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Target Corporation Reports First Quarter Earnings

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(High)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Positive)
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Target (NYSE:TGT) reported first quarter 2026 net sales of $25.4 billion, up 6.7% year over year, with comparable sales rising 5.6% and digital comps up 8.9%. GAAP and Adjusted EPS were $1.71.

Operating income was $1.1 billion, with a 4.5% operating margin and gross margin at 29.0%. Target raised 2026 net sales growth guidance to around 4% and expects EPS near the high end of $7.50–$8.50.

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AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Positive

  • Net sales rose 6.7% to $25.4 billion
  • Comparable sales increased 5.6% in Q1 2026
  • Digital comparable sales grew 8.9%, including 27%+ same-day delivery
  • Non-merchandise sales up 24.6% year over year
  • Adjusted operating income increased 29.1% versus prior-year adjusted
  • Gross margin rate improved to 29.0% from 28.2%
  • 2026 net sales growth guidance raised to around 4%
  • 2026 EPS expected near high end of $7.50–$8.50 range

Negative

  • GAAP operating income declined 22.9% versus prior-year GAAP
  • GAAP EPS fell 24% versus prior-year GAAP EPS
  • Operating margin rate down to 4.5% from 6.2% GAAP
  • SG&A expense rate rose to 21.9% from 19.3% GAAP
  • ROIC declined to 12.4% from 15.1%
  • No share repurchases in Q1 despite $8.3 billion authorization

Market Reaction – TGT

-5.95% $119.67 1.8x vol
15m delay 31 alerts
-5.95% Since News
$119.67 Last Price
$117.05 $120.71 Day Range
-$3.44B Valuation Impact
$54.35B Market Cap
1.8x Rel. Volume

Following this news, TGT has declined 5.95%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Our momentum scanner has triggered 31 alerts so far, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $119.67. This price movement has removed approximately $3.44B from the company's valuation. Trading volume is above average at 1.8x the average, suggesting increased trading activity.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus (15 min delayed). Upgrade to Gold for real-time data.

Key Figures

Net sales growth: 6.7% Comparable sales growth: 5.6% GAAP & Adjusted EPS: $1.71 +5 more
8 metrics
Net sales growth 6.7% Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025
Comparable sales growth 5.6% Q1 2026 comparable sales
GAAP & Adjusted EPS $1.71 Q1 2026, vs $1.30 prior-year Adjusted EPS
Net sales $25.4 billion Q1 2026 net sales level
Operating income $1.1 billion Q1 2026 operating and Adjusted operating income
Operating margin rate 4.5% Q1 2026 vs 3.7% prior-year Adjusted margin
Capital expenditures $1.0 billion Q1 2026, 31% higher year over year
ROIC 12.4% Trailing 12 months vs 15.1% prior period

Market Reality Check

Price: $126.99 Vol: Volume 8,162,387 is notab...
high vol
$126.99 Last Close
Volume Volume 8,162,387 is notably above 20-day average 4,837,293, indicating elevated interest ahead of earnings. high
Technical Trading above 200-day MA at 104.73 and about 4.59% below 52-week high of 133.10, well off the 83.44 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

TGT is up 3.11% while key peers show mixed moves: WMT up 0.95%, BJ up 0.56%, but...
1 Up

TGT is up 3.11% while key peers show mixed moves: WMT up 0.95%, BJ up 0.56%, but DG and OLLI down and DLTR slightly lower. This points to a stock-specific reaction rather than a broad discount-store move.

Previous Earnings Reports

5 past events · Latest: Nov 19 (Negative)
Same Type Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment Move Catalyst
Nov 19 Q3 2025 earnings Negative -2.8% Net sales and comps declined, EPS lower; guidance reiterated low-single digit sales decline.
Aug 20 Q2 2025 earnings Negative -6.3% Net sales and comps fell, EPS down versus 2024 alongside CEO transition announcement.
May 21 Q1 2025 earnings Negative -5.2% Net sales and comparable sales declined, GAAP EPS flattered by litigation settlement gains.
Mar 04 Q4 2024 earnings Positive -3.0% Positive comps, digital growth, EPS near high-end of guidance and modest 2025 growth outlook.
Feb 27 Partner earnings Positive -1.2% Warby Parker reported strong growth and outlined a Target shop-in-shop expansion plan.
Pattern Detected

Earnings headlines have often been followed by negative stock moves, with an average move of -3.71% across recent earnings-tag events.

