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NORDSTROM INC - Quarter Report: 2018 November (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended November 3, 2018
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___________ to___________
Commission File Number: 001-15059
NORDSTROM, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Washington
 
91-0515058
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1617 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington
 
98101
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
206-628-2111
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YES þ NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
YES þ NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer þ
 
Accelerated filer ¨
 
Non-accelerated filer ¨
 
Smaller reporting company ¨
 
 
 
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES ¨ NO þ
Common stock outstanding as of November 28, 2018: 167,323,864 shares

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NORDSTROM, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
 
 
 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited).
NORDSTROM, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Amounts in millions except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Net sales

$3,648

 

$3,541

 

$11,097

 

$10,537

Credit card revenues, net
100

 
88

 
280

 
239

Total revenues
3,748

 
3,629

 
11,377

 
10,776

Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs
(2,435
)
 
(2,315
)
 
(7,311
)
 
(6,921
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(1,208
)
 
(1,106
)
 
(3,562
)
 
(3,280
)
Earnings before interest and income taxes
105


208

 
504


575

Interest expense, net
(25
)

(28
)
 
(81
)
 
(104
)
Earnings before income taxes
80

 
180

 
423

 
471

Income tax expense
(13
)
 
(66
)
 
(107
)
 
(185
)
Net earnings

$67

 

$114

 

$316

 

$286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic

$0.40

 

$0.68

 

$1.88

 

$1.72

Diluted

$0.39

 

$0.67

 

$1.85

 

$1.70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
168.8

 
166.6

 
168.1

 
166.7

Diluted
172.4

 
168.8

 
171.0

 
168.8

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
NORDSTROM, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Net earnings

$67

 

$114

 

$316

 

$286

Foreign currency translation adjustment
(3
)
 
(11
)
 
(18
)
 
9

Post retirement plan adjustments, net of tax
1

 

 
3

 
2

Cumulative effect of adopted accounting standard

 

 
(5
)
 

Comprehensive net earnings

$65

 

$103

 

$296

 

$297

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
November 3, 2018

 
February 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents

$1,127

 

$1,181

 

$672

Accounts receivable, net
190

 
145

 
211

Merchandise inventories
2,614

 
2,027

 
2,434

Prepaid expenses and other
366

 
150

 
162

Total current assets
4,297

 
3,503

 
3,479

 
 
 
 
 
 
Land, property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $6,517, $6,105 and $5,952)
3,858

 
3,939

 
3,940

Goodwill
249

 
238

 
238

Other assets
305

 
435

 
529

Total assets

$8,709

 

$8,115

 

$8,186

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable

$2,106

 

$1,409

 

$1,815

Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits
526

 
578

 
433

Other current liabilities
1,202

 
1,246

 
1,166

Current portion of long-term debt
8

 
56

 
57

Total current liabilities
3,842

 
3,289

 
3,471

 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt, net
2,678

 
2,681

 
2,681

Deferred property incentives, net
465

 
495

 
510

Other liabilities
521

 
673

 
670

 
 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock, no par value: 1,000 shares authorized; 168.9, 167.0 and 166.6 shares issued and outstanding
3,029

 
2,816

 
2,785

Accumulated deficit
(1,777
)
 
(1,810
)
 
(1,899
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(49
)
 
(29
)
 
(32
)
Total shareholders’ equity
1,203

 
977

 
854

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$8,709

 

$8,115

 

$8,186

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Amounts in millions except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other

 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Accumulated

 
Comprehensive

 
 
 
Shares

 
Amount

 
Deficit

 
Loss

 
Total

Balance at February 3, 2018
167.0

 

$2,816

 

($1,810
)
 

($29
)
 

$977

Cumulative effect of adopted accounting standards

 

 
60

 
(5
)
 
55

Net earnings

 

 
316

 

 
316

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 
(15
)
 
(15
)
Dividends ($1.11 per share)

 

 
(186
)
 

 
(186
)
Issuance of common stock under stock compensation plans
3.9

 
160

 

 

 
160

Stock-based compensation
0.9

 
53

 

 

 
53

Repurchase of common stock
(2.9
)
 

 
(157
)
 

 
(157
)
Balance at November 3, 2018
168.9

 

$3,029

 

($1,777
)
 

($49
)
 

$1,203

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other

 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Accumulated

 
Comprehensive

 
 
 
Shares

 
Amount

 
Deficit

 
Loss

 
Total

Balance at January 28, 2017
170.0

 

$2,707

 

($1,794
)
 

($43
)
 

$870

Net earnings

 

 
286

 

 
286

Other comprehensive earnings

 

 

 
11

 
11

Dividends ($1.11 per share)

 

 
(185
)
 

 
(185
)
Issuance of common stock under stock compensation plans
0.7

 
25

 

 

 
25

Stock-based compensation
0.5

 
53

 

 

 
53

Repurchase of common stock
(4.6
)
 

 
(206
)
 

 
(206
)
Balance at October 28, 2017
166.6

 

$2,785

 

($1,899
)
 

($32
)
 

$854

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net earnings

$316

 

$286

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expenses
498

 
479

Amortization of deferred property incentives and other, net
(49
)
 
(62
)
Deferred income taxes, net
11

 
(82
)
Stock-based compensation expense
72

 
59

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 
 
Accounts receivable
(45
)
 
(11
)
Merchandise inventories
(526
)
 
(465
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(78
)
 
(35
)
Accounts payable
554

 
419

Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits
(50
)
 
(22
)
Other current liabilities
(102
)
 
(53
)
Deferred property incentives
37

 
55

Other liabilities
4

 
29

Net cash provided by operating activities
642


597

 
 
 
 
Investing Activities
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(429
)
 
(536
)
Other, net
(19
)
 
29

Net cash used in investing activities
(448
)
 
(507
)
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities
 
 
 
Proceeds from long-term borrowings, net of discounts

 
635

Principal payments on long-term borrowings
(54
)
 
(658
)
Increase (decrease) in cash book overdrafts
34

 
(3
)
Cash dividends paid
(186
)
 
(185
)
Payments for repurchase of common stock
(155
)
 
(211
)
Proceeds from issuances under stock compensation plans
160

 
25

Tax withholding on share-based awards
(19
)
 
(7
)
Other, net
(28
)
 
(21
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(248
)
 
(425
)
 
 
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(54
)
 
(335
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,181

 
1,007

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$1,127

 

$672

 
 
 
 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Income taxes, net

$278

 

