Nordstrom Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings
Published 5:30 am Tuesday, March 4, 2025
- Nordstrom Incorporated logo. (PRNewsFoto) (PRNewsfoto/Nordstrom, Inc.)
- Revenue, comparable sales and earnings at or above high end of fiscal 2024 outlook
- Quarterly sales growth across banners, stores and digital excluding the 53rd week; comparable sales up 4.7 percent
- Strong EBIT margin in fourth quarter, expanding year-over-year
SEATTLE, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported fourth quarter net earnings of $165 million, or $0.97 per diluted share (“EPS”), and earnings before interest and taxes (“EBIT”) of $242 million. Excluding privatization fees and an accelerated technology depreciation charge, the Company reported adjusted EBIT of $273 million and adjusted EPS of $1.10.1
For the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, net earnings were $294 million and EPS was $1.74, with EBIT of $495 million, or 3.4 percent of sales. Excluding charges related primarily to a supply chain asset impairment in the second quarter, accelerated technology depreciation in the third and fourth quarters, and privatization fees in the fourth quarter, adjusted EBIT was $593 million, or 4.1 percent of sales, and adjusted EPS was $2.17 for fiscal 2024.1
For the 13-week fourth quarter in fiscal 2024, total Company net sales decreased 2.1 percent versus the 14-week period in fiscal 2023, or increased 2.5 percent excluding approximately $190 million related to the 53rd week in fiscal 2023. Total Company gross merchandise value (“GMV”) decreased 0.2 percent. Nordstrom banner net sales decreased 3.7 percent and GMV decreased 1.0 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2023. Net sales for Nordstrom Rack increased 1.2 percent.2
Fourth quarter total Company comparable sales increased 4.7 percent versus the realigned 13-week quarter in fiscal 2023. Nordstrom banner comparable sales increased 5.3 percent and Nordstrom Rack comparable sales increased 3.5 percent.3
“Customers responded positively to the strength of our offering across both banners in the fourth quarter,” said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom, Inc. “We maintained the momentum we built throughout the year, which resulted in full-year sales and profitability coming in at the high end of our expectations.”
In the fourth quarter, women’s apparel, active and men’s apparel had the strongest growth versus 2023. For fiscal 2024, women’s apparel, active, men’s apparel, kids and shoes were the strongest.
“Our team reacted with agility and speed to the holiday environment, responding in real-time to better serve our customers and drive strong financial results,” said Pete Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom, Inc. “We consistently executed on our priorities in 2024 and we’re grateful to our teams for their hard work to deliver on our purpose of helping customers feel good and look their best.”
As previously announced on February 26, 2025, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share to be paid to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2025, payable on March 26, 2025.
The Company also announced that Cathy Smith will be stepping down from her role as chief financial officer to become CFO of a publicly traded global food services company, effective following the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2024 fiscal year, anticipated within the next month. The Company has initiated a comprehensive search for a new CFO with the assistance of a leading search firm.
“We are grateful for Cathy’s leadership over the past two years, which has been instrumental in strengthening our financial resilience and flexibility while maintaining our focus on providing customers with the best possible experiences. We wish her well in this next chapter,” said Erik Nordstrom. “We are fortunate to have a strong financial leadership team to take on additional responsibilities and help ensure a smooth transition during our search.”
FOURTH QUARTER 2024 SUMMARY
- Total Company net sales in the fourth quarter decreased 2.1 percent, or increased 2.5 percent excluding the 53rd week in 2023, and comparable sales increased 4.7 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. GMV decreased 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter and increased 3.1 percent in fiscal 2024 when compared with the same periods in 2023. Full-year revenue for fiscal 2024, including retail sales and credit card revenues, increased 2.2 percent, or increased 3.6 percent excluding the 53rd week, and full-year comparable sales increased 3.6 percent.2,3
- Nordstrom banner net sales in the fourth quarter decreased 3.7 percent, or increased 0.5 percent excluding the 53rd week, and comparable sales increased 5.3 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. GMV decreased 1.0 percent in the fourth quarter and increased 0.6 percent in fiscal 2024 when compared with the same periods in 2023. Full-year Nordstrom banner comparable sales increased 3.0 percent.2,3
- Nordstrom Rack banner net sales in the fourth quarter increased 1.2 percent, or increased 6.6 percent excluding the 53rd week, and comparable sales increased 3.5 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. Full-year Nordstrom Rack comparable sales increased 4.7 percent.2,3
- Digital sales in the fourth quarter decreased 1.8 percent, or increased 2.6 percent excluding the 53rd week, compared with the same period in fiscal 2023. Digital sales represented 38 percent of total sales during the quarter and 36 percent of sales for the fiscal year.2
- Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, of 37.3 percent increased 290 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2023 primarily due to merchandise margin expansion related to timing of markdown recognition under the cost method of accounting, improved shrink and lower loyalty promotions.
