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NORDSTROM INC - Quarter Report: 2021 October (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents         
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☑QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended October 30, 2021
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)
Washington91-0515058
(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)
206-628-2111
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, without par valueJWNNew York Stock Exchange
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 ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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☐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 ☑
Common stock outstanding as of November 26, 2021: 159,313,408 shares
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Page
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1: Basis of Presentation
Note 2: Revenue
Note 3: Debt and Credit Facilities
Note 4: Fair Value Measurements
Note 5: Commitments and Contingencies
Note 6: Shareholders’ Equity
Note 7: Stock-based Compensation
Note 8: Earnings Per Share
Note 9: Segment Reporting
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 6.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “goal,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “going forward,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance, time frames or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our anticipated financial outlook for the fiscal year ending January 29, 2022, trends in our operations and the following:
Strategic and Operational
•the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) global pandemic and civil unrest, each of which may make it necessary to close our physical stores and facilities in affected areas and may have a negative impact on our business and results, any of which may exacerbate the risks below,
•successful execution of our customer strategy to provide customers superior service, products and experiences online, through our fulfillment capabilities and in stores,
•timely and effective implementation and execution of our evolving business model, including:
◦scaling our market strategy by providing a differentiated and seamless experience, which consists of the integration of our digital and physical assets, development of new supply chain capabilities and timely delivery of products,
◦expanding the reach of Nordstrom Rack, including expanding our price range and selection and leveraging our digital and physical assets,
◦enhancing our platforms and processes to deliver core capabilities to drive customer, employee and partner experiences both digitally and in-store,
•our ability to effectively manage our merchandise strategy, including our ability to offer compelling assortments,
•our ability to effectively utilize internal and third-party data in strategic planning and decision making,
•our ability to effectively allocate and scale our marketing strategies and resources, as well as realize the expected benefits between The Nordy Club, advertising and promotional campaigns,
•our ability to respond to the evolving retail environment, including new fashion trends, environmental considerations and our customers’ changing expectations of service and experience in stores and online, and our development of new market strategies and customer offerings,
•our ability to prevent or mitigate disruptions in the global supply chain, including factory closures, transportation challenges or stoppages of certain imports, and rising freight expenses and control costs through effective inventory management, fulfillment and supply chain processes and systems,
•our ability to realize the expected benefits, anticipate and respond to potential risks and appropriately manage costs associated with our credit card revenue sharing program,
•our ability to acquire, develop and retain qualified and diverse talent by providing appropriate training, compelling work environments and competitive compensation and benefits, especially in areas with increased market compensation,
•potential goodwill impairment charges, future impairment charges, fluctuations in the fair values of reporting units or of assets in the event projected financial results are not achieved within expected time frames or our strategic direction changes,
Data, Cybersecurity and Information Technology
•successful execution of our information technology strategy, including engagement with third-party service providers,
•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, and our compliance with information security and privacy laws and regulations, as well as third-party contractual obligations in the event of such an incident,
Reputation and Relationships
•our ability to maintain our reputation and relationships with our customers, vendors and third-party partners and landlords,
•our ability to maintain relationships with and motivate our employees, including sustaining our corporate culture and employee morale amid our changing corporate work model,
•our ability to market our brand and distribute our products through a variety of third-party publisher or platform channels, as well as access mobile operating systems and website identifiers for personalized delivery of targeted advertising,
Investment and Capital
•efficient and proper allocation of our capital resources,
•our ability to properly balance our investments in technology, Supply Chain Network facilities and existing and new store locations, including the expansion of our market strategy,
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•our ability to maintain or expand our presence, including timely completion of construction associated with Supply Chain Network facilities and new, relocated and remodeled stores, as well as any potential store closures, all of which may be impacted by third parties, consumer demand and other natural or man-made disruptions, and government responses to any such disruptions,
•market fluctuations, increases in operating costs, exit costs and overall liabilities and losses associated with owning and leasing real estate,
•compliance with debt and operating covenants, availability and cost of credit, changes in our credit rating and changes in interest rates,
•the actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, dividend payments or share issuances, if any,
Economic and External
•the length and severity of epidemics or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or other catastrophic events, and the related impact on customer behavior, store and online operations and supply chain functions, as well as our future consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows,
•the impact of the seasonal nature of our business and cyclical customer spending,
•the impact of economic and market conditions in the U.S. and Canada, including inflation and the resulting changes to customer purchasing behavior, unemployment and bankruptcy rates, as well as any fiscal stimulus and the resultant impact on consumer spending and credit patterns,
•the impact of economic, environmental or political conditions in the U.S. and Canada and countries where our third-party vendors operate,
•the impact of changing traffic patterns at shopping centers and malls,
•financial insecurity or potential insolvency experienced by our vendors, suppliers, landlords, competitors or customers as a result of any economic downturn,
•weather conditions, natural disasters, climate change, national security concerns, other market and supply chain disruptions, 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, and our vendors’, compliance with applicable domestic and international laws, regulations and ethical standards, including those related to COVID-19, minimum wage, employment and tax, information security and privacy, consumer credit and environmental regulations and the outcome of any claims, litigation and regulatory investigations and resolution of such matters,
•the impact of the current regulatory environment, financial system 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.
These and other factors, including those factors we discussed in Part II, Item 1A: Risk Factors, could affect our financial results and cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking information we may provide. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this filing. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We hereby qualify our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
All references to “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” mean Nordstrom, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
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DEFINITIONS OF COMMONLY USED TERMS
TermDefinition
2019 Plan2019 Equity Incentive Plan
2020 Annual ReportAnnual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2021
Adjusted EBITDAAdjusted earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (a non-GAAP financial measure)
Adjusted EBITDARAdjusted earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent, as defined by our Revolver covenant (a non-GAAP financial measure)
Adjusted ROICAdjusted return on invested capital (a non-GAAP financial measure)
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
CARES ActCoronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act
CODMChief operating decision maker
COVID-19Novel coronavirus
Digital sales
Sales conducted through a digital platform such as our websites or mobile apps. Digital sales may be self-guided by the customer, as in a traditional online order, or facilitated by a salesperson using a virtual styling or selling tool, such as Nordstrom Trunk Club or Style Board. Digital sales may be delivered to the customer or picked up in our Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom Rack stores or Nordstrom Local service hubs. Digital sales also include a reserve for estimated returns.
EBITEarnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
EPSEarnings (loss) per share
ESPPEmployee Stock Purchase Plan
Exchange ActSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
Third quarter of 202113 fiscal weeks ending October 30, 2021
Third quarter of 202013 fiscal weeks ending October 31, 2020
Third quarter of 201913 fiscal weeks ending November 2, 2019
Fiscal year 202152 fiscal weeks ending January 29, 2022
Fiscal year 202052 fiscal weeks ending January 30, 2021
GAAPU.S. generally accepted accounting principles
Gross profitNet sales less cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs
Inventory turnover rateTrailing 4-quarter cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs divided by the trailing 4-quarter average inventory
Leverage RatioThe sum of the preceding twelve months of rent expense under the previous lease guidance multiplied by six and funded debt divided by the preceding twelve months of Adjusted EBITDAR as defined by our Revolver covenant. See Liquidity and Capital Resources in Item 2 for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measure.
MD&AManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
NordstromNordstrom.com, TrunkClub.com, Nordstrom-branded U.S. stores, Canada, which includes Nordstrom.ca, Nordstrom Canadian stores and Nordstrom Rack Canadian stores, and Nordstrom Local
Nordstrom LocalNordstrom Local service hubs, which offer Nordstrom order pickups, returns, alterations and other services
Nordstrom NYCOur New York City Nordstrom flagship store, including the Men’s location
Nordstrom RackNordstromRack.com, Nordstrom Rack-branded U.S. stores, Last Chance clearance stores and, prior to the first quarter of 2021, HauteLook.com
The Nordy ClubOur customer loyalty program
NYSENew York Stock Exchange
Operating Lease CostFixed rent expense, including fixed common area maintenance expense, net of developer reimbursement amortization
PCAOBPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
Property incentivesDeveloper and vendor reimbursements
PSUPerformance share unit
RevolverSenior revolving credit facility
ROU assetOperating lease right-of-use asset
RSURestricted stock unit
SECSecurities and Exchange Commission
SERPUnfunded defined benefit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
Secured Notes8.750% senior secured notes due May 2025
SG&ASelling, general and administrative
Supply Chain NetworkFulfillment centers that primarily process and ship orders to our customers, distribution centers that primarily process and ship merchandise to our stores and other facilities and omni-channel centers that both fulfill customer orders and ship merchandise to our stores
TDToronto-Dominion Bank, N.A.
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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 EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net sales$3,534 $3,002 $10,020 $6,806 
Credit card revenues, net103 87 283 264 
Total revenues3,637 3,089 10,303 7,070 
Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs
(2,294)(2,019)(6,646)(5,235)
Selling, general and administrative expenses(1,216)(964)(3,464)(2,912)
Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes127 106 193 (1,077)
Interest expense, net(36)(48)(213)(133)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes91 58 (20)(1,210)
Income tax (expense) benefit(27)(5)(2)487 
Net earnings (loss)$64 $53 ($22)($723)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic$0.40 $0.34 ($0.14)($4.60)
Diluted$0.39 $0.34 ($0.14)($4.60)
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic159.2 157.5 158.9 157.0 
Diluted162.5 158.2 158.9 157.0 
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 EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net earnings (loss)$64 $53 ($22)($723)
Foreign currency translation adjustment1 1 7 (12)
Post retirement plan adjustments, net of tax2 2 5 5 
Comprehensive net earnings (loss)$67 $56 ($10)($730)
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)

October 30, 2021January 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$267 $681 $889 
Accounts receivable, net273 245 256 
Merchandise inventories2,863 1,863 1,860 
Prepaid expenses and other374 853 902 
Total current assets3,777 3,642 3,907 
Land, property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $7,617, $7,159 and $6,987)
3,558 3,732 3,770 
Operating lease right-of-use assets1,527 1,581 1,611 
Goodwill249 249 249 
Other assets423 334 274 
Total assets$9,534 $9,538 $9,811 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Borrowings under revolving line of credit$200 $— $200 
Accounts payable2,310 1,960 2,053 
Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits276 352 254 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities240 260 269 
Other current liabilities1,063 1,048 1,119 
Current portion of long-term debt— 500 499 
Total current liabilities4,089 4,120 4,394 
Long-term debt, net2,851 2,769 2,767 
Non-current operating lease liabilities1,602 1,687 1,726 
Other liabilities633 657 672 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value: 1,000 shares authorized; 159.3, 157.8 and 157.7 shares issued and outstanding
3,269 3,205 3,190 
Accumulated deficit(2,852)(2,830)(2,863)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(58)(70)(75)
Total shareholders’ equity359 305 252 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$9,534 $9,538 $9,811 
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)
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Common stock
Balance, beginning of period$3,245 $3,168 $3,205 $3,129 
Issuance of common stock under stock compensation plans
7 5 14 16 
Stock-based compensation17 17 50 45 
Balance, end of period$3,269 $3,190 $3,269 $3,190 
Accumulated deficit
Balance, beginning of period($2,916)($2,916)($2,830)($2,082)
Net earnings (loss)64 53 (22)(723)
Dividends— — — (58)
Balance, end of period($2,852)($2,863)($2,852)($2,863)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Balance, beginning of period($61)($78)($70)($68)
Other comprehensive income (loss) 3 3 12 (7)
Balance, end of period($58)($75)($58)($75)
Total shareholders’ equity$359 $252 $359 $252 
Dividends per share$— $— $— $0.37 
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
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Operating Activities
Net loss($22)($723)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expenses477 505 
Asset impairment— 137 
Right-of-use asset amortization130 126 
Deferred income taxes, net25 39 
Stock-based compensation expense64 50 
Other, net81 13 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable(27)(57)
Merchandise inventories(687)175 
Prepaid expenses and other assets408 (641)
Accounts payable90 409 
Accrued salaries, wages and related benefits(76)(254)
Other current liabilities15 (72)
Lease liabilities(218)(163)
Other liabilities17 20 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities277 (436)
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures(361)(311)
Other, net(17)20 
Net cash used in investing activities(378)(291)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from revolving line of credit400 800 
Payments on revolving line of credit(200)(600)
Proceeds from long-term borrowings675 600 
Principal payments on long-term borrowings(1,100)— 
(Decrease) increase in cash book overdrafts(4)39 
Cash dividends paid— (58)
Proceeds from issuances under stock compensation plans14 16 
Tax withholding on share-based awards(15)(8)
Make-whole premium payment and other, net(85)(16)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(315)773 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents2 (10)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(414)36 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period681 853 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$267 $889 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash (received) paid during the period for:
Income taxes, net($486)$9 
Interest, net of capitalized interest136 107 
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. 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 2020 Annual Report 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 October 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020 are unaudited. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 30, 2021 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2020 Annual Report. The interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related footnote disclosures contained in our 2020 Annual Report.
Seasonality
Our business, like that of other retailers, is subject to seasonal fluctuations and cyclical trends in consumer spending. Our sales are typically higher in our second quarter, which usually includes our Anniversary Sale, and in the fourth quarter, due to the holidays. In 2021, approximately one week of the Anniversary Sale shifted into the third quarter. As a result of COVID-19 in 2020, the Anniversary Sale was moved to August, which fell entirely in our third quarter.
Results for any one quarter may not be indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year. We plan our merchandise receipts to coincide with expected sales trends and other supply chain factors. Historically, our merchandise purchases and receipts increase prior to the Anniversary Sale and in the fall as we prepare for the holiday shopping season from late November through December. In 2021, we accelerated holiday merchandise purchases into the third quarter in response to global supply chain and labor disruptions. Consistent with our seasonal fluctuations, our working capital requirements have historically increased during the months leading up to the Anniversary Sale and the holidays as we purchase inventory in anticipation of increased sales.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that we make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities during the reporting period. Uncertainties regarding such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of financial statements and actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions. Our most significant accounting judgments and estimates include revenue recognition, inventory valuation, long-lived asset recoverability and income taxes, all of which involve assumptions about future events. We may be unable to accurately predict the ongoing impact of COVID-19 going forward and as a result our estimates may change in the near term.
Investments
In July 2021, we acquired a minority interest in the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands through a strategic partnership with ASOS.com Ltd. We invest in certain debt and equity securities of private companies that align with our business and omni-channel strategies, which are recorded in other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and investing other, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
We hold a limited partnership interest in a corporate office building that is classified as held for sale, as we plan to sell our interest within one year. The carrying value of the interest is not material as of October 30, 2021.
Land, Property and Equipment
Our net non-cash investing activities primarily related to technology expenditures and resulted in a decrease to accounts payable of $35 in 2021.
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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)
Long-Lived Assets
In 2020, as we optimized our mix of physical and digital assets to align with longer-term customer trends, we closed 16 Nordstrom stores. In conjunction with these closures, we incurred non-cash impairment charges on long-lived tangible and ROU assets to adjust the carrying values to their estimated fair value. The following table provides details related to asset impairment charges as a result of COVID-19:
October 31, 2020
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
Long-lived asset impairment1
$— $96 
ROU asset impairment1
— 41 
Total asset impairment$— $137 
1 As of October 31, 2020, the carrying value of the applicable long-lived and ROU assets after impairment was $13 and $3.
These charges are primarily included in our Retail segment SG&A expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings.
Income Taxes
We recorded $43 and $544 in current taxes receivable as of October 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020, which is classified in prepaid expenses and other on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, we recorded $74 and $2 in noncurrent taxes receivable as of October 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020, which is classified in other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the second quarter of 2021, we were refunded $492 of the current income taxes receivable associated with the loss carryback provision of the CARES Act, which is classified in prepaid expenses and other assets on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Severance
In 2020, we recorded $88 of restructuring costs in connection with our regional and corporate reorganization, including $25 recorded in cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs and $63 in SG&A on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings.
Leases
We incurred operating lease liabilities arising from lease agreements of $108 for the nine months ended October 30, 2021 and $55 for the nine months ended October 31, 2020.
Reclassification
We reclassified our fiscal 2020 Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows to conform with current period presentation. To adjust our net loss to reconcile to operating activity cash flows, we present depreciation and amortization separate from other, net, which includes the “make-whole” premium in the first quarter of 2021 (see Note 3: Debt and Credit Facilities).
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2020, the SEC adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10890, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Selected Financial Data, and Supplementary Financial Information, which eliminates the requirement for selected financial data, streamlines certain disclosures in MD&A and eliminates duplicative disclosures with the intention of simplifying reporting compliance. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we early adopted the amendments to provision 301, Selected Financial Data and provision 302, Supplementary Financial Information. In the first quarter of 2021, we adopted all remaining provisions of this final rule. The adoption of this final rule did 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
Contract Liabilities
Contract liabilities represent our obligation to transfer goods or services to customers and include deferred revenue for The Nordy Club (including points and Nordstrom Notes) and gift cards. Our contract liabilities are classified as current on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and are as follows:
Contract Liabilities
Balance as of February 1, 2020$576 
Balance as of May 2, 2020489 
Balance as of August 1, 2020498 
Balance as of October 31, 2020478 
Balance as of January 30, 2021478 
Balance as of May 1, 2021436 
Balance as of July 31, 2021433 
Balance as of October 30, 2021417 
Revenues recognized from our beginning contract liability balance were $106 and $212 for the quarter and nine months ended October 30, 2021 and $98 and $223 for the quarter and nine months ended October 31, 2020.
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table summarizes our disaggregated net sales:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Nordstrom $2,343 $2,120 $6,614 $4,543 
Nordstrom Rack1,191 882 3,406 2,263 
Total net sales$3,534 $3,002 $10,020 $6,806 
Digital sales as a % of total net sales40 %54 %42 %56 %
The following table summarizes the percent of net sales by merchandise category:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Women’s Apparel29 %31 %30 %30 %
Shoes26 %26 %25 %26 %
Men’s Apparel14 %10 %14 %11 %
Women’s Accessories12 %13 %13 %13 %
Beauty12 %13 %11 %13 %
Kids’ Apparel4 %4 %4 %4 %
Other3 %3 %3 %3 %
Total net sales100 %100 %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: DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
Debt
A summary of our long-term debt is as follows:
October 30, 2021January 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount:
Senior notes, 4.00%, due October 2021
$— $500 $500 
Senior notes, 2.30%, due April 2024
250 — — 
Secured Notes, 8.75%, due May 2025
— 600 600 
Senior notes, 4.00%, due March 2027
349 349 349 
Senior debentures, 6.95%, due March 2028
300 300 300 
Senior notes, 4.375%, due April 2030
500 500 499 
Senior notes, 4.25%, due August 2031
425 — — 
Senior notes, 7.00%, due January 2038
147 147 147 
Senior notes, 5.00%, due January 2044
902 900 899 
Deferred bond issue costs(22)(27)(28)
Total long-term debt2,851 3,269 3,266 
Less: current portion— (500)(499)
Total due beyond one year$2,851 $2,769 $2,767 
During the first quarter of 2021, we issued $250 aggregate principal amount of 2.30% senior notes due April 2024 and $425 aggregate principal amount of 4.25% senior notes due August 2031. These notes are unsecured and can be redeemed at any time in whole or in part. The April 2024 notes can be redeemed at par starting in April 2022. With the net proceeds of these new notes, together with cash on hand, we retired our Secured Notes. We recorded $88 related to the redemption in interest expense, net, which primarily consisted of a one-time payment of $78 for a “make-whole” premium, and the write-off of unamortized balances associated with the debt discount and issuance costs. The “make-whole” premium payment was not included in cash paid during the period for interest, net of capitalized interest on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. As a result of this redemption, our outstanding long-term debt is unsecured and all real estate is unencumbered.
During the second quarter of 2021, we retired our 4.00% senior notes that were due October 2021 using cash on hand.
Credit Facilities
During the first quarter of 2021, we amended our Revolver. Under the Revolver, we are in a “Collateral Period” if our Leverage Ratio is greater than four or our unsecured debt is rated below BBB- with a stable outlook at Standard & Poor’s or Baa3 with a stable outlook at Moody’s. In the Collateral Period, any outstanding borrowings under our Revolver will be secured by substantially all our personal property and we will be subject to asset coverage and minimum liquidity covenants, as well as a fixed charge coverage covenant. If our Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to four and our unsecured debt is rated at or above BBB- with a stable outlook at Standard & Poor’s and Baa3 with a stable outlook at Moody’s, any borrowings under our Revolver will be unsecured, we will not be subject to the above covenants and the restrictions on dividend payments and share repurchases will be removed. As of October 30, 2021, we were in a Collateral Period as we did not meet or exceed our credit rating threshold. We were in compliance with all our Revolver covenants.
Under our Revolver amendment, we created flexibility for dividends and share repurchases during the Collateral Period, provided no default or event of default exists as a result of such payments, the pro-forma Leverage Ratio as of the most recent fiscal quarter is less than 3.75, pro-forma liquidity at the date of such payment is at least $600, and the amount of such payments do not exceed the amount of the corresponding fiscal quarter of 2019. Additionally, the “make-whole” premium and unamortized deferred bond issuance costs related to the redemption of the Secured Notes is excluded from the Revolver amendment’s definition of interest expense. As of October 30, 2021, our Leverage Ratio was greater than 3.75, thus we did not meet the requirements under our Revolver amendment to pay dividends or repurchase shares.
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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)
The Revolver expires in September 2023 and is classified in total current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In 2021, we borrowed $200 under our Revolver in the first quarter, which was fully repaid in the second quarter, and borrowed an additional $200 in the third quarter. As of October 30, 2021, we had $200 in borrowings outstanding under our Revolver. In November 2021, subsequent to quarter end, we completely repaid the outstanding balance on our Revolver.
The Revolver contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and terms, including paying a variable rate of interest and a commitment fee based on our debt rating, and 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 Revolver by up to $200, to a total of $1,000, and two options to extend the Revolver by one year.
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 of reducing available liquidity under the Revolver by an amount equal to the principal amount of commercial paper outstanding. In addition, borrowings under our Revolver have the effect of reducing the available capacity of our commercial paper program by an amount equal to the amount outstanding. As of October 30, 2021, we had no issuances outstanding under our commercial paper program.
NOTE 4: 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 Measured at Carrying Value
Financial instruments measured at carrying value on a recurring basis include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and our Revolver, which approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
Long-term debt is recorded at carrying value. If long-term debt was measured at fair value, we would use quoted market prices of the same or similar issues, which 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:
October 30, 2021January 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Carrying value of long-term debt$2,851 $3,269 $3,266 
Fair value of long-term debt2,992 3,430 2,865 
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, long-lived tangible and ROU 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 October 30, 2021. For more information regarding long-lived tangible and ROU asset impairment charges for the nine months ended October 31, 2020, see Note 1: Basis of Presentation.
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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 5: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Our NYC flagship store opened in October 2019 and the related building and equipment assets were placed into service at the end of the third quarter of 2019. While our store has opened, construction continues in the residential condominium units above the store. As of October 30, 2021, we have a fee interest in the retail condominium unit. In the third quarter of 2021, we paid the majority of our final installment payment based on the developer meeting final pre-established construction and development milestones.
NOTE 6: SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
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. On March 23, 2020, in response to uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, we announced the suspension of our quarterly dividend payments beginning in the second quarter of 2020 and the immediate suspension of our share repurchase program. We remain committed to these programs over the long-term and intend to resume dividend payments and share repurchases when appropriate. We had $707 remaining in share repurchase capacity as of October 30, 2021. The actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors, contractual commitments, market and economic conditions and applicable SEC rules.
Our Revolver contains negative covenants with respect to the payment of dividends and share repurchases. Under our Revolver amendment, we created flexibility for dividends and share repurchases, provided certain requirements are met (see Note 3: Debt and Credit Facilities).
NOTE 7: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes our stock-based compensation expense:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
RSUs$12 $13 $41 $42 
Stock options5 4 19 8 
Other1
1 — 4 — 
Total stock-based compensation expense, before income tax benefit
18 17 64 50 
Income tax benefit(5)(6)(17)(19)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income tax benefit
$13 $11 $47 $31 
1 Other stock-based compensation expense includes PSUs, ESPP and nonemployee director stock awards.
The following table summarizes our grant allocations:
Nine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
GrantedWeighted-average grant-date fair value per unitGrantedWeighted-average grant-date fair value per unit
RSUs1.7 $32 3.5 $20 
Stock options1.2 $13 3.9 $7 
PSUs— — 0.4 $24 
Under our deferred and stock-based compensation plan arrangements, we issued 0.4 and 1.6 shares of common stock during the quarter and nine months ended October 30, 2021 and 0.5 and 2.1 shares during the quarter and nine months ended October 31, 2020.
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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: EARNINGS PER SHARE
The computation of EPS is as follows:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net earnings (loss)$64 $53 ($22)($723)
Basic shares159.2 157.5 158.9 157.0 
Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents3.3 0.7 — — 
Diluted shares162.5 158.2 158.9 157.0 
Earnings (loss) per basic share$0.40 $0.34 ($0.14)($4.60)
Earnings (loss) per diluted share$0.39 $0.34 ($0.14)($4.60)
Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents7.5 14.4 11.6 14.2 
NOTE 9: SEGMENT REPORTING
The following table sets forth information for our reportable segment:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Retail segment EBIT$197 $121 $335 ($984)
Corporate/Other EBIT(70)(15)(142)(93)
Interest expense, net(36)(48)(213)(133)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes$91 $58 ($20)($1,210)
For information about disaggregated revenues, see Note 2: Revenue.
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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)
OVERVIEW
In the third quarter, we made continued progress toward our strategic and financial goals, driven by strong digital growth, the integrated capabilities enabled by our market strategy and increased net sales in our Nordstrom banner stores.
Net earnings for the third quarter were $64, or $0.39 per diluted share. Third quarter net sales increased 18% from the same period in 2020 and decreased 1% from the same period in 2019. The timing of this year’s Anniversary Sale, with approximately one week falling into the third quarter of 2021, had a positive impact of approximately 2 percentage points on net sales compared with fiscal 2019.
We have long benefited from a commitment to customer service, interconnected digital and physical assets and innovative brand partnerships. However, we need to move faster and more aggressively to better capitalize on those strengths. We’ve taken a comprehensive look at opportunities to improve our business, engaging external consultants with function-specific expertise across three key areas: improving Nordstrom Rack performance, increasing profitability and optimizing our supply chain and inventory flow.
Nordstrom Rack — We are optimizing our inventory levels by diversifying our supplier base, and increasing our opportunistic use of pack and hold inventory, allowing us to buy larger quantities of relevant items when available, then hold a portion of it to deploy in periods with high demand, tight supply or system constraints. We are also rebalancing our assortment and expanding our selection in top brands. To strengthen brand awareness and drive traffic, we launched a new “More Reasons to Rack” marketing campaign. Through these efforts, we expect to grow market share and improve profitability at Nordstrom Rack and anticipate improvement in the fourth quarter, with more significant improvement to follow in the first half of fiscal 2022.
Profitability — We are committed to delivering significant improvement in our merchandise and EBIT margins. We have meaningful opportunities in promotion and markdown optimization, data-driven category management and expanding our private label brands, which are more profitable than our third-party brand product. Within SG&A, we rebased our overhead cost structure in 2020 and we remain committed to sustaining a substantial portion of that reduction. While we have seen significant macro-related pressure in fulfillment and labor costs, we are taking action to mitigate our overall impact from those pressures.
Supply Chain and Inventory Flow Optimization — In response to macro-related supply chain challenges, we are implementing actions to improve our network and processes. We have identified various ways to diversify our carrier capacity, gain end-to-end visibility of inventory as it moves through our supply chain, increase velocity and throughput in our distribution and fulfillment centers and better position our inventory to get it closer to the customer. We expect that these initiatives will enhance the customer experience and drive top-line growth at both Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack by increasing delivery speed and expanding the selection for in-store shopping as well as same day and next day pickup, while also driving efficiencies in labor and fulfillment. We expect to see benefits from these actions beginning in the first half of fiscal 2022.
As we shared in our 2021 investor event, winning in our most important markets and increasing our digital velocity are key strategic priorities for us, and we are making progress in these areas.
Market Strategy — In terms of winning in our top markets, the convenience and connection delivered by our market strategy continues to be a powerful enabler for the business. We are leveraging a strong store fleet that positions us physically closer to the customer and drives value across the business. As a result, we are able to better serve customers and provide greater access to product by linking our assets at the market level. This quarter, one-third of next day Nordstrom.com orders were picked up at Nordstrom Rack stores, showing continued evidence of the power of integrating capabilities across our two brands and across our digital and physical platforms. In our top 20 markets where our market strategy continues to gain traction, order pickup accounted for 12% of digital demand, versus 4% in other markets. Since we launched order pickup at Nordstrom Rack last year, we have seen 70% growth in the program.
Digital Velocity — We also continue to increase our digital velocity across Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. This quarter, digital sales decreased 12% over last year, reflecting the impact of the Anniversary Sale in the prior year, and increased 20% over the third quarter of 2019. The timing of this year’s Anniversary Sale had a positive impact on our digital sales of approximately 4 percentage points compared with the third quarter of 2019. Digital sales represented 40% of our business in the third quarter, and we continued to drive growth over 2019 while store traffic improved sequentially.
Our third quarter results show some pockets of strength as well as several areas for improvement. We made progress toward our goals, with strong digital growth and improving trends in our Nordstrom banner stores, and remain on track to deliver our fiscal 2021 targets. We have pulled inventory receipts forward in anticipation of holiday demand and expect elevated inventory levels through the end of the fiscal year. We also have line of sight to achieving the commitments we set forth at our investor event: delivering EBIT margins greater than 6% and annual operating cash flow greater than $1 billion. We recognize that we need to deliver more and we are acting with a sense of urgency to deliver greater profitability and cash flow as we grow market share, optimize across platforms and drive scale. We are confident in our path forward and excited about the future of our business.
