Nordstrom Reports Third Quarter 2019 Earnings

Nov 21, 2019 04:05 pm
SEATTLE -- 

Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today reported earnings per diluted share of $0.81 for the third quarter ended November 2, 2019. Total Company net sales decreased 2.2 percent in the third quarter, improving by more than 200 basis points from the first half of 2019.

“Our market strategy is transforming our business model in how we’re serving customers. We have a unique mix of assets – Full-Price, Off-Price, stores, and online – and we are further linking our businesses to serve customers in new and differentiated ways. We achieved an important milestone with the opening of our New York City flagship store, significantly increasing our presence in the world’s top retail market. It’s a culmination of efforts across many teams, and we are grateful for their dedication and passion in bringing this store to life,” said Erik Nordstrom, co-president, Nordstrom, Inc.

“Our third quarter earnings exceeded expectations, demonstrating substantial progress in the delivery of our strategy and strength of our operating discipline. Through our customer focus, we drove broad-based improvement in top-line trends. The consistent strength of our inventory and expense execution contributed to increased profitability for the quarter.”

  • Sales trends improved across Nordstrom’s Full-Price and Off-Price businesses through aggressive actions taken during the year related to loyalty, digital marketing and merchandise assortment.
  • In Full-Price, the Company improved the economics of its Anniversary event, which positively contributed to merchandise margins. Off-Price delivered positive sales and earnings growth, increasing inventory turns for the eighth consecutive quarter.
  • In the third quarter, the Company expanded EBIT margin through ongoing inventory discipline and progress in bending its expense curve. Nordstrom realized $170 million in expense savings year-to-date and expects to well-exceed its plan of $150 to $200 million for the year.
  • Since scaling the Company’s market strategy in Los Angeles, third quarter sales growth outpaced other markets by approximately 100 basis points. Nordstrom recently expanded its strategy to New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Dallas to offer customers a greater selection of product available for same-day pickup or next-day delivery.
  • The Nordstrom NYC flagship opening reflected a strong customer response with 85,000 visits during the first weekend. Additionally, the corresponding sales lift in the Men’s store exceeded expectations. 

THIRD QUARTER 2019 SUMMARY

  • Third quarter net earnings were $126 million compared with $67 million during the same period in fiscal 2018. Prior year results included an after-tax estimated non-recurring credit-related charge of $49 million. Excluding this charge, earnings grew 9 percent over last year.
  • Earnings before interest and taxes (“EBIT”) were $193 million, or 5.4 percent of net sales, compared with $105 million, or 2.9 percent of net sales, during the same period in fiscal 2018. Excluding a $72 million estimated non-recurring credit-related charge in 2018, EBIT margin expanded by approximately 50 basis points.
  • In Full-Price, net sales decreased 4.1 percent compared with the same period in fiscal 2018. Off-Price net sales increased 1.2 percent. Total company digital sales grew 7 percent and represented 34 percent of the business.
  • Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, of 34.3 percent increased 100 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2018, primarily due to fewer markdowns from continued inventory discipline in Off-Price and higher sell-through of Anniversary product in Full-Price. Ending inventory decreased 2.7 percent from last year, maintaining a positive spread between inventory and sales for the third consecutive quarter.
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of net sales, of 31.8 percent decreased 132 basis points compared with the same period in fiscal 2018. Excluding the credit-related charge of $72 million in 2018, expenses deleveraged by approximately 60 basis points due to New York City flagship pre-opening costs.
  • The Company’s enhanced loyalty program continues to grow. The Nordy Club had more than 12 million active customers, which represented an increase of 13 percent over last year and nearly 65 percent of sales for the third quarter.
  • During the nine months ended November 2, 2019, the Company repurchased 4.1 million shares of its common stock for $186 million. A total capacity of $707 million remains available under its existing share repurchase authorization. The actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to market and economic conditions and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules.
  • On November 6, 2019, the Company issued $500 million of senior unsecured 10-year notes. This is expected to be a leverage neutral transaction as the Company expects to use these proceeds in early December to fully retire its May 2020 notes.