$291

Interest, net of capitalized interest
95

 
106

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the balances of Nordstrom, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. The interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a basis consistent in all material respects with the accounting policies described and applied in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”), except as described in Note 2: Revenue, and reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature that are, in management’s opinion, necessary for the fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented.
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017 are unaudited. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of February 3, 2018 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2017 Annual Report. The interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related footnote disclosures contained in our 2017 Annual Report.
The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions.
Our business, like that of other retailers, is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Our sales are typically higher during our Anniversary Sale in July and the holidays in the fourth quarter. Our Anniversary Sale shifted to the second quarter in 2018 compared with the second and third quarters in 2017. Results for any one quarter are not indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year.
Estimated Non-recurring Charge
During the third quarter of 2018, we recognized a non-recurring estimated credit-related charge (“Estimated Non-recurring Charge”) of $72, or $49 net of tax, resulting from some delinquent Nordstrom credit card accounts being charged higher interest in error. We estimate that less than 4% of Nordstrom cardmembers will receive a cash refund or credit to outstanding balances, with most receiving less than one hundred dollars.
We have taken action, including the appropriate steps to address this issue and recorded an estimated charge representing our costs through the third quarter of 2018 which are comprised primarily of amounts we intend to refund to impacted cardmembers. The Estimated Non-recurring Charge increased our selling, general and administrative expenses on our Consolidated Statement of Earnings and other current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Of the $72 Estimated Non-recurring Charge, approximately $16 is a prior period misstatement recognized in the third quarter of 2018. As this out of period adjustment is not material to previously reported amounts in any prior periods, we recorded it all in the third quarter of 2018 instead of revising prior periods presented.
Goodwill
We continue to make investments in evolving the customer experience, with a strong emphasis on integrating technology across our business. To support these efforts, we have acquired two retail technology companies. During the first quarter of 2018, we recorded $11 of goodwill as a result of these acquisitions.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases, which was subsequently amended in July 2018 by ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases and ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”). This ASU increases transparency and comparability by recognizing a lessee’s rights and obligations resulting from leases by recording them on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification dictates whether lease expense is to be recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures will be required to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing and judgments related to a reporting entity’s cash flows arising from leases. We plan to adopt this ASU in the first quarter of 2019 using the additional (and optional) transition method provided in ASU 2018-11, which would allow for application of the guidance at the beginning of the period in which it is adopted by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. We expect the adoption of this standard will result in a material increase in noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We are currently evaluating additional impacts this guidance may have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. Under this new guidance, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment charge shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance would have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income: Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This new guidance allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss to accumulated deficit for certain tax effects resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”), which could not be recorded under prior guidance. We elected to early adopt this standard in the first quarter of 2018 and reclassified $5 of tax impacts resulting from the change in the federal corporate tax rate, decreasing the beginning accumulated deficit for the nine months ended November 3, 2018.
In August 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, amending certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded. In addition, the amendments expanded the disclosure requirements on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for interim financial statements. Under the amendments, an analysis of changes in each caption of shareholders’ equity presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets must be provided in a note or separate statement. The analysis should present a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance of each period for which the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Earnings is required to be filed. This final rule is effective for us in the fourth quarter of 2018. With respect to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, the SEC provided relief on the effective date until the first quarter of 2019. The adoption of this final rule will not have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


NOTE 2: REVENUE
During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and all related amendments (“Revenue Standard”), using the modified retrospective adoption method. Results for reporting periods beginning in the first quarter of 2018 are presented under the new Revenue Standard while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under ASC 605 — Revenue Recognition. Upon adoption, we recorded a net cumulative effect adjustment to decrease beginning accumulated deficit of $55. We do not expect the impact of adopting the new Revenue Standard to be material to our Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the year ended February 2, 2019. The impact of adoption on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet for the period ended November 3, 2018 was as follows:
 
November 3, 2018
 
As Reported

 
Revenue Standard Adjustment

 
Excluding Impact of Revenue Standard

Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Merchandise inventories

$2,614

 

$46

 

$2,660

Prepaid expenses and other
366

 
(130
)
 
236

Other assets
305

 
96

 
401

 
 
 

 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Other current liabilities
1,202

 
(17
)
 
1,185

Other liabilities
521

 
110

 
631

Accumulated deficit
(1,777
)
 
(81
)
 
(1,858
)
Revenue Recognition
NET SALES
We recognize sales revenue net of estimated returns and excluding sales taxes. Revenue from sales to customers shipped from our fulfillment centers, stores and directly from our vendors (“shipped revenues”), which includes shipping revenue when applicable, is recognized at shipping point, the point in time where control has transferred to the customer. Costs to ship orders to customers are expensed as a fulfillment activity at shipping point and commissions from sales at our full-line stores are expensed at the point of sale and both are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. Prior to 2018, shipped revenues were recognized upon estimated receipt by the customer and we recorded an estimated in-transit reserve for orders shipped prior to a period’s end, but not yet received by the customer.
We reduce sales and cost of sales by an estimate of customer merchandise returns, which is calculated based on historical return patterns, and record a sales return reserve and an estimated returns asset. Our sales return reserve is classified in other current liabilities and our estimated returns asset, calculated based on the cost of merchandise sold, is classified in prepaid expenses and other on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Due to the seasonality of our business, these balances typically increase with higher sales occurring in the last month of a period, such as the Anniversary Sale at the end of the second quarter, and decrease in the following period. Prior to 2018, the estimated cost of merchandise returned was netted with our sales return reserve in other current liabilities.
CREDIT CARD REVENUES, NET
Credit program revenues, net include our portion of the ongoing credit card revenue, net of credit losses, pursuant to the program agreement with TD Bank N.A. (“TD”).
Upon adoption of the new Revenue Standard, the remaining unamortized balances of the investment in contract asset and deferred revenue associated with the sale of the credit card receivables to TD in 2015 and 2017 were eliminated as part of a cumulative-effect adjustment, reducing the opening balance of accumulated deficit for 2018. As a result, the asset amortization and deferred revenue recognition are no longer recorded in credit card revenues, net. Prior to 2018, the investment in contract asset was classified in prepaid expenses and other and other assets, while the deferred revenue was classified in other current liabilities and other liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


LOYALTY PROGRAM
We evolved our customer loyalty program with the launch of The Nordy Club in October 2018, which incorporates a traditional point system and the favorite benefits of our previous program, while providing customers exclusive access to products and events, enhanced services, personalized experiences and more convenient ways to shop. Customers accumulate points based on their level of spending and type of participation. Upon reaching certain point thresholds, customers receive Nordstrom Notes (“Notes”), which can be redeemed for goods or services offered at Nordstrom full-line stores, Nordstrom.com, Nordstrom Rack and Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook. Nordstrom cardmembers can also earn rewards at Trunk Club. The Nordy Club member benefits will vary based on the level of customer spend, and include Personal Double Points days, shopping and fashion events and the ability to Reserve Online and Try In Store. Customers who participate in The Nordy Club loyalty program through our credit and debit cards receive additional benefits, and can vary depending on the level of spend, including early access to the Anniversary Sale, Nordstrom to You (an in-home stylist) and incremental accumulation of points towards Notes. For more information regarding The Nordy Club, visit Nordstrom.com/NordyClub.
As our customers earn points and Notes in the loyalty program, a portion of underlying sales revenue is deferred. We recognize the revenue and related cost of sale when the Notes are ultimately redeemed. The amount of revenue deferred is based on an estimated stand-alone selling price of the points, Notes and other loyalty benefits, such as alterations, and included in other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Other benefits of the loyalty program, including shopping and fashion events, are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses as these are not a material right of the program.
Our outstanding performance obligation for The Nordy Club consists primarily of unredeemed points and Notes and was $154 as of November 3, 2018. Almost all Notes are redeemed within six months of issuance. We record breakage revenue of unused points and unredeemed Notes based on expected customer redemption. We estimate, based on historical usage, that 6% of Notes will be unredeemed and recognized as revenue. Prior to 2018, we estimated the net cost of Notes that will be issued and redeemed and recorded this cost as rewards points were accumulated. These costs, as well as reimbursed alterations, were recorded in cost of sales as we provided customers with products and services for these rewards.
GIFT CARDS
We record deferred revenue from the sale of gift cards at the time of purchase. As gift cards are redeemed, we recognize revenue and reduce our contract liability. Though our gift cards do not have an expiration date, we include this deferred revenue in other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as customers can redeem gift cards at any time.
As of November 3, 2018, our outstanding performance obligation for unredeemed gift cards was $296. Almost all gift cards are redeemed within two years of issuance. We record breakage revenue on unused gift cards based on expected customer redemption. We estimate, based on historical usage, that 2% will be unredeemed and recognized as revenue. Prior to 2018, gift card breakage was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses and was estimated based on when redemption was considered remote.
Contract Liabilities
Under the new Revenue Standard, contract liabilities represent our obligation to transfer goods or services to customers and include deferred revenue for The Nordy Club (including points and Notes) and gift cards. Our contract liabilities are classified as current on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Our contract liabilities are as follows:
 
Contract Liabilities

Opening balance as of February 4, 2018

$498

Balance as of May 5, 2018
460

Balance as of August 4, 2018
445

Ending balance as of November 3, 2018
450

The amount of revenue recognized from our beginning contract liability balance was $116 for the third quarter of 2018 and $272 for the nine months ended November 3, 2018.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table summarizes our disaggregated net sales:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Full-Price1

$2,367

 

$2,173

 

$7,314

 

$7,179

Off-Price1
1,281

 
1,178

 
3,783

 
3,519

Other1

 
190

 

 
(161
)
Total net sales

$3,648

 

$3,541

 

$11,097

 

$10,537

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Digital sales as % of total net sales2
26
%
 
23
%
 
30
%
 
26
%
1 We present our sales in the way that management views our results internally, including presenting 2018 under the new Revenue Standard and allocating our sales return reserve and the loyalty related adjustments to Full-Price and Off-Price. Amounts in 2018 related to adoption of the new Revenue Standard have not been recast for any prior periods due to the modified retrospective method of adoption. For 2017, Other primarily included unallocated sales return, in-transit and loyalty related adjustments necessary to reconcile sales by business to total net sales. If we applied the sales return reserve allocation and the loyalty related adjustments to the third quarter and nine months ended October 28, 2017, Full-Price net sales would increase $155 and decrease $115, Off-Price net sales would decrease $16 and $45 and Other net sales would decrease $139 and increase $160. We typically see timing shifts between the second and third quarters primarily due to the seasonal timing of the Anniversary Sale in July.
2 Digital sales are online sales and digitally assisted store sales which include Buy Online, Pickup in Store (“BOPUS”), Reserve Online, Try on in Store (Store Reserve) and Style Boards, a digital selling tool.
The following table summarizes the percent of net sales by merchandise category:
 
November 3, 2018
 
Quarter Ended

 
Nine Months Ended

Women’s Apparel
32
%
 
33
%
Shoes
24
%
 
24
%
Men’s Apparel
16
%
 
16
%
Women’s Accessories
10
%
 
10
%
Beauty
11
%
 
11
%
Kids’ Apparel
4
%
 
4
%
Other
3
%
 
2
%
Total
100
%
 
100
%

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


NOTE 3: SEGMENT REPORTING
We continually monitor and review our segment reporting structure in accordance with authoritative guidance to determine whether any changes have occurred that would impact our reportable segments. In the first quarter of 2018, as a result of the evolution of our operations, our reportable segments have become progressively more integrated such that we have changed to one reportable “Retail” segment to align with how management operates and evaluates and views the results of our operations. Our principal executive officer, who is our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), reviews results on a total company, Full-Price and Off-Price basis and uses earnings before interest and taxes as a measure of profitability. We completed the reporting and budgeting in the first quarter of 2018 to better align with how the CODM allocates resources and assesses business performance. As part of this evolution, we now allocate our previous Credit segment results across our other businesses while credit assets are included in Corporate/Other.
Our Retail segment aggregates our two operating segments, Full-Price and Off-Price. Full-Price consists of Nordstrom U.S. full-line stores, Nordstrom.com, Canada, Trunk Club, Jeffrey and Nordstrom Local. Off-Price consists of Nordstrom U.S. Rack stores, Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook and Last Chance clearance stores.
Our Full-Price and Off-Price operating segments both generate revenue by offering customers an extensive selection of high-quality, brand-name and private label merchandise, which includes apparel, shoes, cosmetics and accessories for women, men, young adults and children. We continue to focus on omni-channel initiatives by integrating the operations, merchandising and technology necessary to be consistent with our customers’ expectations of a seamless shopping experience regardless of channel or business. Full-Price and Off-Price have historically had similar economic characteristics and are expected to have similar economic characteristics and long-term financial performance in future periods. They also have other similar qualitative characteristics, including suppliers, method of distribution, type of customer and regulatory environment. Due to their similar qualitative and economic characteristics, we have aggregated our Full-Price and Off-Price operating segments into a single reportable segment.
The following table sets forth information for our reportable segment:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Retail segment earnings before interest and income taxes1

$171

 

$152

 

$701

 

$696

Corporate/Other (loss) earnings before interest and income taxes1
(66
)
 
56

 
(197
)
 
(121
)
Interest expense, net
(25
)
 
(28
)
 
(81
)
 
(104
)
Earnings before income taxes

$80

 

$180

 

$423

 

$471

1 We present our segment results in the way that management views our results internally, including allocating our sales return reserve and the loyalty related adjustments to Full-Price and Off-Price in 2018. Amounts in 2018 reflect the adoption of the new Revenue Standard, whereas 2017 amounts have not been recast due to the modified retrospective method of adoption described in Note 2: Revenue. If we applied the sales return reserve allocation and the loyalty related adjustments to the third quarter and nine months ended October 28, 2017, Retail segment earnings before interest and income taxes would increase $78 and $10 and Corporate/Other earnings before interest and income taxes would decrease $78 and Corporate/Other loss before interest and income taxes would increase $10. We typically see timing shifts between the second and third quarters primarily due to the seasonal timing of the Anniversary Sale in July.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


NOTE 4: DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
Debt
A summary of our long-term debt, including capital leases, is as follows:
 
November 3, 2018


February 3, 2018


October 28, 2017

Secured
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage payable, 7.68%, due April 2020

$12

 

$17

 

$20

Other

 
1

 
1

Total secured debt
12

 
18

 
21

 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured
 
 
 
 
 
Net of unamortized discount:
 
 
 
 
 
Senior notes, 4.75%, due May 2020
500

 
500

 
499

Senior notes, 4.00%, due October 2021
500

 
500

 
500

Senior notes, 4.00%, due March 2027
349

 
349

 
349

Senior debentures, 6.95%, due March 2028
300

 
300

 
300

Senior notes, 7.00%, due January 2038
146

 
146

 
146

Senior notes, 5.00%, due January 2044
894

 
892

 
891

Other1
(15
)
 
32

 
32

Total unsecured debt
2,674

 
2,719

 
2,717

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term debt
2,686

 
2,737

 
2,738

Less: current portion
(8
)
 