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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)
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
In our ongoing effort to enhance the customer experience, we are focused on providing a seamless retail experience across our Company. We invested early in integrating our operations, merchandising and technology across our stores and online, and in both Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack banners. By connecting our digital and physical assets across Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack, we are able to better serve customers when, where and how they want to shop. We have one Retail reportable segment and analyze our results on a total company basis, using customer, market share, operational and net sales metrics.
Due to the extraordinary impact of COVID-19 on our results in fiscal year 2020, we analyzed the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 net sales through EBIT against the same fiscal quarters in 2020 and 2019 to provide useful supplemental comparability.
Our Anniversary Sale, historically the largest event of the year, typically falls in the second quarter. In 2021, approximately one week of the Anniversary Sale shifted into the third quarter. As a result of COVID-19 in 2020, the Anniversary Sale was moved to August, which fell entirely in our third quarter. In 2019, the Anniversary Sale was entirely in the second quarter.
Net Sales
The following table summarizes net sales:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net sales:
Nordstrom$2,343 $2,120 $6,614 $4,543 
Nordstrom Rack1,191 882 3,406 2,263 
Total net sales$3,534 $3,002 $10,020 $6,806 
Net sales increase (decrease):
Nordstrom10.5 %(6.6 %)45.6 %(34.4 %)
Nordstrom Rack35.2 %(32.0 %)50.6 %(39.9 %)
Total Company17.7 %(15.8 %)47.2 %(36.4 %)
Digital sales as a % of total net sales40 %54 %42 %56 %
Digital sales (decrease) increase(12 %)37 %10 %13 %
Net Sales (2021 vs. 2020)
Total Company net sales increased for the third quarter and nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020. Our stores were temporarily closed for approximately three of the nine months ended October 31, 2020 as a result of COVID-19. During the nine months ended October 30, 2021, we opened one and closed three Nordstrom Rack stores. The top-performing merchandise categories were Men’s Apparel and Active for the third quarter of 2021 and Men’s Apparel, Active and Accessories for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020.
Digital sales decreased for the third quarter and increased for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020. Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack net sales increased for the third quarter and nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020.
Net Sales (2021 vs. 2019)
Total Company net sales decreased 0.9% for the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2019. The timing shift of the Anniversary Sale had a positive impact on net sales of approximately 2 percentage points compared with the third quarter of 2019. Home, Active and Designer were the top-performing merchandise categories in the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2019.
Digital sales increased 20%, Nordstrom net sales increased 3.2% and Nordstrom Rack net sales decreased 8.0% for the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2019.
See Note 2: Revenue in Item 1 for information about disaggregated revenues.
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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)
Credit Card Revenues, Net
Credit card revenues, net include our portion of the ongoing credit card revenue, net of credit losses, pursuant to our program agreement with TD. TD is the exclusive issuer of our consumer credit cards and we perform the account servicing functions.
Credit Card Revenues, Net (2021 vs. 2020)
Credit card revenues, net increased $16 and $19 for the third quarter and nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020, primarily as a result of higher interchange fees due to increased spend on credit cards, lower losses from bad debt and, for the third quarter, higher late fee revenue.
Credit Card Revenues, Net (2021 vs. 2019)
Credit card revenues, net decreased $3 for the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2019, primarily as a result of lower finance charges and late fee revenues due to lower outstanding balances.
Gross Profit
The following table summarizes gross profit:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020November 2, 2019October 30, 2021October 31, 2020November 2, 2019
Gross profit$1,240$983$1,222$3,374$1,571$3,645
Gross profit as a % of net sales35.1%32.8%34.3%33.7%23.1%34.1%
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020November 2, 2019
Inventory turnover rate4.204.384.47
Gross Profit (2021 vs. 2020)
Gross profit increased $257 and 2 percentage points as a rate of net sales for the third quarter of 2021, and $1,803 and 11 percentage points as a rate of net sales for the nine months ended October 30, 2021 compared with the same periods in 2020, primarily due to fewer markdowns and leverage from higher net sales.
Ending inventory as of October 30, 2021 increased 54% versus an 18% increase in sales for the third quarter of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020. The change in inventory levels compared with 2020 was due to our actions to pull forward receipts into the third quarter of 2021 to support early holiday sales and mitigate continuing supply chain backlogs, as well as decreased inventory levels in 2020 that aligned with lower sales from the impacts of COVID-19. Higher inventory levels led to a decrease in inventory turnover rate as of October 30, 2021 compared with October 31, 2020.
Gross Profit (2021 vs. 2019)
Gross profit increased $18 for the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2019, due to lower buying and occupancy costs. Gross profit increased 1 percentage point as a rate of net sales for the same period, due to increased leverage on lower buying and occupancy costs as well as higher merchandise margins.
Ending inventory increased 13% versus a 1% decrease in sales for the third quarter of 2021 compared with the same period in 2019. The change in inventory levels compared with 2019 was due to our actions to pull forward receipts to support early holiday sales and mitigate continuing supply chain backlogs.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 
SG&A is summarized in the following table:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020November 2, 2019October 30, 2021October 31, 2020November 2, 2019
SG&A expenses$1,216$964$1,135$3,464$2,912$3,453
SG&A expenses as a % of net sales34.4%32.1%31.8%34.6%42.8%32.3%
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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)
SG&A (2021 vs. 2020)
SG&A increased $252 during the third quarter of 2021, and $552 for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020, primarily due to variable labor and fulfillment costs on higher sales volume, partially offset for the nine months ended October 30, 2021 by the impact of COVID-19 related charges that occurred in the first half of 2020. SG&A rate increased 2 percentage points during the third quarter of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020, as a result of labor cost pressure, partially offset by leverage on higher sales. SG&A rate decreased 8 percentage points for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, as a result of leverage on higher sales and COVID-19 related charges that occurred in the first half of 2020.
SG&A (2021 vs. 2019)
SG&A increased $81 and 3 percentage points as a rate of net sales during the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2019, primarily due to fulfillment and labor cost pressures, partially offset by the continued benefits from resetting the cost structure in 2020.
