Nordsrom Ekes Out Meager Q4 Profit Gain

Additionally, total net sales of $10.50 billion for fiscal 2011 were the highest in the company’s history and represented two consecutive years of approximately 13 percent annual growth.

Fourth Quarter Summary

Nordstrom’s fourth quarter performance was consistent with the strong trends the company experienced throughout 2011. The company achieved record sales for fiscal 2011, while continuing to make significant investments in the business to evolve with customers and to enhance its platform for sustainable, profitable growth.

Nordstrom net sales, which include results from the full-line and Direct businesses, increased $232 million, or 9.8 percent, compared with the same period in fiscal 2010. Same-store sales increased 8.4 percent. Top-performing merchandise categories included Handbags, Designer and Cosmetics. The South and Midwest regions were the top-performing geographic areas for full-line stores relative to the fourth quarter of 2010. The Direct channel continued to show strong performance, with 35 percent quarter-over-quarter sales growth.

Nordstrom Rack net sales increased $85 million, or 17.7 percent, compared with the same period in fiscal 2010, with same-store sales up 2.2 percent.

Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, increased 12 basis points compared with last year’s fourth quarter. The improvement was driven by the ability to leverage buying and occupancy expenses during the quarter.

Retail selling, general and administrative expenses increased $121 million compared with last year’s fourth quarter. The increase was primarily attributable to various customer facing e-commerce initiatives, including HauteLook, and sales growth in both existing and new stores.

In the Credit segment, customer payment rates improved, resulting in favorable trends in delinquency and write-off rates, and a corresponding decrease in finance charge revenue. Annualized net write-offs were 5.4 percent of average credit card receivables during the quarter, down from 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Delinquencies as a percentage of credit card receivables at the end of the fourth quarter were 2.6 percent, down from 3.0 percent at the end of the fourth quarter of 2010. As a result of these improvements, the overall performance of the credit portfolio and economic trends, the reserve for bad debt was reduced by $10 million.

Earnings before interest and taxes increased $11 million to $417 million, or 12.8 percent of total revenues, from $406 million, or 13.9 percent of total revenues, in last year’s fourth quarter.

Full Year Results

For the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012, net earnings were up $70 million to $683 million, an increase of 11.4 percent compared with net earnings of $613 million for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011. Earnings per diluted share for the same periods were $3.14 and $2.75, respectively.

Full year same-store sales increased 7.2 percent compared with fiscal 2010. Net sales for the year were a record $10.50 billion, an increase of 12.7 percent compared with prior year net sales of $9.31 billion.

Capital Investment and Expansion Update

In fiscal 2012, the company’s capital expenditures, net of property incentives, are expected to total between $480 and $520 million, compared with approximately $430 million in fiscal 2011. The majority of the increase is attributable to investments in e-commerce.

Nordstrom has announced plans to open the following stores in fiscal year 2012: