Nordstrom Q2 FY'13 sales up 6.4%

Net earnings were $184 million compared with $156 million for the same quarter last year.

Total Company same-store sales for the second quarter increased 4.4 percent on top of last year’s same-store sales increase of 4.5 percent. Nordstrom same-store sales during the Anniversary Sale increased in the low single-digit range. Total Company net sales of $3.1 billion for the second quarter increased 6.4 percent compared with net sales of $2.9 billion during the same period in fiscal 2012.

Sales trends throughout the second quarter showed moderate improvement relative to the first two months of the year but remained softer than anticipated. The impact of this was mitigated by disciplined execution of inventory and expenses, including a reduction in variable expenses associated with company performance.

The Anniversary Sale, which historically is the Company’s largest sale event of the year, occurred in the second quarter, while in fiscal 2012 it overlapped the second and third quarters.

This event shift resulted in a favorable comparison in the second quarter, which the Company expects will be offset by an unfavorable comparison in the third quarter. In the second quarter, the impact of the Anniversary Sale event shift increased same-store sales by approximately 250 basis points and increased earnings per diluted share by approximately $0.06.

Based on current sales trends, the Company reduced its full-year earnings per diluted share outlook to $3.60 to $3.70 compared to its prior outlook of $3.65 to $3.80. This reflects full-year same-store sales expectations of 2 to 3 percent compared to its prior outlook of 3 to 5 percent.

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Nordstrom