Earnings (Loss) Before Interest and Income Taxes 
EBIT is summarized in the following table:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020November 2, 2019October 30, 2021October 31, 2020November 2, 2019
EBIT$127$106$193$193($1,077)$485
EBIT as a % of net sales3.6%3.5%5.4%1.9%(15.8%)4.5%
EBIT (2021 vs. 2020)
EBIT improved $21 for the third quarter of 2021 which was flat as a rate of net sales, compared with the same period in 2020, primarily due to higher sales volume and improved merchandise margins, partially offset by labor cost pressure. EBIT improved $1,270 and 18 percentage points as a rate of net sales for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, primarily due to higher sales volume, gross margin improvement and the 2020 impacts of COVID-19.
EBIT (2021 vs. 2019)
For the third quarter of 2021, EBIT decreased $66 and 2 percentage points as a rate of net sales, compared with the same period in 2019, primarily due to fulfillment and labor cost pressures, partially offset by the continued benefits from resetting the cost structure in 2020.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net was $36 for the third quarter of 2021, compared with $48 for the same period in 2020, and $213 for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with $133 for the same period in 2020. The decrease for the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to the redemptions of the Secured Notes during the first quarter of 2021 and the 4.0% unsecured notes during the second quarter of 2021. The increase for the nine months ended October 30, 2021 was primarily due to debt refinance charges of $88 related to the redemption of the Secured Notes in the first quarter of 2021.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense is summarized in the following table:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Income tax expense (benefit)$27 $5 $2 ($487)
Effective tax rate29.9 %7.9 %(7.6 %)40.3 %
The effective tax rate increased in the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, primarily due to additional tax benefits recorded in 2020 associated with losses eligible for carryback under the CARES Act. The effective tax rate decreased for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, primarily due to the CARES Act that allowed us to carry back the 2020 loss at the higher tax rate applicable in previous years. Income tax expense for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, when compared with a loss before income taxes, resulted in a negative rate.
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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)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
EPS is as follows:
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Basic$0.40 $0.34 ($0.14)($4.60)
Diluted$0.39 $0.34 ($0.14)($4.60)
Earnings (loss) per diluted share increased $0.05 for the third quarter of 2021 and $4.46 for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same periods in 2020, during which stores were temporarily closed for approximately three of the nine months ended October 31, 2020. These increases were primarily due to higher sales and improved merchandise margins, partially offset for the nine months ended October 30, 2021 by $0.41 per diluted share for an interest expense charge related to the redemption of the Secured Notes in the first quarter of 2021. In 2020, we incurred COVID-19 related charges, which reduced net earnings for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 by $1.06 per diluted share.
Fiscal Year 2021 Outlook
We have reaffirmed the following financial expectations for fiscal 2021:
•Revenue, including retail sales and credit card revenues, is expected to grow more than 35 percent versus fiscal 2020
•EBIT margin is expected to be approximately 3.0 to 3.5 percent of sales
•Income tax rate is expected to be approximately 27 percent
•Leverage ratio is expected to be approximately 3x by year-end
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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)
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 over time. In addition, we have incorporated it in our executive incentive measures and we believe it is an important indicator of shareholders’ return over the long term.
Adjusted ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, return on assets, net earnings, total assets or other GAAP financial measures. Our method of calculating non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted ROIC is return on assets. The following is a reconciliation of return on assets to Adjusted ROIC:
Four Quarters Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net earnings (loss)$11 ($530)
Less: income tax benefit(49)(417)
Add: interest expense262 176 
Earnings (loss) before interest and income tax expense224 (771)
Add: operating lease interest1
89 97 
Adjusted net operating income (loss)313 (674)
(Less) Add: estimated income tax (benefit) expense(406)297 
Adjusted net operating loss after tax($93)($377)
Average total assets$9,489 $9,825 
Less: average deferred property incentives in excess of ROU assets2
(243)(287)
Less: average non-interest bearing current liabilities(3,423)(3,215)
Average invested capital$5,823 $6,323 
Return on assets3
0.1 %(5.4 %)
Adjusted ROIC3
(1.6 %)(6.0 %)
1 We add back the operating lease interest to reflect how we manage our business. Operating lease interest is a component of operating lease cost recorded in occupancy costs.
2 For leases with property incentives that exceed the ROU assets, we reclassify the amount from assets to other current liabilities and other liabilities and reduce average total assets, as this better reflects how we manage our business.
3 COVID-19 related charges for the four quarters ended October 31, 2020 negatively impacted return on assets by approximately 170 basis points and Adjusted ROIC by approximately 270 basis points.
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. Our ongoing working capital requirements are generally funded primarily through cash flows generated from operations. In addition, we have access to the commercial paper market and can draw on our revolving credit facilities for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We ended the third quarter of 2021 with $267 in cash and cash equivalents and $600 of additional liquidity available on our Revolver. We believe that our operating cash flows 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.
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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)
The following is a summary of our cash flows by activity:
Nine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities$277 ($436)
Net cash used in investing activities(378)(291)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(315)773 
Operating Activities
Net cash from operating activities increased $713 for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, primarily due to an improvement in net earnings and receipt of the income tax refund related to the loss carryback provision of the CARES Act, partially offset by an increase in inventory purchased.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities increased $87 for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, primarily due to the payment of the majority of our final installment related to Nordstrom NYC and our investment in ASOS.com Ltd.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures, net are summarized as follows:
Nine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Capital expenditures$361 $311 
Less: deferred property incentives1
(10)(32)
Capital expenditures, net$351 $279 
Capital expenditures as a % of net sales3.6 %4.6 %
1 Deferred property incentives are included in our cash provided by operations in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Item 1. We operationally view the property incentives we receive from our developers and vendors as an offset to our capital expenditures.
Financing Activities
Net cash from financing activities decreased $1,088 for the nine months ended October 30, 2021, compared with the same period in 2020, primarily due to the retirement of the Secured Notes and 4.0% senior unsecured notes that were due October 2021 (see Note 3: Debt and Credit Facilities in Item 1).
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, we believe it provides investors with a meaningful analysis of our ability to generate cash from our business.
Free Cash Flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating cash flows or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating 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 (used in) operating activities. The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to Free Cash Flow:
Nine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities$277 ($436)
Less: capital expenditures(361)(311)
(Less) Add: change in cash book overdrafts(4)39 
Free Cash Flow($88)($708)
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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)
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP financial measure)
Adjusted EBITDA is one of our key financial metrics to reflect our view of cash flow from net earnings. Adjusted EBITDA excludes significant items which are non-operating in nature in order to evaluate our core operating performance against prior periods. The financial measure calculated under GAAP which is most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net earnings.