(56
)
 
(57
)
Total due beyond one year

$2,678

 

$2,681

 

$2,681

1 Other unsecured debt includes our deferred bond issue costs as of November 3, 2018. As of February 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, Other included our Puerto Rico unsecured borrowing facility partially offset by deferred bond issue costs.
During the first quarter of 2017, we issued $350 aggregate principal amount of 4.00% senior unsecured notes due March 2027 and $300 aggregate principal amount of 5.00% senior unsecured notes due January 2044. With the proceeds of these new notes, we retired our $650 senior unsecured notes that were due January 2018. We incurred $18 of net interest expense related to the refinancing, which included the write-off of unamortized balances associated with the debt discount, issue costs and fair value hedge adjustment resulting from the sale of our interest rate swap agreements in 2012. It also included a one-time payment of $24 to 2018 Senior Note holders under a make-whole provision, which represents the net present value of expected coupon payments had the notes been outstanding through the original maturity date.
Credit Facilities
As of November 3, 2018, we had total short-term borrowing capacity available of $800. In September 2018, we renewed our existing $800 senior unsecured revolving credit facility (“revolver”), extending the expiration from April 2020 to September 2023. Our revolver contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and terms, which are substantially similar to our 2015 revolver. Under the terms of our revolver, we pay a variable rate of interest and a commitment fee based on our debt rating. The revolver is available for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Provided that we obtain written consent from the lenders, we have the option to increase the revolving commitment by up to $200, to a total of $1,000, and two options to extend the revolving commitment by one year.
The revolver requires that we maintain an adjusted debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (“EBITDAR”) leverage ratio of no more than four times. As of November 3, 2018, we were in compliance with this covenant.
Our $800 commercial paper program allows us to use the proceeds to fund operating cash requirements. Under the terms of the commercial paper agreement, we pay a rate of interest based on, among other factors, the maturity of the issuance and market conditions. The issuance of commercial paper has the effect, while it is outstanding, of reducing available liquidity under the revolver by an amount equal to the principal amount of commercial paper.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


As of November 3, 2018, we had no issuances outstanding under our commercial paper program and no borrowings outstanding under our revolver.
Our wholly owned subsidiary in Puerto Rico maintained a $52 unsecured borrowing facility to support our expansion into that market. Borrowings on this facility incurred interest at an annual rate based upon LIBOR plus 1.275% and also incurred a fee based on any unused commitment. During the third quarter, we fully repaid $47 outstanding on this facility, which was included in the current portion of long-term debt. In November 2018, subsequent to quarter end, this facility expired.
NOTE 5: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
We disclose our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets by level within the fair value hierarchy as defined by applicable accounting standards:
Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2: Other observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by market data that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions
Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value
Financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature, and long-term debt.
We estimate the fair value of our long-term debt using quoted market prices of the same or similar issues and, as such, this is considered a Level 2 fair value measurement. The following table summarizes the carrying value and fair value estimate of our long-term debt, including current maturities:
 
November 3, 2018

 
February 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Carrying value of long-term debt

$2,686

 

$2,737

 

$2,738

Fair value of long-term debt
2,700

 
2,827

 
2,840

Non-financial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
We also measure certain non-financial assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, primarily goodwill and long-lived tangible and intangible assets, in connection with periodic evaluations for potential impairment. We estimate the fair value of these assets using primarily unobservable inputs and, as such, these are considered Level 3 fair value measurements. There were no material impairment charges for these assets for the nine months ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017.
NOTE 6: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Plans for our Nordstrom NYC store, which we currently expect to open in 2019, ultimately include owning a condominium interest in a mixed-use tower and leasing certain nearby properties. As of November 3, 2018, we had approximately $289 of fee interest in land, which is expected to convert to the condominium interest once the store is constructed. We have committed to make future installment payments based on the developer meeting pre-established construction and development milestones. In the event that this project is not completed, the opening may be delayed and we may be subject to future losses or capital commitments in order to complete construction or to monetize our investment.
NOTE 7: SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
In February 2017, our Board of Directors authorized a new program to repurchase up to $500 of our outstanding common stock through August 31, 2018. There was $319 of unused capacity upon this program’s expiration. In August 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase up to $1,500 of our outstanding common stock, with no expiration date.
Under the February 2017 program until it expired and then under the August 2018 program, we repurchased 2.9 shares of our common stock under both programs for an aggregate purchase price of $157 during the nine months ended November 3, 2018. We had $1,438 remaining in share repurchase capacity as of November 3, 2018. The actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to market and economic conditions and applicable SEC rules.
In November 2018, subsequent to quarter end, we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share, which will be paid on December 11, 2018 to holders of record as of November 26, 2018.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share, per option and per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)


NOTE 8: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes our stock-based compensation expense:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Restricted stock units

$17

 

$13

 

$57

 

$40

Stock options
3

 
5

 
9

 
13

Other
1

 
1

 
6

 
6

Total stock-based compensation expense, before income tax benefit
21

 
19

 
72

 
59

Income tax benefit
(5
)
 
(7
)
 
(18
)
 
(22
)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income tax benefit

$16

 

$12

 

$54

 

$37

The following table summarizes our grant allocations:
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018
 
October 28, 2017
 
Granted

 
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per unit

 
Granted

 
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per unit

Restricted stock units
2.2

 

$49

 
1.9

 

$42

Stock options



 
0.3

 

$16

Performance share units

 

 
0.1

 

$40

NOTE 9: EARNINGS PER SHARE
The computation of earnings per share is as follows:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Net earnings

$67

 

$114

 

$316

 

$286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic shares
168.8

 
166.6

 
168.1

 
166.7

Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents
3.6

 
2.2

 
2.9

 
2.1

Diluted shares
172.4

 
168.8

 
171.0

 
168.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per basic share
$0.40

 
$0.68

 
$1.88

 
$1.72

Earnings per diluted share
$0.39

 
$0.67

 
$1.85

 
$1.70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents
1.8

 
10.0

 
5.5

 
10.8


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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share amounts)

