Jim Cramer talked recently about the “pulverization of retail.” In a CNBC.com article, the animated financial market commentator talked about the abysmal performance of Kohl’s Corporation , Macy’s, Inc. , Nordstrom, Inc. and Dillard’s, Inc. , which, as a group, have each lost about half of their value in the past year.Cramer analyzed the sector based on each retailer’s ability to withstand the withering power of Amazon.com, Inc. , ranking them in four categories.SalesBased on sales, the companies Cramer examined ranked in the following order: NordstromJ C Penney Company Inc Kohl’sDillard’sMacy’sSears Holdings Corp SurvivabilityOn survivability, based on how badly earnings have declined: J C PenneyMacy’sDillard’sKohl’sNordstromSearsBalance SheetsNext, Cramer looked at the group’s balance sheets: Dillard’sNordstomMacy’sKohl’sJ C PenneySearsStrategic FlexibilityAnd finally, he reviewed each company for its strategic flexibility and ability to resist Amazon. His rankings were: NordstromJ C PenneyKohl’sMacy’sDillard’sSearsTaken collectively, Cramer summed up the subjects of his examination by saying “From a pure survivability perspective, Nordstrom is the safest, followed by J C Penney, then Dillard’s and Kohl’s tied for fourth and the awful Sears Holdings coming in dead last.”