** Shares of Pegasystems NASDAQ:PEGA up 6.6% premarket to $104.98, over three-mth high, as software firm set to join S&P MidCap 400 index SP:MID this week
** PEGA to replace Nordstrom (JWN.N) in the IDX effective Thurs, May 22, the S&P Dow Jones Indices announced
** The Nordstrom family and Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool BMV:LIVEPOL/1 to take Nordstrom private in $4 bln deal
** Pegasystems, which provides software solutions for customer engagement and business process management, posted Q1 adj EPS of $1.53, handily topping analysts' estimate of 49 cents, sending its shares up nearly 29% on Apr 23 to $88.55
** Waltham, Massachusetts-headquartered co has ~85.6 mln shares outstanding for $8.4 bln market cap, per LSEG
** Through Mon close, PEGA up ~6% YTD
** Of 14 analysts covering PEGA, recommendation breakdown is 11 "strong buy" or "buy" and 3 "hold"; median PT of $102 up from $97 a month ago