EXPANSION UPDATE

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company opened the following stores:

Location

 

Store Name

 

Square
Footage
(000’s)

 

Timing

Full-Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. — Nordstrom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norwalk, CT

 

The SoNo Collection

 

152

 

October 11

New York, NY

Nordstrom Women’s Store NYC

 

327

 

October 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nordstrom Local

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York, NY

 

Upper East Side Local

 

2

 

September 5

New York, NY

 

West Village Local

 

2

 

September 27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off-Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. — Nordstrom Rack

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Segundo, CA

 

Plaza El Segundo

 

23

 

September 26

Number of Stores

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Full-Price

 

 

 

U.S. Nordstrom full-line

110

 

116

Canada Nordstrom full-line

6

 

6

Canada Nordstrom Rack

6

 

6

Other Full-Price1

14

 

12

Off-Price

 

 

 

U.S. Nordstrom Rack

243

 

238

Last Chance clearance stores

2

 

2

Total

381

 

380

1 Other Full-Price includes Trunk Club clubhouses, Jeffrey boutiques and Nordstrom Local neighborhood hubs.

 

Gross Square Footage

30,237,000

 

30,591,000

FISCAL YEAR 2019 OUTLOOK

The Company’s revised annual earnings per diluted share outlook of $3.30 to $3.50 does not include an estimated one-time charge related to its debt refinancing in the fourth quarter of approximately $0.04. The impact of tariffs is not expected to be material for the year.

 

Prior Outlook

Current Outlook

Net sales

Approximately 2 percent decrease

Approximately 2 percent decrease

Credit card revenues, net

Low to mid single-digit growth

Mid single-digit growth

EBIT

$805 to $855 million

$815 to $855 million

EBIT margin

5.3 to 5.6 percent

5.4 to 5.6 percent

Earnings per diluted share (excluding the impact of any potential future share repurchases)

$3.25 to $3.50

$3.30 to $3.50

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company's senior management will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2019 results and fiscal 2019 outlook at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time 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 http://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 13696222, until the close of business on November 28, 2019.

ABOUT NORDSTROM

Nordstrom, Inc. is a leading fashion retailer based in the U.S. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 381 stores in 40 states, including 116 full-line stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico; 249 Nordstrom Rack stores; three Jeffrey boutiques; two clearance stores; six Trunk Club clubhouses; and five Nordstrom Local service concepts. Additionally, customers are served online through Nordstrom.com, Nordstromrack.com, HauteLook and TrunkClub.com. Nordstrom, Inc.’s common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

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 2, 2019. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, 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.

NORDSTROM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(unaudited; amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Net sales

$

3,566

 

 

$

3,648

 

 

$

10,694

 

 

$

11,097

 

Credit card revenues, net

106

 

 

100

 

 

293

 

 

280

 

Total revenues

3,672

 

 

3,748

 

 

10,987

 

 

11,377

 

Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs

(2,344

)

 

(2,435

)

 

(7,049

)

 

(7,311

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

(1,135

)

 

(1,208

)

 

(3,453

)

 

(3,562

)

Earnings before interest and income taxes

193

 

 

105

 

 

485

 

 

504

 

Interest expense, net

(20

)

 

(25

)

 

(66

)

 

(81

)

Earnings before income taxes

173

 

 

80

 

 

419

 

 

423

 

Income tax expense

(47

)

 

(13

)

 

(115

)

 

(107

)

Net earnings

$

126

 

 

$

67

 

 

$

304

 

 

$

316

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.81

 

 

$

0.40

 

 

$

1.96

 

 

$

1.88

 

Diluted

$

0.81

 

 

$

0.39

 

 

$

1.95

 

 

$

1.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

155.2

 

 

168.8

 

 

155.1

 

 

168.1

 

Diluted

155.8

 

 

172.4

 

 

155.9

 

 

171.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

34.3

%

 

33.3

%

 

34.1

%

 

34.1

%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

31.8

%

 

33.1

%

 

32.3

%

 

32.1

%

Earnings before interest and income taxes

5.4

%

 

2.9

%

 

4.5

%

 

4.5

%

NORDSTROM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited; amounts in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 2, 2019

 

February 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

487

 

 

$

957

 

 

$

1,127

 

Accounts receivable, net

234

 

 

148

 

 

190

 