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain or may suggest “forward-looking” information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our anticipated financial outlook for the fiscal year ending February 2, 2019, our anticipated annual total and comparable sales rates, our anticipated new store openings in existing, new and international markets, our anticipated Return on Invested Capital and trends in our operations. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Our actual future results may differ materially from historical results or current expectations depending upon factors including, but not limited to:
Strategic and Operational
successful execution of our customer strategy to provide a differentiated and seamless experience across all Nordstrom channels,
timely and effective implementation of our plans to evolve our business model, including development of applications for electronic devices, improvement of customer-facing technologies, timely delivery of products purchased digitally, enhancement of inventory management systems, greater and more fluid inventory availability between our digital channels and retail store locations, increased reliance on third parties and greater consistency in marketing and pricing strategies, as well as our ability to manage the costs associated with this evolving business model,
our ability to evolve our business model as necessary to respond to the business and retail environment, as well as fashion trends and consumer preferences, including changing expectations of service and experience in stores and online,
our ability to properly balance our investments in existing and new store locations, especially our investments in our Nordstrom Men’s Store NYC and Nordstrom NYC and our Los Angeles market integration,
successful execution of our information technology strategy, including engagement with third-party service providers,
our ability to effectively utilize internal and third-party data in strategic planning and decision making,
our ability to maintain or expand our presence, including timely completion of construction associated with new, relocated and remodeled stores and fulfillment and distribution centers, all of which may be impacted by third parties and consumer demand,
efficient and proper allocation of our capital resources,
effective inventory management processes and systems, fulfillment and supply chain processes and systems, disruptions in our supply chain and our ability to control costs,
the impact of any systems or network failures, cybersecurity and/or security breaches, including any security breach of our systems or those of a third-party provider that results in the theft, transfer or unauthorized disclosure of customer, employee or Company information or compliance with information security and privacy laws and regulations in the event of such an incident,
our ability to safeguard our reputation and maintain relationships with our vendors and third-party service providers,
our ability to maintain relationships with and motivate our employees and to effectively attract, develop and retain our future leaders,
our ability to realize the expected benefits, respond to potential risks and appropriately manage costs associated with our program agreement with TD,
the effectiveness of planned advertising, marketing and promotional campaigns in the highly competitive and promotional retail industry,
market fluctuations, increases in operating costs, exit costs and overall liabilities and losses associated with owning and leasing real estate,
potential goodwill impairment charges, future impairment charges and fluctuations in the fair values of reporting units or of assets in the event projected financial results are not achieved within expected time frames,
compliance with debt and operating covenants, availability and cost of credit, changes in our credit rating and changes in interest rates,
the timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases by us, if any, or any share issuances by us,
Economic and External
the impact of the seasonal nature of our business and cyclical customer spending,
the impact of economic and market conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending and credit patterns,
the impact of economic, environmental or political conditions in the U.S. and countries where our third-party vendors operate,
weather conditions, natural disasters, health hazards, national security or other market and supply chain disruptions, including the effects of tariffs, or the prospects of these events and the resulting impact on consumer spending patterns or information technology systems and communications,
Legal and Regulatory
our compliance with applicable domestic and international laws, regulations and ethical standards, including those related to employment and tax, and the outcome of claims and litigation and resolution of such matters,
the impact of the current regulatory environment and financial system, health care, and tax reforms,
the impact of changes in accounting rules and regulations, changes in our interpretation of the rules or regulations, or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollar and share amounts in millions except per share amounts)

These and other factors, including those factors described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in subsequent Quarterly Reports, including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, could affect our financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking information we may provide. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances, except as may be required by law.
OVERVIEW
With our aspiration to be the best fashion retailer in a digital world, we are focused on better serving customers through our three strategic pillars: providing a compelling product offering, delivering exceptional services and experiences, and leveraging the strength of the Nordstrom brand.
For the third quarter, net earnings were $67, or $0.39 per diluted share, which included the Estimated Non-recurring Charge of $72, or $0.28 per diluted share (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1). We sincerely apologize to cardmembers impacted by the Estimated Non-recurring Charge. We realize customers and shareholders place a great deal of trust in us, and that is a responsibility we take seriously. Excluding this charge, earnings were slightly ahead of our expectations, and we expect to achieve an inflection point for profitable growth this year. Our net sales grew 3.0% for the third quarter and comparable sales increased 2.3%, reflecting ongoing strength in our Full-Price and Off-Price businesses.
During the third quarter, we demonstrated ongoing progress in executing our strategy and delivering on our long-term financial commitments:
Our early investments in digital capabilities are paying off. The combination of our digital capabilities with our local market assets have enabled us to be at the forefront of serving customers on their terms. We recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Nordstrom.com, which has grown to approximately 2.5 million visitors per day and ranks among the top 10 e-commerce retailers in the United States. Our overall digital sales increased by 20% on a year-to-date basis and made up 30% of our business.
Our generational investments continue to scale, contributing approximately half of our year-to-date sales increase. Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook is on track to exceed $1 billion in sales this year. Trunk Club has delivered sales growth of nearly 50% year-to-date, demonstrating successful efforts to improve the customer offer. We continued our expansion into Canada with three additional Nordstrom Racks and expect further synergies from having a Full-Price and Off-Price presence. In the Manhattan market, we’re building on our learnings from our men’s store opening last spring as we plan our Nordstrom NYC store opening in the fall of 2019.
Our strategic brand partnerships enable us to offer compelling products to customers and strengthen our product margins. This includes collaborations with fashion influencers, such as Something Navy and Atlantic-Pacific, to provide inspiration and a sense of discovery for customers. In the third quarter, strategic brand sales grew 8%, making up approximately 45% of Full-Price sales.
Our local market strategy leverages inventory, along with our digital and physical capabilities, to serve customers in new and relevant ways. Beginning in Los Angeles, our largest market, we have launched “Get It Fast”, a new feature that provides a significantly expanded view of merchandise selection that is available next day. In addition, we opened two additional Nordstrom Local neighborhood hubs, in Brentwood and downtown, to provide customers with more convenient access to our services.
Our loyalty program is another way for us to leverage the strength of the Nordstrom brand and engage with customers in more personalized ways. In October, we introduced The Nordy Club, an evolution of our loyalty program that offers enhanced services and personalized experiences, as well as a faster earn rate for credit cardmembers.
We remain focused on driving higher shareholder returns through three key deliverables: growing market share, improving profitability and shareholder returns, and continuing our disciplined capital allocation approach. We believe our combination of digital capabilities and local market assets - our people, product, and place - make us uniquely positioned for success in the market. We are well-positioned to execute against our long-term plans and deliver a differentiated customer experience.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
In our ongoing effort to enhance the customer experience, we are focused on providing customers with a seamless experience across our channels. We invested early in our omni-channel capabilities, integrating our operations, merchandising and technology across our stores and online, in both our Full-Price and Off-Price businesses. While our customers may engage with us through multiple channels, we know they value the overall Nordstrom brand experience and view us simply as Nordstrom, which is ultimately how we view our business. We have one reportable segment in 2018, Retail, and analyze our results on a total Company basis.
We may not calculate certain metrics used to evaluate our business in a consistent manner among industry peers. Provided below are definitions of metrics we present within our analysis:
Comparable Salessales from stores that have been open at least one full year at the beginning of the year
Comparable sales include sales from our online channels and actual returns. Comparable sales do not include our estimate for sales return reserve.
Due to the 53rd week in 2017, our 2018 comparable sales are reported on a like-for-like basis with no impact from calendar shifts or revenue recognition
Digital Sales – online sales and digitally assisted store sales which include Buy Online, Pickup in Store (“BOPUS”), Reserve Online, Try on in Store (Store Reserve) and Style Board, a digital selling tool
Gross Profit – net sales less cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs
Inventory Turnover Rate – trailing 4-quarter cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs divided by the trailing 4-quarter average inventory
Net Sales
During the first quarter of 2018, we adopted the new Revenue Standard using the modified retrospective adoption method (see Note 2: Revenue in Item 1). Results beginning in the first quarter of 2018 are presented under the new Revenue Standard, while prior period amounts are not adjusted. Also beginning in 2018, we aligned our sales presentation with how we view the results of our operations internally and how our customers shop with us, by our Full-Price and Off-Price businesses.
Full-Price – Nordstrom U.S. full-line stores, Nordstrom.com, Canada, Trunk Club, Jeffrey and Nordstrom Local
Off-Price – Nordstrom U.S. Rack stores, Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook and Last Chance clearance stores
The following table summarizes net sales and comparable sales for the quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same periods in fiscal 2017:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Net sales by business1:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full-Price