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for net earnings, overall change in cash or liquidity of the business as a whole. Our method of calculating a non-GAAP financial measure 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 loss to Adjusted EBITDA:
Nine Months Ended
October 30, 2021October 31, 2020
Net loss($22)($723)
Add (Less): income tax expense (benefit)2 (487)
Add: interest expense, net213 133 
Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes193 (1,077)
Add: depreciation and amortization expenses477 505 
Less: amortization of developer reimbursements(59)(65)
Add: asset impairments— 137 
Adjusted EBITDA$611 ($500)
Credit Capacity and Commitments
In 2021, we borrowed $200 under our Revolver in the first quarter, which was fully repaid in the second quarter, and borrowed an additional $200 in the third quarter. As of October 30, 2021, we had $200 in borrowings outstanding under our Revolver. In November 2021, subsequent to quarter end, we completely repaid the outstanding balance on our Revolver.
The Revolver contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and terms, including paying a variable rate of interest and a commitment fee based on our debt rating, and is available for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Provided that we obtain written consent from our lenders, we have the option to increase the Revolver by up to $200, to a total of $1,000, and two options to extend the Revolver by one year. For more information about our credit facilities, see Note 3: Debt and Credit Facilities in Item 1.
Impact of Credit Ratings
Changes in our credit ratings may impact our costs to borrow, whether our personal property secures our Revolver and whether we are permitted to pay dividends or conduct share repurchases.
For our Revolver, the interest rate applicable to any borrowings we may enter into depends upon the type of borrowing incurred plus an applicable margin, which is determined based on our credit ratings. At the time of this report, our credit ratings and outlook were as follows:
Credit RatingsOutlook
Moody’sBa1Stable
Standard & Poor’sBB+Stable
FitchBBB-Negative
Should the ratings assigned to our long-term debt improve, the applicable margin associated with any borrowings under the Revolver may decrease, resulting in a lower borrowing cost under this facility. Conversely, should the ratings assigned to our long-term debt worsen, the applicable margin associated with any borrowings under the Revolver may increase, resulting in a higher borrowing cost under this facility.
Revolver Covenants
As of October 30, 2021, we were in compliance with all our Revolver covenants. Under our current covenant structure, if our Leverage Ratio is greater than four or our unsecured debt is rated below BBB- with a stable outlook at Standard & Poor’s or Baa3 with a stable outlook at Moody’s, any outstanding borrowings under our Revolver will be secured by substantially all our personal property.
As of October 30, 2021, our Leverage Ratio was greater than 3.75, thus we did not meet the requirements under our Revolver amendment to pay dividends or repurchase shares. For more information about our Revolver covenants, see Note 3: 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.
(Dollar and share 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, as it provides a reflection of our creditworthiness which could impact our credit rating and borrowing costs. This metric is calculated in accordance with our Revolver covenant and is a key component in assessing whether our revolving credit facility is secured or unsecured, as well as our ability to make dividend payments and share repurchases. Our goal is to manage debt levels to maintain an investment-grade credit rating while operating with an efficient capital structure.
Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, debt to net earnings, net earnings, debt or other GAAP financial measures. Our method of determining non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies’ methods and therefore may not be comparable to those used by other companies. The following is a reconciliation of debt to net earnings to Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR:
October 30, 2021
Debt$3,051 
Add: estimated capitalized operating lease liability1
1,374 
Adjusted Debt$4,425 
Four Quarters Ended October 30, 2021
Net earnings$11 
Less: income tax benefit(49)
Add: interest expense, net261 
Adjusted earnings before interest and income taxes$223 
Add: depreciation and amortization expenses643 
Add: rent expense, net2
229 
Add: other Revolver covenant adjustments3
1 
Adjusted EBITDAR$1,096 
Debt to Net Earnings271.0 
Adjusted Debt to EBITDAR4.04 
1 Based upon the estimated lease liability as of the end of the period, calculated as the trailing four quarters of rent expense multiplied by six, a 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 and is calculated under the previous lease standard (ASC 840), consistent with our Revolver covenant calculation requirements. The estimated lease liability is not calculated in accordance with, nor an alternative for, GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for our results reported under GAAP.
2 Rent expense, net of amortization of developer reimbursements, is added back for consistency with our Revolver covenant calculation requirements, and is calculated under the previous lease standard (ASC 840).
3 Other adjusting items to reconcile net earnings to Adjusted EBITDAR as defined by our Revolver covenant include interest income and certain non-cash charges where relevant.
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 2020 Annual Report 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 & Finance Committee of our Board of Directors. There have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies or critical accounting estimates as described in our 2020 Annual Report.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We discussed our interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk in our 2020 Annual Report. There have been no material changes to these risks since that time.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
For the purposes of the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer, Erik B. Nordstrom, serves as our principal executive officer and our Chief Financial Officer, Anne L. Bramman, is our principal financial officer.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we have performed an evaluation of the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the last day of the period covered by this report.
Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Disclosure controls and procedures are defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified within the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed 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 may 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 accruals 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 material changes to the risk factors we discussed in our 2020 Annual Report.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
(c) SHARE REPURCHASES
(Dollar and share amounts in millions, except per share amounts)
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. As a result of uncertainties from COVID-19 impacts, we repurchased no shares of common stock during the third quarter of 2021 and we had $707 remaining in share repurchase capacity as of October 30, 2021. The actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors, contractual commitments, market and economic conditions and applicable SEC rules.
Item 6. Exhibits.
(a) The information required under this item is incorporated herein by reference or filed or furnished as part of this report at:
 Page
All other exhibits are omitted because they are not applicable, not required or because the information required has been given as part of this report.
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NORDSTROM, INC.
Exhibit Index
ExhibitMethod of Filing
Filed herewith electronically
Filed herewith electronically
Furnished herewith electronically
101.INSInline XBRL Instance DocumentFiled herewith electronically
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema DocumentFiled herewith electronically
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith electronically
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith electronically
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith electronically
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith electronically
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (Inline XBRL)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 3, 2021
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