- Ending inventory increased 11.4 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2023, versus a net sales decrease of 2.1 percent, or increase of 2.5 percent excluding the 53rd week in 2023. The increase in inventory was driven primarily by growth in the top brands at both banners and higher in-transit inventory late in the quarter.
- Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses, as a percentage of net sales, of 34.4 percent increased 200 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2023, primarily due to higher labor costs, privatization fees and an accelerated technology depreciation charge. Excluding $18 million in privatization fees and a $13 million accelerated technology depreciation charge, adjusted SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales, were 33.7 percent.
- EBIT was $242 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with $215 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBIT of $273 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 excluded the privatization fees and accelerated technology depreciation. Adjusted EBIT of $247 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 excluded a supply chain asset impairment charge. EBIT was $495 million for fiscal 2024, and adjusted EBIT of $593 million excluded charges primarily related to supply chain impairment in the second quarter, accelerated technology depreciation in the third and fourth quarters, and privatization fees in the fourth quarter. EBIT margin and adjusted EBIT margin for the quarter were 5.8 percent and 6.5 percent of net sales, respectively. EBIT margin and adjusted EBIT margin for the fiscal year were 3.4 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively.1
- Interest expense, net, of $22 million decreased from $26 million during the same period in fiscal 2023 primarily due to the redemption of $250 million of notes in the first quarter of 2024.
- Income tax expense during the fourth quarter was $55 million, or 24.9 percent of pretax earnings, compared with $55 million, or 29.1 percent of pretax earnings, in the same period of fiscal 2023. The decrease in the rate was primarily due to favorable state provision-to-return adjustments recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared with the same quarter in fiscal 2023. The full-year income tax rate was 25.3 percent.
- The Company ended the year with $1.8 billion in available liquidity, including $1.0 billion in cash.
DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT WITH NORDSTROM FAMILY AND EL PUERTO de LIVERPOOL, S.A.B. de C.V.
In December 2024, Nordstrom, Inc. announced that it had reached an agreement with members of the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A.B de C.V. (“Liverpool”) to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Nordstrom not already beneficially owned by the Nordstrom family and Liverpool. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to certain conditions, including approval by shareholders. Upon completion, Nordstrom’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public market.
STORES UPDATE
During fiscal 2024, the Company opened 23 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 |
|||
Oceanside, CA |
Pacific Coast Plaza |
32 |
June 6, 2024 |
|||
Bay Shore, NY |
Gardiner Manor Mall |
24 |
June 13, 2024 |
|||
San Antonio, TX |
Bandera Pointe |
24 |
September 5, 2024 |
|||
Franklin, TN |
Cool Springs Market |
24 |
September 5, 2024 |
|||
San Mateo, CA |
Bridgepointe Shopping Center |
36 |
September 12, 2024 |
|||
San Diego, CA |
Clairemont Town Square |
25 |
September 19, 2024 |
|||
Mooresville, NC |
Mooresville Crossing |
28 |
September 26, 2024 |
|||
Houston, TX |
Meyerland Plaza |
34 |
September 26, 2024 |
|||
Mason, OH |
Deerfield Towne Center |
30 |
October 3, 2024 |
|||
Raleigh, NC |
Triangle Town Place |
32 |
October 10, 2024 |
|||
Fort Myers, FL |
Bell Tower |
31 |
October 17, 2024 |
|||
Noblesville, IN |
Hamilton Town Center |
25 |
October 17, 2024 |
|||
Omaha, NE |
Village Pointe |
30 |
October 24, 2024 |
|||
Tarzana, CA |
Village Walk |
25 |
November 1, 2024 |
The Company has also announced plans to open the following stores:
City |
Location |
Square Footage (000s) |
Timing of Opening |
|||
Nordstrom Rack |
||||||
Geneva, IL |
Randall Square |
25 |
March 13, 2025 |
|||
Houston, TX |
Westchase Shopping Center |
30 |
March 20, 2025 |
|||
Matthews, NC |
Sycamore Commons |
25 |
March 27, 2025 |
|||
Manalapan Township, NJ |
Manalapan Commons |
26 |
March 27, 2025 |
|||
Apple Valley, MN |
Fischer Marketplace |
30 |
April 3, 2025 |
|||
Morrisville, NC |
Park West Village |
25 |
April 10, 2025 |
|||
Nashua, NH |
Royal Ridge Center |
30 |
April 24, 2025 |
|||
Davis, CA |
The Davis Collection |
25 |
May 22, 2025 |
|||
Coral Springs, FL |
Pine Ridge Square |
31 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Surprise, AZ |
Prasada North |
26 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Holbrook, NY |
The Shops at SunVet |
27 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Hyannis, MA |
The Landing at Hyannis |
25 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Prosper, TX |
The Gates of Prosper |
26 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Melbourne, FL |