Recent Company History

Across recent earnings reports, Target frequently highlighted pressured sales or margin dynamics, often accompanied by negative share reactions, including -6.33% after Q2 2025 and -5.21% after Q1 2025. One exception was Q4 2024, which delivered solid comps and EPS near the high end of guidance yet still saw a -3% move. Compared with those periods of net sales declines and softer comps, the current Q1 2026 update emphasizes resumed growth in net sales, comps, and non‑merchandise revenue.

Historical Comparison

-3.7% avg move · Over the last five earnings-tag events, average move was -3.71%, with most reports sold despite mixe...
earnings
-3.7%
Average Historical Move earnings

Over the last five earnings-tag events, average move was -3.71%, with most reports sold despite mixed fundamentals. The current Q1 2026 release, emphasizing resumed top-line and comp growth, contrasts with prior periods of net sales declines.

Earnings releases moved from flat-to-declining net sales and cautious outlooks in 2024–2025 toward Q1 2026 guidance that targets net sales growth around 4% and modest operating margin expansion versus 2025.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights a return to growth, with Q1 2026 net sales up 6.7%, comparable sales up...
Analysis

This announcement highlights a return to growth, with Q1 2026 net sales up 6.7%, comparable sales up 5.6%, and non‑merchandise sales rising 24.6%. EPS of $1.71 exceeded the prior-year Adjusted EPS while operating margin reached 4.5%, above the 3.7% prior-year Adjusted level. Management lifted 2026 net sales growth expectations to around 4% and targets modest margin expansion, while ROIC of 12.4% trails last year’s 15.1%, underscoring the importance of monitoring profitability and returns on new investments.

Key Terms

gaap, adjusted eps, non-gaap, basis points, +4 more
8 terms
gaap financial
"First quarter GAAP and Adjusted EPS1 was $1.71, 24 percent lower..."
GAAP, or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, are a set of standardized rules and guidelines that companies follow when preparing their financial statements. They ensure consistency, transparency, and comparability across different companies, making it easier for investors to understand and compare financial information accurately. This helps investors make informed decisions based on trustworthy and uniform financial reports.
adjusted eps financial
"First quarter GAAP and Adjusted EPS1 was $1.71, 24 percent lower..."
Adjusted earnings per share (adjusted eps) is a measure of a company's profit per share that has been modified to exclude certain one-time or unusual items, such as costs from restructuring or asset sales. It provides a clearer picture of the company’s core performance by removing events that may distort the usual earnings. Investors use adjusted eps to better understand a company's ongoing profitability and compare it more accurately over time.
non-gaap financial
"The attached tables provide reconciliations of non-GAAP to GAAP measures."
Non-GAAP refers to financial measures that companies use to show their earnings or performance without including certain expenses or income that are often added back to give a different picture. It matters because it can make a company's results look better or more favorable, but it may also hide important costs, so investors need to look at both GAAP (official rules) and non-GAAP numbers to get a full understanding.
basis points financial
"operating income margin rate more than 20 basis points higher than the 4.6 percent..."
Basis points are a way to measure small changes in interest rates or percentages, where one basis point equals 0.01%. For example, if a loan's interest rate increases by 50 basis points, it's gone up by 0.50%. They help people understand tiny differences in rates that can add up over time, making financial comparisons clearer.
operating income margin rate financial
"operating income margin rate more than 20 basis points higher than the 4.6 percent..."
Operating income margin rate is the percentage of revenue a company keeps as profit from its regular business activities after paying the costs of making and selling its products or services. It tells investors how efficiently a company turns sales into core profit—like measuring how much of every dollar of household income is left after paying recurring bills—so rising or falling margins signal changes in pricing power, cost control, or business health.
effective income tax rate financial
"First quarter 2026 effective income tax rate was 24.4 percent..."
The effective income tax rate is the share of a company’s pre-tax profit that it actually pays in income taxes, calculated by dividing total tax expense by pre-tax income. For investors, it shows how much tax reduces a company’s earnings — like knowing the difference between a car’s sticker price and what you actually pay after fees and discounts — and helps compare profitability and cash available for growth or dividends.
return on invested capital (roic) financial
"after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) was 12.4 percent..."
Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how much profit a company generates from the money put into its business, including debt and equity. Think of it like the harvest you get from seeds you planted: higher ROIC means the company uses its resources more efficiently to grow earnings. Investors care because ROIC shows whether a business is creating value above its cost of financing and helps compare operational effectiveness across companies.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Statements in this release regarding the Company's future financial performance... are forward-looking statements..."
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