Merchandise inventories

2,542

 

 

1,978

 

 

2,614

 

Prepaid expenses and other

310

 

 

291

 

 

366

 

Total current assets

3,573

 

 

3,374

 

 

4,297

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land, property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $6,884, $6,647 and $6,517)

4,146

 

 

3,921

 

 

3,858

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

1,784

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

249

 

 

249

 

 

249

 

Other assets

323

 

 

342

 

 

305

 

Total assets

$

10,075

 

 

$

7,886

 

 

$

8,709

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

2,148

 

 

$

1,469

 

 

$

2,106

 

Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits

470

 

 

580

 

 

526

 

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

238

 

 

 

 

 

Other current liabilities

1,125

 

 

1,324

 

 

1,202

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

8

 

 

8

 

Total current liabilities

3,981

 

 

3,381

 

 

3,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net

2,679

 

 

2,677

 

 

2,678

 

Deferred property incentives, net

4

 

 

457

 

 

465

 

Non-current operating lease liabilities

1,895

 

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

665

 

 

498

 

 

521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, no par value: 1,000 shares authorized; 155.2, 157.6 and 168.9 shares issued and outstanding

3,106

 

 

3,048

 

 

3,029

 

Accumulated deficit

(2,217

)

 

(2,138

)

 

(1,777

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(38

)

 

(37

)

 

(49

)

Total shareholders’ equity

851

 

 

873

 

 

1,203

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

10,075

$

7,886

$

8,709

NORDSTROM, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited; amounts in millions)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Operating Activities

 

 

 

Net earnings

$

304

 

 

$

316

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses and other, net

482

 

 

498

 

Amortization of deferred property incentives

 

 

(49

)

Right-of-use asset amortization

132

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes, net

25

 

 

11

 

Stock-based compensation expense

55

 

 

72

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

31

 

 

(45

)

Merchandise inventories

(515

)

 

(526

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(68

)

 

(78

)

Accounts payable

579

 

 

554

 

Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits

(109

)

 

(50

)

Other current liabilities

(175

)

 

(102

)

Deferred property incentives

4

 

 

37

 

Lease liabilities

(191

)

 

 

Other liabilities

15

 

 

4

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

569

 

 

642

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

(741

)

 

(429

)

Other, net

24

 

 

(19

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(717

)

 

(448

)

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

Principal payments on long-term borrowings

 

 

(54

)

Increase in cash book overdrafts

58

 

 

34

 

Cash dividends paid

(172

)

 

(186

)

Payments for repurchase of common stock

(210

)

 

(155

)

Proceeds from issuances under stock compensation plans

19

 

 

160

 

Tax withholding on share-based awards

(17

)

 

(19

)

Other, net

 

 

(28

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(322

)

 

(248

)

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(470

)

 

(54

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

957

 

 

1,181

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

487

 

$

1,127

 

NORDSTROM, INC.
SUMMARY OF NET SALES
(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Our Full-Price business includes our Nordstrom U.S. full-line stores, Nordstrom.com, Canada, Trunk Club, Jeffrey and Nordstrom Local. Our Off-Price business includes Nordstrom U.S. Rack stores, Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook and Last Chance clearance stores. The following table summarizes net sales for the quarter and nine months ended November 2, 2019 compared with the same periods in fiscal 2018:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Net sales by business:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full-Price

$

2,270

 

 

$

2,367

 

 

$

6,928

 

 

$

7,314

 

Off-Price

1,296

 

 

1,281

 

 

3,766

 

 

3,783

 

Total net sales

$

3,566

 

 

$

3,648

 

 

$

10,694

 

 

$

11,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales increase (decrease) by business:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full-Price

(4.1

%)

 

0.4

%

 

(5.3

%)

 

1.9

%

Off-Price

1.2

%

 

5.8

%

 

(0.4

%)

 

3.4

%

Total Company

(2.2

%)

 

2.3

%

 

(3.6

%)

 

2.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital sales as % of total net sales1

34

%

 

31

%

 

32

%

 

29

%

1

 

Digital sales are online sales and digitally assisted store sales which include Online Order Pickup, Ship to Store and Style Board, a digital selling tool. In 2019, we updated our digital sales calculation to include accounting adjustments consistent with our net sales calculation. Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current period presentation. We do not expect this change to be material for the full year, though some timing differences occurred between the second and third quarters.