$2,367

 

$2,173

 

$7,314

 

$7,179

Off-Price
1,281

 
1,178

 
3,783

 
3,519

Other

 
190

 

 
(161
)
Total net sales

$3,648

 

$3,541

 

$11,097

 

$10,537

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comparable sales increase (decrease) by business:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full-Price
0.4
%
 
(1.9
%)
 
1.9
%
 
(0.9
%)
Off-Price
5.8
%
 
0.8
%
 
3.4
%
 
2.0
%
Total Company
2.3
%
 
(0.9
%)
 
2.4
%
 
0.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Digital sales as % of total net sales
26
%
 
23
%
 
30
%
 
26
%
1 We present our sales in the way that management views our results internally, including presenting 2018 under the new Revenue Standard and allocating our sales return reserve and the loyalty related adjustments to Full-Price and Off-Price. For 2017, Other primarily included unallocated sales return, in-transit and loyalty related adjustments necessary to reconcile sales by business to total net sales.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


Total Company net sales increased 3.0% and 5.3% for the third quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same periods in 2017. This included a decrease of approximately 100 basis points in the third quarter primarily due to the new Revenue Standard as it relates to the timing of the Anniversary Sale and an increase of approximately 100 basis points for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, primarily due to timing shifts from the 53rd week in 2017. We do not expect the impact of adopting the new Revenue Standard to be material for the year ended February 2, 2019. We do expect the impact of the 53rd week in 2017 to result in a decrease of approximately 100 basis points for the year ended February 2, 2019 when compared with the prior period. Digital sales increased 18% in the third quarter of 2018 and 20% in the nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same periods in 2017. To date in fiscal 2018, we opened our Nordstrom Men’s Store NYC, twelve Nordstrom Rack stores, one Jeffrey boutique, and two Nordstrom Local stores. We closed one full-line store and one Trunk Club clubhouse.
Full-Price net sales increased 8.9% and 1.9% for the third quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same periods in 2017. This included an increase of approximately 700 basis points for the third quarter due primarily to the sales return reserve allocation and a decrease of 100 basis points for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, due primarily to the new Revenue Standard. Full-Price sales reflected an increase in the average selling price per item sold, partially offset by a decrease in number of items sold for the third quarter of 2018. For the nine months ended November 3, 2018, Full-Price sales reflected an increase in both the average selling price per item sold and number of items sold. The top-ranking merchandise categories were Kids’ Apparel and Beauty for the quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018.
Off-Price net sales increased 8.7% and 7.5% for the third quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same periods in 2017. This reflected an increase in the number of items sold, partially offset by a decrease in the average selling price per item sold. The increase in sales included a decrease of approximately 100 basis points for the third quarter and 50 basis points for the nine months ended November 3, 2018 due primarily to the new Revenue Standard. Shoes was the top-performing merchandise category for the quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018.
Credit Card Revenue, Net
Credit program revenues, net includes our portion of the credit card revenue, net of credit losses, from credit card receivables pursuant to our program agreement with TD.
Credit card revenue, net was $100 for the third quarter, compared with $88 for the same period in 2017 and $280 for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with $239 for the same period in 2017. The increases of $12 and $41 for the quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018 were a result of our strategic partnership with TD to responsibly grow our receivables and associated revenues as well as efforts to drive new account growth.
Gross Profit
The following table summarizes gross profit:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Gross profit

$1,213

 

$1,226

 

$3,786

 

$3,616

Gross profit as a % of net sales
33.3
%
 
34.6
%
 
34.1
%
 
34.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Inventory turnover rate
 
 
 
 
4.56

 
4.39

Our gross profit rate decreased 137 basis points for the third quarter of 2018 and 19 basis points for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same periods in 2017. The decrease in the third quarter was primarily due to timing, including the $30 impact of the new Revenue Standard as it relates to the timing of the Anniversary Sale, and the mix impact of Off-Price growth at a lower product margin rate. The decrease in the nine months ended November 3, 2018 was primarily due to the mix impact of higher Off-Price growth. Overall, continued inventory execution led to improvements in inventory turnover rate as of November 3, 2018.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) are summarized in the following table:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018


October 28, 2017

Selling, general and administrative expenses

$1,208

 

$1,106

 

$3,562

 

$3,280

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a % of net sales
33.1
%
 
31.2
%
 
32.1
%
 
31.1
%
SG&A increased $102 and 188 basis points for the third quarter of 2018 and $282 and 97 basis points for the nine months ended November 3, 2018. The dollar and basis points increases were primarily due to the Estimated Non-recurring Charge of $72 in the third quarter of 2018 (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1). In addition, SG&A increased in the third quarter and nine months ended November 3, 2018 primarily due to higher supply chain expenses related to planned growth.
Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes 
Earnings before interest and income taxes (“EBIT”) are summarized in the following table:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Earnings before interest and income taxes

$105

 

$208

 

$504

 

$575

Earnings before interest and income taxes as a % of net sales
2.9
%
 
5.9
%
 
4.5
%
 
5.5
%
EBIT decreased $103 and 298 basis points for the third quarter of 2018 and $71 and 92 basis points for the nine months ended November 3, 2018. The decreases were primarily due to the Estimated Non-recurring Charge of $72 (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1).
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense, net was $25 for the third quarter of 2018, compared with $28 for the same period in 2017, and $81 for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with $104 for the same period in 2017. The decrease for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, is due to a net interest expense charge of $18 related to the $650 debt refinancing completed in the first quarter of 2017 (see Note 4: Debt and Credit Facilities in Item 1).
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense is summarized in the following table:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Income tax expense

$13

 

$66

 

$107

 

$185

Effective tax rate
16.4
%
 
36.7
%
 
25.3
%
 
39.2
%
The effective tax rate decreased for the third quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, primarily due to the lower statutory tax rate enacted under the Tax Act and the tax impact of the Estimated Non-recurring Charge (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1). The effective tax rate decreased for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, primarily due to the lower statutory tax rate enacted under the Tax Act. 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share is as follows:
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

 
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Basic

$0.40

 

$0.68

 

$1.88

 

$1.72

Diluted

$0.39

 

$0.67

 

$1.85

 

$1.70

Earnings per diluted share decreased $0.28 for the third quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, primarily due to the Estimated Non-recurring Charge (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1), which had an impact of $0.28 per share. Earnings per diluted share increased $0.15 for the nine months ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same period in 2017 due to higher sales volume and a lower tax rate, partially offset by the Estimated Non-recurring Charge.
Fiscal Year 2018 Outlook
Excluding the Estimated Non-recurring Charge of $72, or $0.28 per diluted share (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1) we remain on track to achieve an inflection point for profitable growth in fiscal 2018. We updated our annual outlook to incorporate third quarter results. For comparability, the following table includes the current and prior outlook excluding the Estimated Non-recurring Charge:
 