MINNEAPOLIS, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

  • First quarter net sales grew 6.7 percent over last year, well above expectations.
    • Topline strength was broad-based across merchandise categories, sales channels and across the quarter.
      • Comparable traffic grew 4.4 percent compared with Q1 2025. 
      • Net sales in all six core merchandising categories were higher than a year ago.
      • Digital comparable sales grew 8.9 percent, led by more than 27% growth in same-day delivery powered by Target Circle 360.
    • Non-merchandise sales grew nearly 25 percent, reflecting strong growth in Roundel ad revenue, Target Circle 360 membership revenue, and the Target+ marketplace.
  • First quarter GAAP and Adjusted EPS1 was $1.71, 24 percent lower than prior-year GAAP EPS (which included non-recurring legal settlement gains), and 32 percent higher than prior-year Adjusted EPS.

For additional media materials, please visit:
https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2026/05/q1-2026-earnings

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced its first quarter 2026 financial results.

The Company reported first quarter GAAP and Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.71, compared with prior-year GAAP EPS2 of $2.27 and Adjusted EPS of $1.30.  The attached tables provide reconciliations of non-GAAP to GAAP measures. All earnings per share figures are calculated on a diluted basis.

"First quarter financial results were stronger than expected, providing encouraging early signs that our clarified strategy is resonating with our guests and driving broad-based growth across our business," said Michael Fiddelke, Chief Executive Officer of Target. "While we're pleased with our Q1 performance, our focus remains on building consistent, long-term growth, and we recognize there is much more work in front of us. As we look ahead, we're focused on staying disciplined and flexible in an uncertain operating environment and continuing to invest boldly in our team, capabilities, and an elevated guest experience to unlock our full potential over time."

Guidance

The Company has the following updated expectations for 2026:

  • Net sales growth in a range around 4 percent compared with 2025 - two percentage points higher than the prior range. The Company continues to expect to grow net sales in every quarter of the year.
  • Full-year 2026 operating income margin rate more than 20 basis points higher than the 4.6 percent Adjusted operating income margin rate in 2025.
  • GAAP and Adjusted EPS near the high end of the prior guidance range of $7.50 to $8.50.

Operating Results

Net Sales of $25.4 billion in the first quarter were 6.7 percent higher than last year, reflecting a 6.4 percent increase in merchandise sales and a 24.6 percent increase in non-merchandise sales. Comparable sales grew 5.6 percent in the first quarter, reflecting a comparable store sales increase of 4.7 percent and comparable digital sales growth of 8.9 percent. First quarter operating income and Adjusted operating income3 were $1.1 billion, a 22.9 percent decrease from prior-year GAAP operating income and a 29.1 percent increase from prior-year Adjusted operating income.

First quarter operating income margin rate and Adjusted operating income margin rate3 were 4.5 percent in 2026, compared with the prior-year GAAP operating income margin rate of 6.2 percent and an Adjusted operating income rate of 3.7 percent. First quarter gross margin rate was 29.0 percent, compared with 28.2 percent in 2025, reflecting improved productivity in supply chain facilities, growth in advertising and other non-merchandise revenues, and lower markdown rates, partially offset by higher product costs. First quarter SG&A expense rate and Adjusted SG&A expense rate3 was 21.9 percent, compared to 2025 GAAP SG&A expense rate of 19.3 percent and Adjusted SG&A expense rate of 21.7 percent. This increase reflects the impact of higher compensation costs, including additional hours and training for field teams along with higher incentive compensation, planned spending related to capital projects, and higher marketing expense, partially offset by the leverage benefit of strong topline growth.

Interest Expense and Taxes

The Company's first quarter 2026 net interest expense was $117 million, in line with $116 million last year.

First quarter 2026 effective income tax rate was 24.4 percent, compared with the prior-year rate of 25.0 percent, reflecting lower discrete tax expenses in the current year.

Capital Deployment and Return on Invested Capital

First quarter capital expenditures of $1.0 billion were 31 percent higher than last year, driven primarily by increased investments in new stores and store remodels.

