NORDSTROM INC. $81 - New York symbol JWN

NORDSTROM INC. $81 (New York symbol JWN; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 190.1 million; Market cap: $15.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; Dividend yield: 1.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.nordstrom.com) has raised its quarterly dividend by 12.1%, to $0.37 a share from $0.33. The new annual rate of $1.48 yields 1.8%.

The company sells upscale clothing and shoes, so it’s less vulnerable to changes in the overall economy. Still, it should benefit as low gasoline prices give consumers more cash for other goods. Meanwhile, the high U.S. dollar cuts the cost of goods it imports from overseas.

Nordstrom is a buy.

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