Nordstrom’s stock’s have risen close to 30 per cent since Thanksgiving, on investors’ expectations of solid profits. The company’s market capitalization is close to $9 billion. Comparable sales rose 1.2 per cent in the nine weeks ended December 30 compared with the same period last year, helped by growth at its off-price discount chain Nordstrom Rack and online businesses. The department store chain slightly raised its full-year earnings forecast at the time.

The family group, which owns 31.2 per cent of the storied retailer, is considering becoming a private company in the belief it can better manage the operational restructuring and transition to e-commerce away from the public markets.

The Nordstrom family group, which has partnered a buyout firm, had suspended its attempt to take the company private in October because of difficulties in arranging debt financing for its bid ahead of the key holiday shopping season. Investment banks at the time balked at providing the debt financing required for the bid of between seven billion dollars and eight billion dollars on terms that the family group wanted.

Nordstrom’s rival Hudson’s Bay, owner of the Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor retail chains, also explored going private last year, though these considerations did not progress.