The Company paid dividends of $516 million in the first quarter, compared with $510 million last year, reflecting a 1.8 percent increase in the dividend per share, partially offset by the impact of a lower share count.

The Company did not repurchase any stock in the first quarter. As of the end of the quarter, the Company had approximately $8.3 billion of remaining capacity under the repurchase program approved by Target's Board of Directors in August 2021.

For the trailing twelve months through first quarter 2026, after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) was 12.4 percent, compared with 15.1 percent for the trailing twelve months through first quarter 2025. The tables in this release provide additional information about the Company's ROIC calculation.

Webcast Details

Target will webcast its first quarter earnings conference call at 7:00 a.m. CT today. Investors and the media are invited to listen to the meeting at Corporate.Target.com/Investors (click on "Q1 2026 Target Corporation Earnings Conference Call" under "Events & Presentations"). A replay of the webcast will be provided when available. The replay number is 1-866-491-2847.

Miscellaneous

Statements in this release regarding the Company's future financial performance, including its fiscal 2026 full-year guidance, which excludes, among others, impacts from any tariff refunds, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's results to differ materially. The most important risks and uncertainties are described in Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About Target

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) brings together style, design and value to offer a distinct assortment and elevated shopping experience across more than 2,000 U.S. stores and online. Powered by more than 400,000 team members, Target serves millions of families each week and invests in the communities where they live and work to support growth and opportunity for all.

1 Adjusted EPS, Adjusted selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, Adjusted SG&A expense rate, Adjusted operating income, and Adjusted operating income margin rate, non-GAAP financial measures, exclude the impact of certain discretely managed items, when applicable. See the tables of this release for additional information.


2  Q1 2025 GAAP EPS included $441 million of after-tax net gains on interchange fee settlements, which were excluded from Adjusted EPS. Note (a) to the Operating Metrics table provides additional information about interchange fee settlements.


3 Q1 2025 GAAP SG&A expenses, GAAP SG&A expense rate, GAAP operating income, and GAAP operating income margin rate included $593 million of pretax gains on interchange fee settlements, which was excluded from Adjusted SG&A expenses, Adjusted SG&A expense rate, Adjusted operating income, and Adjusted operating income margin rate, non-GAAP financial measures. See the tables of this release for additional information.

 

TARGET CORPORATION

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations



Three Months Ended



(millions, except per share data) (unaudited)


May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025


Change

Net sales


$    25,443


$    23,846


6.7 %

Cost of sales


18,061


17,128


5.4

Selling, general and administrative expenses


5,562


4,591


21.1

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)


685


655


4.6

Operating income


1,135


1,472


(22.9)

Net interest expense


117


116


1.3

Net other income


(15)


(26)


(43.0)

Earnings before income taxes


1,033


1,382


(25.2)

Provision for income taxes


252


346


(27.2)

Net earnings


$        781


$     1,036


(24.6) %

Basic earnings per share


$       1.72


$       2.28


(24.4) %

Diluted earnings per share


$       1.71


$       2.27


(24.5) %

Weighted average common shares outstanding







Basic


453.8


455.0


(0.3) %

Diluted


455.8


456.5


(0.2) %

Antidilutive shares


1.0


2.4



Dividends declared per share


$       1.14


$       1.12


1.8 %

 

TARGET CORPORATION


Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(millions, except footnotes) (unaudited)


May 2, 2026


January 31, 2026


May 3, 2025

Assets







Cash and cash equivalents


$        3,534


$        5,488


$        2,887

Inventory


12,317


12,304


13,048

Other current assets


2,214


2,213


1,824

Total current assets


18,065


20,005


17,759

Property and equipment, net


34,175


33,749


33,182

Operating lease assets


3,652


3,703


3,739

Other noncurrent assets


2,118


2,033


1,505

Total assets


$       58,010


$       59,490


$       56,185

Liabilities and shareholders' investment







Accounts payable


$       12,188


$       12,622


$       11,823

Accrued and other current liabilities


6,063


6,478


6,029

Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings


1,133


2,130


1,139

Total current liabilities


19,384


21,230


18,991

Long-term debt and other borrowings


14,282


14,326


14,334

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities


3,416


3,462


3,564

Deferred income taxes


2,438


2,265


2,338

Other noncurrent liabilities


2,095


2,042


2,011

Total noncurrent liabilities


22,231


22,095


22,247

Shareholders' investment







Common stock


38


38


38

Additional paid-in capital


7,220


7,247


7,011

Retained earnings


9,552


9,297


8,360

Accumulated other comprehensive loss


(415)


(417)


(462)

Total shareholders' investment


16,395


16,165


14,947

Total liabilities and shareholders' investment


$       58,010


$       59,490


$       56,185

Common Stock Authorized 6,000,000,000 shares, $0.0833 par value; 454,177,135, 452,840,187, and 454,364,799 shares issued and outstanding as of May 2, 2026, January 31, 2026, and May 3, 2025, respectively.