Prior Outlook

Current Outlook
Net sales
$15.4 to $15.5 billion

$15.5 to $15.6 billion
Comparable sales (percent)
1.5 to 2

Approximately 2
Credit card revenues
Mid-teens growth

Mid-teens growth
EBIT (including impact of Estimated Non-recurring Charge)

$863 to $888 million
Earnings per diluted share (excluding the impact of any future share repurchases)

$3.27 to $3.37
EBIT (excluding impact of Estimated Non-recurring Charge)
$925 to $960 million

$935 to $960 million
Earnings per diluted share (excluding the impact of Estimated Non-recurring Charge and any future share repurchases)
$3.50 to $3.65

$3.55 to $3.65
Our outlook includes the following considerations:
The 53rd week in 2017 added approximately $220 to total net sales and was estimated to impact earnings per diluted share by $0.05.
Fourth quarter EBIT is expected to reflect a favorable comparison of $16 from a one-time employee investment associated with last year’s tax reform.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


Adjusted ROIC (Non-GAAP financial measure)
We believe that Adjusted ROIC is a useful financial measure for investors in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the capital we have invested in our business to generate returns. Adjusted ROIC adjusts our operating leases as if they met the criteria for capital leases or we had purchased the properties. This provides additional supplemental information that reflects the investment in our off-balance sheet operating leases, controls for differences in capital structure between us and our competitors and provides investors and credit agencies with another way to comparably evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of our capital investments over time. In addition, we incorporate Adjusted ROIC into our executive incentive measures and it is an important indicator of shareholders’ return over the long term.
We define Adjusted ROIC as our adjusted net operating profit after tax divided by our average invested capital using the trailing 12-month average. Adjusted ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, return on assets, net earnings, total assets 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. Estimated depreciation on capitalized operating leases and average estimated asset base of capitalized operating leases are not calculated in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution of our results as reported under GAAP. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted ROIC is return on assets.
For the 12 fiscal months ended November 3, 2018, our Adjusted ROIC decreased to 10.0% compared with 10.7% for the 12 fiscal months ended October 28, 2017. The following is a reconciliation of the components of Adjusted ROIC and return on assets:
 
12 Fiscal Months Ended
 
November 3, 2018


October 28, 2017

Net earnings

$467

 

$488

Add: income tax expense1
276

 
376

Add: interest expense
124

 
139

Earnings before interest and income tax expense
867

 
1,003

 
 
 
 
Add: rent expense, net
251

 
237

Less: estimated depreciation on capitalized operating leases2
(134
)
 
(126
)
Adjusted net operating profit
984

 
1,114

 
 
 
 
Less: estimated income tax expense
(365
)
 
(486
)
Adjusted net operating profit after tax

$619

 

$628

 
 
 
 
Average total assets

$8,269

 

$8,009

Less: average non-interest-bearing current liabilities3
(3,429
)
 
(3,211
)
Less: average deferred property incentives and deferred rent liability3
(625
)
 
(646
)
Add: average estimated asset base of capitalized operating leases2
1,994

 
1,718

Average invested capital

$6,209

 

$5,870

 
 
 
 
Return on assets4
5.6
%
 
6.1
%
Adjusted ROIC4
10.0
%
 
10.7
%
1 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended November 3, 2018 include a $42 unfavorable impact related to the Tax Act.
2 Capitalized operating leases is our best estimate of the asset base 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. The asset base is calculated based upon the trailing 12-month average of the monthly asset base. The asset base for each month is calculated as the trailing 12 months of rent expense multiplied by eight. The multiple of eight times rent expense is a commonly used method of estimating the asset base we would record for our capitalized operating leases. We do not expect the adoption of the new Lease standard to have a material impact on our Adjusted ROIC (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1).
3 Balances associated with our deferred rent liability have been classified as long-term liabilities as of January 28, 2017.
4 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended November 3, 2018 include the $72 impact of the Estimated Non-recurring Charge (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1), which negatively impacted return on assets by approximately 60 basis points and Adjusted ROIC by approximately 80 basis points.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We strive to maintain a level of liquidity sufficient to allow us to cover our seasonal cash needs and to maintain appropriate levels of short-term borrowings. We believe that our operating cash flows, available credit facility and potential future borrowings are sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next 12 months and beyond.
Over the long term, we manage our cash and capital structure to maximize shareholder return, maintain our financial position, manage refinancing risk and allow flexibility for strategic initiatives. We regularly assess our debt and leverage levels, capital expenditure requirements, debt service payments, dividend payouts, potential share repurchases and other future investments. We believe that as of November 3, 2018, our existing cash and cash equivalents on-hand of $1,127, available credit facility of $800 and potential future operating cash flows and borrowings will be sufficient to fund these scheduled future payments and potential long-term initiatives.
The following is a summary of our cash flows by activity:
 
Nine Months Ended
Fiscal year
November 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Net cash provided by operating activities

$642

 

$597

Net cash used in investing activities
(448
)
 
(507
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(248
)
 
(425
)
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $45 for the period ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, primarily due to increased earnings.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities decreased $59 for the period ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, primarily due to planned reductions in capital expenditures, partially offset by the acquisitions of two retail technology companies, which were classified in other investing activities, net (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1).
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities decreased $177 for the period ended November 3, 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, primarily due to increased proceeds from stock option exercises, driven by a higher stock price, and decreased share repurchase activity.
Borrowing Activity
During the first quarter of 2017, we issued $350 aggregate principal amount of 4.00% senior unsecured notes due March 2027 and $300 aggregate principal amount of 5.00% senior unsecured notes due January 2044. We recorded debt issuance costs incurred as a result of the issuance in other financing activities, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Item 1. With the proceeds of these new notes, we retired our $650 senior unsecured notes that were due January 2018.
Additionally, in the third quarter of 2018, we fully repaid $47 outstanding on our wholly owned subsidiary Puerto Rico’s unsecured borrowing facility (see Note 4: Debt and Credit Facilities in Item 1).

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP financial measure)
Free Cash Flow is one of our key liquidity measures, and when used in conjunction with GAAP measures, provides investors with a meaningful analysis of our ability to generate cash from our business. For the nine months ended November 3, 2018, we had Free Cash Flow of $247 compared with $58 for the nine months ended October 28, 2017.
Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we no longer adjust free cash flow for cash dividends paid. We believe this presentation is more reflective of our operating performance and more consistent with the way we manage our business, how our peers calculate free cash flows and prevailing industry practice. Prior period Free Cash Flow financial measures have been recast to conform with current period presentation.
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 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Net cash provided by operating activities

$642

 

$597

Less: capital expenditures
(429
)
 
(536
)
Add (Less): change in cash book overdrafts
34

 
(3
)
Free Cash Flow

$247



$58

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP financial measure)
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. As of November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, Adjusted EBITDA was $942 and $997.
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 3, 2018

 
October 28, 2017

Net earnings

$316

 

$286

Add: income tax expense
107

 
185

Add: interest expense, net
81

 
104

Earnings before interest and income taxes
504


575







Add: depreciation and amortization expenses
498


479

Less: amortization of deferred property incentives
(60
)

(57
)
Adjusted EBITDA

$942



$997


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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