NORDSTROM, INC.
ADJUSTED RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (“ADJUSTED ROIC”)
(NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)
(unaudited; dollar amounts in millions)

We believe that Adjusted ROIC is a useful financial measure for investors and credit agencies in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the capital we have invested in our business to generate returns over time. In addition, we have incorporated it in our executive incentive measures and it is an important indicator of shareholders’ return over the long term.

For 2019, income statement activity for adjusted net operating profit and balance sheet amounts for average invested capital are comprised of three quarters of activity under the new lease standard (“Lease Standard”) for 2019, and the fourth quarter of 2018 under the previous lease standard. Under the previous lease standard, we estimated the value of our operating leases as if they met the criteria for capital leases or we had purchased the properties. This provided additional supplemental information that estimated the investment in our operating leases. Estimated depreciation on capitalized operating leases and average estimated asset base of capitalized operating leases are not calculated in accordance with, nor an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for our results as reported under GAAP.

Adjusted ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, return on assets, net earnings, total assets or other GAAP financial measures. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted ROIC is return on assets. The following is a reconciliation of the components of Adjusted ROIC and return on assets:

 

Four Quarters Ended

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Net earnings

$

551

 

 

$

467

 

Add: income tax expense

178

 

 

276

 

Add: interest expense

101

 

 

124

 

Earnings before interest and income tax expense

830

 

 

867

 

 

 

 

 

Add: operating lease interest1

76

 

 

 

Add: rent expense, net

66

 

 

251

 

Less: estimated depreciation on capitalized operating leases2

(35

)

 

(134

)

Adjusted net operating profit

937

 

 

984

 

 

 

 

 

Less: estimated income tax expense

(228

)

 

(365

)

Adjusted net operating profit after tax

$

709

 

 

$

619

 

 

 

 

 

Average total assets

$

9,403

 

 

$

8,269

 

Less: average non-interest-bearing current liabilities

(3,563

)

 

(3,429

)

Less: average deferred property incentives in excess of ROU assets3

(232

)

 

 

Add: average estimated asset base of capitalized operating leases2

502

 

 

1,994

 

Less: average deferred property incentives and deferred rent liability

(150

)

 

(625

)

Average invested capital

$

5,960

 

 

$

6,209

 

 

 

 

 

Return on assets4

5.9

%

 

5.6

%

Adjusted ROIC4

11.9

%

 

10.0

%

1

As a result of the adoption of the Lease Standard, we add back the operating lease interest to reflect how we manage our business. Operating lease interest is a component of operating lease cost recorded in occupancy costs and is calculated in accordance with the Lease Standard.

2

Capitalized operating leases is our best estimate of the asset base we would record for our leases that are classified as operating under the previous lease standard if they had met the criteria for a finance lease or we had purchased the property. The asset base for each quarter is calculated as the trailing four quarters of rent expense multiplied by eight, a commonly used method to estimate the asset base we would record for our capitalized operating leases.

3

For leases with property incentives that exceed the operating lease right-of-use assets (“ROU assets”), we reclassify the amount from assets to other current liabilities and other liabilities. As a result of the adoption of the Lease Standard, we reduce average total assets, as this better reflects how we manage our business.

4

Results for the four quarters ended November 3, 2018 included the $72 impact related to the estimated non-recurring credit-related charge, which negatively impacted return on assets by approximately 60 basis points and Adjusted ROIC by approximately 80 basis points. For the four quarters ended November 2, 2019, the adoption of the Lease Standard negatively impacted return on assets by approximately 90 basis points and Adjusted ROIC by approximately 20 basis points.

NORDSTROM, INC.
ADJUSTED DEBT TO EBITDAR (NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)
(unaudited; dollar amounts in millions)

Adjusted Debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (“EBITDAR”) is one of our key financial metrics and we believe that our debt levels are best analyzed using this measure, as it provides a reflection of our credit worthiness that could impact our credit rating and borrowing costs. Our goal is to manage debt levels to maintain an investment-grade credit rating and operate with an efficient capital structure.