Preferred Stock Authorized 5,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value; no shares were issued or outstanding during any period presented.

 

TARGET CORPORATION


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows



Three Months Ended

(millions) (unaudited)


May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025

Operating activities





Net earnings


$         781


$       1,036

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization


813


787

Share-based compensation expense


54


69

Deferred income taxes


173


36

Noncash (gains) / losses and other, net


(42)


(4)

Changes in operating accounts:





Inventory


(13)


(308)

Other assets


(85)


146

Accounts payable


(557)


(1,344)

Accrued and other liabilities


(408)


(143)

Cash provided by operating activities


716


275

Investing activities





Expenditures for property and equipment


(1,035)


(790)

Other


2


3

Cash used in investing activities


(1,033)


(787)

Financing activities





Additions to long-term debt



991

Reductions of long-term debt


(1,032)


(1,534)

Dividends paid


(516)


(510)

Repurchase of stock



(250)

Shares withheld for taxes on share-based compensation


(89)


(60)

Cash used in financing activities


(1,637)


(1,363)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents


(1,954)


(1,875)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period


5,488


4,762

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period


$       3,534


$       2,887

 

TARGET CORPORATION


Operating Results

Net Sales

Three Months Ended

(millions) (unaudited)

May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025

Apparel & accessories

$       3,846


$       3,711

Beauty

3,398


3,101

Food & beverage

6,263


5,902

Hardlines (Fun 101)

3,522


3,074

Home furnishings & décor

3,239


3,220

Household essentials

4,570


4,357

Other merchandise sales

56


40

Merchandise sales

24,894


23,405

Advertising revenue (a)

246


163

Credit card profit sharing

130


141

Other

173


137

Net sales

$      25,443


$      23,846

(a)

Primarily represents revenue related to advertising services provided via the Company's Roundel digital advertising business offering. Roundel services are classified as either Net Sales or as a reduction of Cost of Sales or Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses, depending on the nature of the advertising arrangement.

 

Operating Metrics


Three Months Ended

(dollars in millions) (unaudited)


May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025



Dollars


Rate


Dollars


Rate

Gross margin


$     7,382


29.0 %


$     6,718


28.2 %

SG&A expenses


5,562


21.9


4,591


19.3

Adjusted SG&A expenses (a)


5,562


21.9


5,183


21.7

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)


685


2.7


655


2.7

Operating income


1,135


4.5


1,472


6.2

Adjusted operating income (a)


1,135


4.5


879


3.7

Note: Gross margin is calculated as Net Sales less Cost of Sales. All rates are calculated by dividing the applicable amount by Net Sales.

(a)

Adjusted SG&A expenses, Adjusted SG&A expense rate, Adjusted operating income, and Adjusted operating income margin rate, which are non-GAAP measures, exclude the impact of certain items. Management believes that these measures are useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations. The Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables provide additional information.

Sales Metrics

Comparable sales include all Merchandise Sales, except sales from stores open less than 13 months or that have been closed.  Digitally originated sales include all Merchandise Sales initiated through mobile applications and the Company's websites. 

Comparable Sales


Three Months Ended


(unaudited)


May 2, 2026



May 3, 2025


Comparable sales change


5.6 %



(3.8) %


Drivers of change in comparable sales







Number of transactions (traffic)


4.4



(2.4)


Average transaction amount


1.1



(1.4)



Comparable Sales by Channel


Three Months Ended

(unaudited)


May 2, 2026



May 3, 2025

Stores originated comparable sales change


4.7 %



(5.7) %

Digitally originated comparable sales change


8.9



4.7


Merchandise Sales by Channel


Three Months Ended


(unaudited)


May 2, 2026



May 3, 2025


Stores originated


79.7 %



80.2 %


Digitally originated


20.3



19.8


Total


100 %



100 %




Merchandise Sales by Fulfillment Channel


Three Months Ended


(unaudited)


May 2, 2026



May 3, 2025


Stores


97.6 %



97.6 %


Other


2.4



2.4


Total


100 %



100 %


Note: Merchandise Sales fulfilled by stores include in-store purchases and digitally originated sales fulfilled by shipping merchandise from stores to guests, Order Pickup, Drive Up, and Same Day Delivery.

