*
Sees 2023 adj. EPS of $1.80-$2.20 vs est. of $1.94
*
Q4 EPS of 74 cents vs est. 66 cents
*
Q4 revenue of $4.32 bln vs est. $4.34 bln
(Adds analyst and executive comments)
By Ananya Mariam Rajesh
March 2 (Reuters) - Nordstrom Inc said on
Thursday it would discontinue its Canadian operations and
forecast annual revenue below analysts' expectations, signaling
high inflation levels were dampening consumer spending on
discretionary items.
The decision to wind down the operations would result in
about a $400 million decline in total net sales in fiscal 2023,
the company said, adding it also expects a $35 million
improvement in total earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT).
"We expect elevated inflation and rising interest rates
would continue to weigh on consumer spending, especially in the
first half of the year," Nordstrom interim Chief Finance Officer
Michael Maher said in a post earnings call, echoing comments
from peers Macy's Inc and Kohl's Corp .
Meanwhile, Nordstrom's efforts to cash in on the shift to
trading down through its discount banner Rack has been hampered
by its outdated inventory as well as shortage, sparked by
pandemic-induced supply disruptions, resulting in an 8.1%
decline in the segment's fourth-quarter revenue.
"Nordstrom has made some serious mistakes in merchandising
and were not offering the selection that people wanted," said
Morningstar analyst David Swartz.
The Canadian business was considered a growth area but was
probably a distraction from the efforts that need to be made to
fix its U.S. business, Swartz added.
Chief Executive Officer Erik Nordstrom said, "We do not see
a realistic path to profitability for the Canadian business".
The retailer entered Canada in 2014 and currently employs about
2,500 employees.
Nordstrom Canada's e-commerce platform will cease operations on March 2 and the in-store wind-down is expected to complete by late June. The company projects fiscal 2023 revenue to fall 4% to 6%, while analysts on average expect a 0.07% rise, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Shares of the company fell marginally in extended trading after the company missed fourth-quarter revenue expectations. (Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Shinjini Ganguli)