For 2019, income statement activity for Adjusted EBITDAR is comprised of three quarters of activity under the Lease Standard for 2019 and the fourth quarter of 2018 under the previous lease standard. Balance sheet amounts are as of the end of the quarter, and under the new Lease Standard for 2019 and the previous lease standard for 2018. Under the previous lease standard, we estimated the value of our operating leases as if they met the criteria for capital leases or we had purchased the properties. This provided additional supplemental information that estimated the investment in our operating leases. Estimated capitalized operating lease liability is not calculated in accordance with, nor an alternative for, GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for our results as reported under GAAP.

Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, debt to net earnings, net earnings, debt or other GAAP financial measures. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The following is a reconciliation of the components of Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR and debt to net earnings:

 

20191

 

20181

Debt

$

2,679

 

 

$

2,686

 

Add: operating lease liabilities

2,133

 

 

 

Add: estimated capitalized operating lease liability2

 

 

2,011

 

Adjusted Debt

$

4,812

 

 

$

4,697

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

$

551

 

 

$

467

 

Add: income tax expense

178

 

 

276

 

Add: interest expense, net

89

 

 

111

 

Earnings before interest and income taxes

818

 

 

854

 

 

 

 

 

Add: depreciation and amortization expenses

656

 

 

686

 

Add: lease costs, net3

205

 

 

 

Add: rent expense, net

66

 

 

251

 

Adjusted EBITDAR

$

1,745

 

 

$

1,791

 

 

 

 

 

Debt to Net Earnings4

4.9

 

 

5.8

 

Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR4

2.8

 

 

2.6

 

1

The components of Adjusted Debt are as of November 2, 2019 and November 3, 2018, while the components of Adjusted EBITDAR are for the four quarters ended November 2, 2019 and November 3, 2018.

2

Based upon the estimated lease liability as of the end of the period, calculated as the trailing four quarters of rent expense multiplied by eight, a commonly used method of estimating the debt we would record for our leases that are classified as operating if they had met the criteria for a capital lease or we had purchased the property.

3

As a result of the adoption of the Lease Standard, we add back lease costs to calculate Adjusted EBITDAR.

4

Results for the four quarters ended November 3, 2018 included the $72 impact related to the estimated non-recurring credit-related charge, which negatively impacted Debt to Net Earnings by 0.5 and Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR by 0.1. For the four quarters ended November 2, 2019, the adoption of the Lease Standard had no impact on Debt to Net Earnings nor Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR.

NORDSTROM, INC.
FREE CASH FLOW (NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)
(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Free Cash Flow is one of our key liquidity measures, and when used in conjunction with GAAP measures, we believe it provides investors with a meaningful analysis of our ability to generate cash from our business.

Free Cash Flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating cash flows or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Free Cash Flow is net cash provided by operating activities. The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow:

 

Nine Months Ended

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

569

 

 

$

642

 

Less: capital expenditures

(741

)

 

(429

)

Add: change in cash book overdrafts

58

 

 

34

 

Free Cash Flow

$

(114

)

 

$

247

 

NORDSTROM, INC.
ADJUSTED EBITDA (NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE)
(unaudited; amounts in millions)

Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is our key financial metric to reflect our view of cash flow from net earnings. Adjusted EBITDA excludes significant items which are non-operating in nature in order to evaluate our core operating performance against prior periods. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net earnings.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for net earnings, overall change in cash or liquidity of the business as a whole. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The following is a reconciliation of net earnings to Adjusted EBITDA:

 

Nine Months Ended

 

November 2, 2019

 

November 3, 2018

Net earnings

$

304

 

 

$

316

 

Add: income tax expense

115

 

 

107

 

Add: interest expense, net

66

 

 

81

 

Earnings before interest and income taxes

485

 

 

504

 

 

 

 

 

Add: depreciation and amortization expenses

486

 

 

498

 

Less: amortization of developer reimbursements

(56

)

 

(60

)

Adjusted EBITDA

$

915

 

 

$

942

 

 

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Trina Schurman
Nordstrom, Inc.
(206) 303-6503

MEDIA CONTACT:
Gigi Ganatra Duff
Nordstrom, Inc.
(206) 303-3030