 

Number of Stores and Retail Square Feet


Number of Stores


Retail Square Feet (a)

(unaudited)


May 2,
2026


January 31,
2026


May 3,
2025


May 2,
2026


January 31,
2026


May 3,
2025

170,000 or more sq. ft.


274


273


273


49,045


48,824


48,824

50,000 to 169,999 sq. ft.


1,581


1,576


1,562


197,978


197,274


195,436

49,999 or less sq. ft.


147


146


146


4,460


4,420


4,404

Total


2,002


1,995


1,981


251,483


250,518


248,664

(a)

In thousands; reflects total square feet less office, supply chain facility, and vacant space.

TARGET CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide additional transparency, the Company has disclosed non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share (Adjusted EPS), adjusted SG&A expenses, adjusted SG&A expense rate, adjusted operating income, and adjusted operating income margin rate. When applicable, these measures exclude certain discretely managed items. Management believes this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of Target's operations. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The most comparable GAAP measures are diluted earnings per share, SG&A expenses, SG&A expense rate, operating income, and operating income margin rate. Adjusted EPS, Adjusted SG&A expenses, Adjusted SG&A expense rate, Adjusted operating income, and Adjusted operating income margin rate should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of Target's results as reported in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate these measures differently, or not provide similar measures, limiting the usefulness of the measures for comparisons with other companies.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP

Adjusted EPS


Three Months Ended




May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025



(millions, except per share data) (unaudited)


Pretax


Net of Tax


Per Share


Pretax


Net of Tax


Per Share


Change

GAAP diluted EPS






$   1.71






$   2.27


(24.5) %

Adjustments















Interchange fee settlements (a)


$     —


$     —


$      —


$  (593)


$   (441)


$  (0.97)



Adjusted EPS






$   1.71






$   1.30


31.6 %

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP
Adjusted SG&A Expenses and
Adjusted Operating Income


Three Months Ended


May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025



SG&A Expenses


Operating Income


SG&A Expenses


Operating Income

(dollars in millions) (unaudited)


Dollars


Rate


Dollars


Rate


Dollars


Rate


Dollars


Rate

Reported, GAAP measure


$   5,562


21.9 %


$   1,135


4.5 %


$   4,591


19.3 %


$   1,472


6.2 %

Adjustments

















Interchange fee settlements (a)






593


2.5


(593)


(2.5)

Adjusted, Non-GAAP measure


$   5,562


21.9 %


$   1,135


4.5 %


$   5,183


21.7 %


$      879


3.7 %

Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

(a)

Includes gains, net of legal fees, related to settlements during the first quarter of 2025 of credit card interchange fee litigation matters in which the Company was a plaintiff. The adjustment removes the favorable impact of the settlement gains from prior-year EPS, SG&A Expenses and Operating Income.

 

We have also disclosed after-tax ROIC, which is a ratio based on GAAP information, with the exception of the add-back of operating lease interest to operating income. We believe this metric is useful in assessing the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time. Other companies may calculate ROIC differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

After-Tax Return on Invested Capital



(dollars in millions) (unaudited)







Trailing Twelve Months



Numerator


May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025



Operating income


$     4,781


$        5,742



 + Net other income


84


102



EBIT


4,865


5,844



 + Operating lease interest (a)


173


165



  - Income taxes (b)


1,103


1,373



Net operating profit after taxes


$     3,935


$        4,636



 

Denominator


May 2, 2026


May 3, 2025


May 4, 2024

Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings


$     1,133


$       1,139


$     2,614

 + Noncurrent portion of long-term debt


14,282


14,334


13,487

 + Shareholders' investment


16,395


14,947


13,840

 + Operating lease liabilities (c)


3,792


3,922


3,723

  - Cash and cash equivalents


3,534


2,887


3,604

Invested capital


$    32,068


$      31,455


$    30,060

Average invested capital (d)


$    31,761


$      30,757



After-tax return on invested capital (e)


12.4 %


15.1 %



(a)

Represents the add-back to operating income driven by the hypothetical interest expense we would incur if the property under our operating leases was owned or accounted for under finance leases. Calculated using the discount rate for each lease and recorded as a component of rent expense within Operating Income. Operating lease interest is added back to Operating Income in the ROIC calculation to control for differences in capital structure between us and our competitors.

