Nordstrom's results reflect cautious consumer spending, echoing department store sector blues.

Nordstrom says its sales and profits fell in its fiscal second quarter, joining its department store peers coping with shoppers' cautious spending. But the Seattle-based upscale department store's results Thursday still topped Wall Street expectations. Nordstrom’s sales were affected by the timing of the company’s anniversary sale, with one week falling into the third quarter this year compared to one day in 2022. Moreover, last year’s results included a full quarter of sales from its Canadian operations, which it wound down in June of this year. Nordstrom said it expects a revenue decline between 4% to 6% for the year compared with a year ago. Its stock rose 4% in after-hours trading.