Credit Capacity and Commitments
As of November 3, 2018, we had total short-term borrowing capacity available of $800. In September 2018, we renewed our existing $800 senior unsecured revolving credit facility (“revolver”), extending the expiration from April 2020 to September 2023. Our revolver contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and terms, which are substantially similar to our 2015 revolver. Under the terms of our revolver, we pay a variable rate of interest and a commitment fee based on our debt rating. The revolver is available for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We have the option to increase the revolving commitment by up to $200, to a total of $1,000, provided that we obtain written consent from the lenders. We also have two options to extend the revolving commitment by one year, provided that we obtain written consent from the lenders.
Our wholly owned subsidiary in Puerto Rico maintained a $52 unsecured borrowing facility to support our expansion into that market. Borrowings on this facility incurred interest at an annual rate based upon LIBOR plus 1.275% and also incurred a fee based on any unused commitment. During the third quarter, we fully repaid $47 outstanding on this facility, which was included in the current portion of long-term debt. In November 2018, subsequent to quarter end, this facility expired.
As of November 3, 2018, we had no issuances outstanding under our commercial paper program and no borrowings outstanding under our revolver.
Impact of Credit Ratings
Under the terms of our revolver, any borrowings we may enter into will accrue interest for Euro-Dollar Rate Loans at a floating base rate tied to LIBOR, for Canadian Dealer Offer Rate Loans at a floating rate tied to CDOR, and for Base Rate Loans at the highest of: (i) the Euro-Dollar rate plus 100 basis points, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 50 basis points and (iii) the prime rate.
The rate depends upon the type of borrowing incurred, plus in each case an applicable margin. This applicable margin varies depending upon the credit ratings assigned to our long-term unsecured debt. At the time of this report, our long-term unsecured debt ratings, outlook and resulting applicable margin were as follows:
 
Credit
Ratings
 
Outlook
Moody’s
Baa1
 
Stable
Standard & Poor’s
BBB+
 
Stable
 
Base Interest
Rate
 
Applicable
Margin

Euro-Dollar Rate Loan
LIBOR
 
1.03
%
Canadian Dealer Offer Rate Loan
CDOR
 
1.03
%
Base Rate Loan
various
 
0.03
%
Should the ratings assigned to our long-term unsecured debt improve, the applicable margin associated with any such borrowings may decrease, resulting in a lower borrowing cost under this facility. Should the ratings assigned to our long-term unsecured debt worsen, the applicable margin associated with our borrowings may increase, resulting in a higher borrowing cost under this facility.
Debt Covenants
The revolver requires that we maintain an adjusted debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (“EBITDAR”) leverage ratio of no more than four times. As of November 3, 2018, we were in compliance with this covenant.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR (Non-GAAP financial measure)
Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR is one of our key financial metrics, and we believe that our debt levels are best analyzed using this measure. Our goal is to manage debt levels to maintain an investment-grade credit rating and operate with an efficient capital structure. In evaluating our debt levels, this measure provides a reflection of our credit worthiness that could impact our credit rating and borrowing costs. We also have a debt covenant that requires an adjusted debt to EBITDAR leverage ratio of no more than four times. As of November 3, 2018, our Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR was 2.6, and as of October 28, 2017, it was 2.5.
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 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. Estimated capitalized operating lease liability is not calculated in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution of our results as reported under GAAP. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR is debt to net earnings. The following is a reconciliation of the components of Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR and debt to net earnings:
 
20181

 
20171

Debt

$2,686

 

$2,738

Add: estimated capitalized operating lease liability2
2,011

 
1,896

Adjusted Debt

$4,697

 

$4,634

 
 
 
 
Net earnings

$467

 

$488

Add: income tax expense3
276

 
376

Add: interest expense, net
111

 
135

Earnings before interest and income taxes
854

 
999

 
 
 
 
Add: depreciation and amortization expenses
686

 
644

Add: rent expense, net
251

 
237

Add: non-cash acquisition-related charges

 
10

Adjusted EBITDAR

$1,791

 

$1,890

 
 
 
 
Debt to Net Earnings4
5.8

 
5.6

Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR4
2.6

 
2.5

1 The components of Adjusted Debt are as of November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, while the components of Adjusted EBITDAR are for the 12 months ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017.
2 Based upon the estimated lease liability as of the end of the period, calculated as the trailing 12 months of rent expense multiplied by eight. The multiple of eight times rent expense is 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 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended November 3, 2018 include a $42 unfavorable impact related to the Tax Act.
4 Results for the 12 fiscal months ended November 3, 2018 include the $72 impact of the Estimated Non-recurring Charge (see Note 1: Basis of Presentation in Item 1), which negatively impacted Debt to Net Earnings by approximately 0.5 and Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR by approximately 0.1.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Continued) (Amounts in millions except per share amounts)


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of our financial statements requires that we make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in the accounting policies referred to in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2018 have the greatest potential effect on our financial statements, so we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates. Our management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.
Except as disclosed in Note 2: Revenue of Item 1, pertaining to our adoption of the new Revenue Standard, there have been no significant changes to our significant accounting policies as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2018.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We discussed our interest rate risk and our foreign currency exchange risk in Part II, “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2018. There have been no material changes to these risks since that time.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in the timely and accurate recording, processing, summarizing and reporting of material financial and non-financial information within the time periods specified within the SEC’s rules and forms. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer also concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
We are subject from time to time to various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business, including lawsuits alleging violations of state and/or federal wage and hour and other employment laws, privacy and other consumer-based claims. Some of these lawsuits include certified classes of litigants, or purport or may be determined to be class or collective actions and seek substantial damages or injunctive relief, or both, and some may remain unresolved for several years. We believe the recorded reserves in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are adequate in light of the probable and estimable liabilities. As of the date of this report, we do not believe any currently identified claim, proceeding or litigation, either alone or in the aggregate, will have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Since these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, our view of them may change in the future.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no other material changes to the risk factors we discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2018, as updated by our subsequent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on June 7, 2018.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
(c) SHARE REPURCHASES
(Dollar and share amounts in millions, except per share amounts)
The following is a summary of our third quarter share repurchases:
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased

 
Average
Price Paid
Per Share

 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs

 
Approximate Dollar Value
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs

August 2018
(August 5, 2018 to September 1, 2018)
1
0.2

 

$50.96

 
0.2

 

$1,500

September 2018
(September 2, 2018 to October 6, 2018)
0.4

 

$60.64

 
0.4

 

$1,471

October 2018
(October 7, 2018 to November 3, 2018)
0.5

 

$61.23

 
0.5

 

$1,438

Total
1.1

 

$59.58

 
1.1

 
 
1 On August 31, 2018 our February 2017 Board authorized share repurchase program expired, which had $319 of unused capacity upon program expiration.
In August 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a new program to repurchase up to $1,500 of our outstanding common stock, with no expiration date. The actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to market and economic conditions and applicable SEC rules.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference or are filed or furnished with this report as set forth in the Exhibit Index on page 29 hereof.

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NORDSTROM, INC.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
 
Method of Filing
 
 
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on August 27, 2018, Exhibit 99.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on October 2, 2018, Exhibit 10.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Furnished herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
Filed herewith electronically
 
 
 
 
 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
NORDSTROM, INC.
(Registrant)
 
 
/s/ Anne L. Bramman
Anne L. Bramman
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
Date:
December 10, 2018

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