(b)

Calculated using the effective tax rates, which were 21.9 percent and 22.8 percent for the trailing twelve months ended May 2, 2026, and May 3, 2025, respectively. For the twelve months ended May 2, 2026, and May 3, 2025, includes tax effect of $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, related to EBIT, and $38 million related to operating lease interest.

(c)

Total short-term and long-term operating lease liabilities included within Accrued and Other Current Liabilities and Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities, respectively.

(d)

Average based on the invested capital at the end of the current period and the invested capital at the end of the comparable prior period.

(e)

For the trailing twelve months ended May 2, 2026, includes the impact of business transformation costs incurred within the trailing twelve-month period, which decreased after-tax ROIC by 0.6 percentage points. For the trailing twelve months ended May 3, 2025, includes the impact of after-tax net gains on interchange fee settlements, which increased after-tax ROIC by 1.4 percentage points. Business transformation costs are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2026. Note (a) to the Operating Metrics table provides additional information about interchange fee settlements.

2026 GAAP EPS, SG&A expenses, SG&A expense rate, operating income, and operating (income) margin rate may include the impact of certain discrete items, which may be excluded in calculating Adjusted EPS, Adjusted SG&A expenses, Adjusted SG&A expense rate, Adjusted operating income, and Adjusted operating income margin rate. The guidance does not currently reflect any such discrete items, which are subject to variability and therefore cannot be reconciled without unreasonable efforts. In the past, these items have included both gains and losses, including certain asset impairments, severance, and other items that are discretely managed.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP

Adjusted EPS Guidance



(per share) (unaudited)


Full Year 2026

GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance


$7.50 - $8.50

Estimated adjustments



Other (a)



Adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance


$7.50 - $8.50

(a)

The guidance does not currently reflect any discrete items.

 

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SOURCE Target Corporation

FAQ

How did Target (TGT) perform in Q1 2026 earnings?

Target reported higher sales but mixed profit trends in Q1 2026. According to Target, net sales rose 6.7% to $25.4 billion, comparable sales grew 5.6%, while GAAP and Adjusted EPS were $1.71, below prior-year GAAP but above prior-year Adjusted EPS.

What were Target's Q1 2026 EPS and margins (TGT)?

Target posted Q1 2026 GAAP and Adjusted EPS of $1.71. According to Target, operating income was $1.1 billion, with an operating margin of 4.5% and gross margin of 29.0%, compared with prior-year GAAP operating margin of 6.2% and gross margin of 28.2%.

How fast did Target's sales and digital channels grow in Q1 2026?

Target's overall and digital sales both increased in Q1 2026. According to Target, net sales rose 6.7%, comparable sales grew 5.6%, and digital comparable sales increased 8.9%, led by more than 27% growth in same-day delivery fueled by Target Circle 360 memberships.

What 2026 guidance did Target provide with its Q1 2026 results?

Target raised its 2026 outlook for growth and earnings. According to Target, it now expects net sales growth around 4% versus 2025, operating margin more than 20 basis points above 4.6%, and GAAP and Adjusted EPS near the high end of the $7.50–$8.50 range.

Did Target repurchase shares or increase dividends in Q1 2026?

Target increased dividends but did not repurchase shares in Q1 2026. According to Target, it paid $516 million in dividends, up from $510 million, reflecting a 1.8% higher dividend per share, and ended the quarter with $8.3 billion remaining under its repurchase authorization.

How did Target's return on invested capital change through Q1 2026?

Target's return on invested capital decreased over the latest twelve months. According to Target, after-tax ROIC for the trailing twelve months through Q1 2026 was 12.4%, compared with 15.1% for the trailing twelve months through first quarter 2025, indicating lower capital returns.

What drove Target's higher capital spending in Q1 2026?

Target significantly increased capital expenditures to support growth initiatives. According to Target, Q1 2026 capital expenditures were $1.0 billion, 31% higher than last year, driven mainly by increased investments in new stores and store remodels across its retail footprint.