The Avenue Viera |
24 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Meridian, ID |
The Village at Meridian |
25 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Lakeland, FL |
Lakeside Village |
30 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Lubbock, TX |
West End Center |
30 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Estero, FL |
Coconut Point |
28 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Lake Grove, NY |
Smith Haven Plaza |
25 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Longmont, CO |
Harvest Junction |
28 |
Fall 2025 |
|||
Sarasota, FL |
Sarasota Pavilion |
27 |
Spring 2026 |
|||
Catherine Bloom for Nordstrom |
||||||
Los Angeles, CA |
Melrose Place |
4 |
Spring 2025 |
The Company had the following store counts as of quarter-end:
February 1, 2025 |
February 3, 2024 |
||
Nordstrom |
|||
Nordstrom |
92 |
93 |
|
Nordstrom Local service hubs |
6 |
6 |
|
Nordstrom Rack |
|||
Nordstrom Rack |
277 |
258 |
|
Last Chance clearance stores |
2 |
2 |
|
Total |
377 |
359 |
|
Gross store square footage |
26,630,000 |
26,259,000 |
During the fourth quarter, the Company closed one Nordstrom store and three Nordstrom Rack stores. Subsequent to quarter-end, the Company closed one Nordstrom Local service hub, which will reopen as a storefront dedicated to personal styling.
FISCAL YEAR 2025 OUTLOOK AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
Given the pending transaction, the Company is not providing a fiscal 2025 financial outlook or hosting a fourth quarter 2024 conference call.
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 earnings 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 earnings 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, our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 4, 2024, our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 3, 2024, our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 2, 2024 and our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, anticipated to be filed with the SEC within the next month. In addition, forward-looking statements contained in this release may be impacted by the actual outcome of events or occurrences related to the Company’s entry into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 22, 2024, which, if consummated, would result in the Company ceasing to be a publicly traded corporation. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date made, 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. In addition, the actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors, contractual commitments, market and economic conditions and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules. This earnings release includes references to websites, website addresses and additional materials, including reports and blogs, found on those websites. The content of any websites and materials named, hyperlinked or otherwise referenced in this earnings release are not incorporated by reference into this earnings release or in any other report or document we file with the SEC, and any references to such websites and materials are intended to be inactive textual references only. The information on those websites is not part of this earnings release.
1 Adjusted EBIT and adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the “Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT Margin and Adjusted EPS” section of this release for additional information as well as reconciliations between the Company’s GAAP and non-GAAP financial results.
2 Fourth quarter 2024 net sales growth and GMV growth are calculated versus the 14-week period ended February 3, 2024, and full-year growth is calculated versus the 53-week period ended February 3, 2024.
3 Fourth quarter 2024 comparable sales growth is calculated versus the realigned 13-week period ended February 3, 2024, and full-year growth is calculated versus the realigned 52-week period ended February 3, 2024.
NORDSTROM, INC. |
||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS |
||||||||||
(unaudited; amounts in millions, except per share amounts) |
||||||||||
Quarter Ended |
Year Ended |
|||||||||
February 1, 2025 |
February 3, 2024 |
February 1, 2025 |
February 3, 2024 |
|||||||
Net sales |
$4,204 |
$4,293 |
$14,557 |
$14,219 |
||||||
Credit card revenues, net |
119 |
127 |
459 |
474 |
||||||
Total revenues |
4,323 |
4,420 |
15,016 |
14,693 |
||||||
Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs |
(2,636) |
(2,815) |
(9,396) |
(9,303) |
||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
(1,445) |
(1,390) |
(5,125) |
(4,855) |
||||||
Canada wind-down costs |
— |
— |
— |
(284) |
||||||
Earnings before interest and income taxes |
242 |
215 |
495 |
251 |
||||||
Interest expense, net |
(22) |
(26) |
(102) |
(104) |
||||||
Earnings before income taxes |
220 |
189 |
393 |
147 |
||||||
Income tax expense |
(55) |
(55) |
(99) |
(13) |
||||||
Net earnings |
$165 |
$134 |
$294 |
$134 |
||||||
Earnings per share: |
||||||||||
Basic |
$1.00 |
$0.83 |
$1.79 |
$0.83 |
||||||
Diluted |
$0.97 |
$0.82 |
$1.74 |
$0.82 |
||||||
Weighted-average shares outstanding: |
||||||||||
Basic |
165.1 |
162.5 |
164.3 |
161.8 |
||||||
Diluted |
171.0 |
164.6 |
168.9 |