spring 2025 The Company had the following store counts as of quarter-end: May 4, 2024 April 29, 2023 Nordstrom Nordstrom 93 94 Nordstrom Local service hubs 6 7 ASOS | Nordstrom — 1 Nordstrom Rack Nordstrom Rack 264 243 Last Chance clearance stores 2 2 Total 365 347 Gross store square footage 26,425,000 26,259,000 FISCAL YEAR 2024 OUTLOOK The Company reaffirmed its financial outlook for fiscal 2024: Revenue range, including retail sales and credit card revenues, of 2.0 percent decline to 1.0 percent growth versus the 53-week fiscal 2023, which includes an approximately 135 basis point unfavorable impact from the 53rd week Comparable sales range of 1.0 percent decline to 2.0 percent growth versus 52 weeks in fiscal 2023 EBIT margin of 3.5 to 4.0 percent of sales Income tax rate of approximately 27 percent Earnings per share ("EPS") of $1.65 to $2.05, excluding the impact of share repurchase activity, if any CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION The Company's senior management will host a conference call to provide a business update and to discuss first quarter 2024 financial results and fiscal 2024 outlook at 4:45 p.m. EDT 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 13746681, until the close of business on June 6, 2024. 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 interconnected model 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 February 3, 2024, and our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 4, 2024, to be filed with the SEC on or about June 7, 2024. 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 as well as the effect of the Company's announcement of the exploration of possible avenues to enhance shareholder value and the formation of a special committee of the board of directors to consider any proposal which might be brought forward by members of the Nordstrom family ...