Nordstrom Bumps Up Annual Outlook, Sidestepping Retail Weakness

Nordstrom Inc. raised the lower end of its annual sales guidance after its off-price and flagship chains reported quarterly growth that was better than expected — results that could encourage the company’s board to push the founding family for a better offer to take Nordstrom private.

The Seattle-based department-store chain is forecasting that annual sales, including credit-card revenues, will be flat to up 1 percent versus last year. That’s narrower than the previous guidance that…