Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom's fourth-quarter results missed Wall Street's estimates, but the upscale department-store chain isn't likely to get too many complaints since it more than doubled its profits. Management gave a conservative forecast for the year, saying it will pick up the pace of remodeling stores and stock stores carefully.

They didn't used to talk about such things. Luxury retail outlets? Please. Nobody who shopped at Saks Fifth Ave. would want to sully all that cache they had just paid dearly for. But most high end retailers had outlets on the down low. According to Business Week Magazine, these retailers are...