SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
 
                          Washington, DC 20549 
 
 
 
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES  
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
 
For the quarterly period ended April 30, 1997 
 
[ ] 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 0-6074 
 
                         Nordstrom, Inc. 
       ______________________________________________________ 
       (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 
 
              Washington                             91-0515058 
      _______________________________            ___________________ 
      (State or other jurisdiction of              (IRS Employer 
      incorporation or organization)              Identification No.) 
 
             1501 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington  98101 
         ____________________________________________________ 
         (Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip code) 
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (206) 628-2111 
 
 
     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   X       NO 
                              _____        _____ 
 
Common stock outstanding as of May 26, 1997:  76,985,204 shares of  
common stock. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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                     NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
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                                 INDEX 
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Page Number PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Earnings Three months ended April 30, 1997 and 1996 3 Consolidated Balance Sheets April 30, 1997 and 1996 and January 31, 1997 4 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Three months ended April 30, 1997 and 1996 5 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 7 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings 9 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 9
2 of 9 NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (dollars in thousands except per share amounts) (unaudited)
Three Months Ended April 30, ------------------- 1997 1996 -------- -------- Net sales $953,747 $905,962 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy 646,512 617,112 Selling, general and administrative 274,287 268,787 Interest, net 7,510 9,394 Service charge income and other, net (27,911) (34,580) -------- -------- Total costs and expenses 900,398 860,713 -------- -------- Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item 53,349 45,249 Income taxes 21,000 17,900 -------- -------- Earnings before extraordinary item 32,349 27,349 Extraordinary charge related to the early extinguishment of debt, net of income taxes of $900 --- 1,452 -------- -------- Net earnings $ 32,349 $ 25,897 ======== ======== Earnings before extraordinary item per average share of common stock outstanding $ .41 $ .34 ======== ======== Net earnings per average share of common stock outstanding $ .41 $ .32 ======== ======== Cash dividends paid per share of common stock outstanding $ .125 $ .125 ======== ======== These statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein and in the Nordstrom 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.
3 of 9 NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (dollars in thousands) (unaudited)
April 30, January 31, April 30, 1997 1997 1996 ---------- ---------- ---------- ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 49,066 $ 28,284 $ 33,426 Accounts receivable, net 661,284 714,589 864,137 Merchandise inventories 823,609 719,919 731,647 Prepaid income taxes and other 68,612 69,607 67,759 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total current assets 1,602,571 1,532,399 1,696,969 Property, buildings and equipment, net 1,184,278 1,152,454 1,109,287 Other assets 18,010 17,654 16,943 ---------- ---------- ---------- TOTAL ASSETS $2,804,859 $2,702,507 $2,823,199 ========== ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Notes payable $ 194,040 $ 163,770 $ 303,423 Accounts payable 398,748 310,430 356,965 Accrued salaries, wages and taxes 154,086 192,750 141,304 Accrued expenses 49,973 56,080 51,487 Accrued income taxes 21,489 13,045 18,282 Current portion of long-term debt 101,303 51,302 74,210 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 919,639 787,377 945,671 Long-term debt 371,469 329,330 322,440 Deferred lease credits and other deferred items 111,820 112,608 111,121 Shareholders' Equity: Common stock, no par: 250,000,000 shares authorized; 77,145,937, 79,634,977 and 81,256,947 shares issued and outstanding 184,607 183,398 176,596 Retained earnings 1,217,324 1,289,794 1,267,371 ---------- ---------- ---------- Total shareholders' equity 1,401,931 1,473,192 1,443,967 ---------- ---------- ---------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $2,804,859 $2,702,507 $2,823,199 ========== ========== ========== These statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein and in the Nordstrom 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.
4 of 9 NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (dollars in thousands) (unaudited)
Three Months Ended April 30, --------------------- 1997 1996 -------- -------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Earnings before extraordinary item $ 32,349 $ 27,349 Adjustments to reconcile earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Extraordinary charge related to the early extinguishment of debt, net of income taxes of $900 --- (1,452) Depreciation and amortization 36,646 38,080 Change in: Accounts receivable, net 53,305 29,790 Merchandise inventories (103,690) (105,344) Prepaid income taxes and other 995 270 Accounts payable 88,318 79,381 Accrued salaries, wages and taxes (38,664) (44,236) Accrued expenses (6,107) 3,653 Income tax liabilities 8,368 1,190 Deferred lease credits (712) 1,969 -------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities 70,808 30,650 -------- -------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Additions to property, buildings and equipment, net (68,307) (43,548) Other (5) (920) -------- -------- Net cash used in investing activities (68,312) (44,468) -------- -------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Increase in notes payable 30,270 70,922 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net 91,836 --- Principal payments on long-term debt (210) (43,293) Proceeds from issuance of common stock 1,209 8,156 Cash dividends paid (9,908) (10,141) Purchase and retirement of common stock (94,911) (2,917) -------- -------- Net cash provided by financing activities 18,286 22,727 -------- -------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 20,782 8,909 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 28,284 24,517 -------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 49,066 $ 33,426 ======== ======== These statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein and in the Nordstrom 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.
