Prospects for the Nordstrom familytaking their business privatenext year look good.

NordstromInc.'s financial results are improving. Executives have done a good job managing expectations. The Fed has cut rates twice this year, and the regulatory environment has loosened up.

Brothers Erik and PeteNordstrom, along with other members of theNordstrom family and Mexican retailer Liverpool, have offered to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the company the group does not already own for $23 a share in cash, a total of $3.8 billion. The company is currently trading at around $23.19 a share. The Nordstrom family owns...