5 of 9 NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1997 AND 1996 (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) Note 1: The consolidated balance sheets of Nordstrom, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of April 30, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows for the periods then ended, have been prepared from the accounts without audit. The consolidated financial information is applicable to interim periods and is not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending January 31, 1998. It is not considered necessary to include detailed footnote information as of April 30, 1997 and 1996. The financial information should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Nordstrom 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial information includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Nordstrom, Inc. and subsidiaries as of April 30, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. Note 2: During the first quarter of 1996, the Company elected to prepay $43,100 of Nordstrom Credit, Inc. 9.375% sinking debentures in order to take advantage of lower short-term interest rates. This resulted in an extraordinary charge of $1,452, net of applicable income taxes of $900 ($0.02 per share). Note 3: The summarized combined results of operations of Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and Nordstrom National Credit Bank are as follows:
Three Months Ended April 30, 1997 1996 ------- ------- Total revenue $31,806 $39,212 Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item 11,643 13,531 Extraordinary charge related to the early extinguishment of debt, net of income taxes of $900 --- 1,452 Net earnings 7,373 7,109
6 of 9 NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1997 AND 1996 (dollars in thousands) (unaudited) Note 4: Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, which will be effective for earnings per share calculations after December 15, 1997, will not significantly affect the Company's earnings per share. ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Management Discussion and Analysis section of the Nordstrom 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders. Results of Operations: - ---------------------- During the first quarter of 1997, sales increased 5.3% when compared with the same quarter in 1996. Sales for comparable stores increased .5% during the quarter, with the remainder of the increase coming from new units. The slight increase in comparable store sales reflects a change from the decrease in the fourth quarter of 1996. Cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs decreased as a percentage of sales for the quarter as compared to the corresponding period in 1996. Occupancy costs declined as no new stores were opened during the quarter, and merchandise margins improved due to lower markdowns. These improvements were partially offset by an increase in buying costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of sales when compared to the same quarter in 1996. There were several factors which contributed to this result. First, there were no major store openings during the quarter, compared to two major store openings in the first quarter of 1996. Second, bad debt expenses were lower because of the securitization of the Company's VISA credit card receivables in August of last year. Third expenses in more mature stores were well controlled. Interest expense decreased as a percentage of sales when compared to the same quarter in 1996 due primarily to lower levels of debt outstanding during the quarter. 7 of 9 Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONT.) Service charge income and other, net decreased as a percentage of sales for the quarter when compared to the corresponding period in 1996 primarily due to a reduction in revenues from the Company's VISA card program as a result of the securitization of these receivables in August 1996. Also during the quarter, the Company established a reserve of $2 million ($0.02 per share after income taxes) for the estimated closing costs related to the closure of its twelve leased shoe departments located in Hawaii and Guam, which is scheduled for November 1997. Financial Condition: - -------------------- During the quarter, Nordstrom Credit, Inc. filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to register up to $250 million in debt securities, and issued $92.4 million in medium-term notes under the registration. In April, 1997, the Company completed its second repurchase of $100 million of its outstanding common stock as approved by the Board of Directors at its November 1996 meeting. To date, the Company has bought $24.6 million of a third $100 million stock repurchase authorized in February, 1997. During the quarter, the Company expanded two Rack stores in Southern California. On May 9, a new Rack was opened at Factoria Mall in Bellevue, Washington. Construction is progressing as planned on new stores scheduled to open later this year and in 1998. 8 of 9 PART II - OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings - -------------------------- The Company is not involved in any material pending legal proceedings, other than routine litigation in the ordinary course of business. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K - ----------------------------------------- (a) Exhibits -------- (27.1) Financial Data Schedule is filed herein as an Exhibit. (b) Reports on Form 8-K ------------------- No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter for which this report is filed. 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/ John A. Goesling ------------------------------------------ John A. Goesling, Executive Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Date: June 6, 1997 - -------------------- 9 of 9 NORDSTROM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Exhibit Index Exhibit Method of Filing - ------- ---------------- 27.1 Financial Data Schedule Filed herewith electronically
 

5 1,000 3-MOS JAN-31-1998 APR-30-1997 49,066 0 661,284 0 823,609 1,602,571 1,184,278 0 2,804,859 919,639 371,469 0 0 184,607 1,217,324 2,804,859 953,747 953,747 646,512 900,398 0 0 7,510 53,349 21,000 0 0 0 0 32,349 .41 .41