TARGET CORP
For the period ended Aug 3, 2024. Filed Aug 30, 2024.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Aug 3, 2024 · Filed Aug 30, 2024
TGT$158.41+0.3%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
What changed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-05-04; filed 2024-05-31.
0000027419-24-000129
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-08-03; filed 2024-08-30.
0000027419-24-000152
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 68 previous paragraphs and 74 current paragraphs.
44 unchanged; 22 reworded; 7 added; 2 removed; 0 previous and 1 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 34 previous and 36 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (7)
Current report
Year-to-Date
Current report
For the three months ended August 3, 2024, our gross margin rate was 28.9 percent compared with 27.0 percent in the comparable prior-year period. For the six months ended August 3, 2024, our gross margin rate was 28.3 percent compared with 26.7 percent in the comparable prior-year period. For both the three and six months ended August 3, 2024, the increase reflected the net impact of
Current report
•favorable category mix;
Current report
•higher digital fulfillment & supply chain costs due to
Current report
◦an increase in digital volume; and
Current report
◦new supply chain facilities coming online.
Current report
Our effective income tax rates for the three and six months ended August 3, 2024, were 22.9 percent and 22.8 percent, respectively, compared with 22.2 percent and 21.6 percent in the comparable prior-year periods. The increase in both periods reflects the impact of higher pretax earnings and lower discrete tax benefits compared to the prior-year.
Removed paragraphs (2)
Previous report
Cash flow provided by operating activities was $1.1 billion for the three months ended May 4, 2024, compared with $1.3 billion for the three months ended April 29, 2023. The drivers of the operating cash flow decrease are described onpage 20.
Previous report
Our effective tax rate for the three months ended May 4, 2024 was 22.7 percent, compared with 21.1 percent in the comparable prior-year period. The increase reflects higher discrete tax benefits in the prior-year period.
Reworded paragraphs (22)
Previous wording
First quarter 2024 included the following notable items:
Current wording
Second quarter 2024 included the following notable items:
Previous wording
•GAAP and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.03.
Current wording
•GAAP and adjusted diluted earnings per share (Adjusted EPS) were $2.57.
Previous wording
•Total revenue was $24.5 billion, a decrease of 3.1 percent from the comparable prior-year period, reflecting a total sales decrease of 3.2 percent and a 3.9 percent increase in other revenue.
Current wording
•Total revenue was $25.5 billion, an increase of 2.7 percent from the comparable prior-year period, reflecting a total sales increase of 2.6 percent and a 10.8 percent increase in other revenue.
Previous wording
•Comparable sales decreased 3.7 percent, reflecting a 1.9 percent decrease in both traffic and average transaction amount.
Current wording
•Comparable sales increased 2.0 percent, reflecting a 3.0 percent increase in traffic and a 0.9 percent decrease in average transaction amount.
Previous wording
◦Comparable stores-originated sales declined 4.8 percent.
Current wording
◦Comparable stores-originated sales grew 0.7 percent.
Previous wording
◦Comparable digitally-originated sales increased 1.4 percent.
Current wording
◦Comparable digitally-originated sales increased 8.7 percent.
Previous wording
•Operating income of $1.3 billion was 2.4 percent lower than the comparable prior-year period.
Current wording
•Operating income of $1.6 billion was 36.6 percent higher than the comparable prior-year period.
Previous wording
Note: Adjusted diluted earnings per share (Adjusted EPS), a non-GAAP metric, excludes the impact of certain items when applicable. However, there are no adjustments in either period presented. Management believes that Adjusted EPS is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is providedon page 18.
Current wording
Note: Adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP metric, excludes the impact of certain items when applicable. However, there are no adjustments in any period presented. Management believes that Adjusted EPS is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is providedon page 19.
Previous wording
We report after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) because we believe ROIC provides a meaningful measure of our capital allocation effectiveness over time. For the trailing twelve months ended May 4, 2024, after-tax ROICwas 15.4 percent, compared with 11.4 percent for the trailing twelve months ended April 29, 2023. The calculation of ROIC isprovided on page 19.
Current wording
We report after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) because we believe ROIC provides a meaningful measure of our capital allocation effectiveness over time. For the trailing twelve months ended August 3, 2024, after-tax ROICwas 16.6 percent, compared with 13.7 percent for the trailing twelve months ended July 29, 2023. The calculation of ROIC isprovided on page 20.
Previous wording
We monitor the percentage of purchases that are paid for using Target Circle Cards™ (Target Circle Card Penetration) because our internal analysis has indicated that a meaningful portion of the incremental purchases on Target Circle Cards are also incremental sales for Target. Target Circle Cards were formerly branded as RedCards and their sales penetration was referred to as RedCard Penetration. Guests receive a 5 percent discount on virtually all purchases when they use a Target Circle Card at Target. For the three months ended May 4, 2024 and April 29, 2023, total Target Circle Card Penetration was 18.0 percent and 19.0 percent, respectively.
Current wording
We monitor the percentage of purchases that are paid for using Target Circle Cards™ (Target Circle Card Penetration) because our internal analysis has indicated that a meaningful portion of the incremental purchases on Target Circle Cards are also incremental sales for Target. Guests receive a 5 percent discount on virtually all purchases when they use a Target Circle Card at Target. For the three months ended August 3, 2024 and July 29, 2023, total Target Circle Card Penetration was 17.7 percent and 18.6 percent, respectively. For the six months ended August 3, 2024 and July 29, 2023, total Target Circle Card Penetration was 17.9 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively.
Previous wording
For the three months ended May 4, 2024, our gross margin rate was 27.7 percent compared with 26.3 percent in the comparable prior-year period. The increase reflected the net impact of merchandising activities, including cost improvements which more than offset higher promotional markdown rates. Our gross margin rate also benefited from favorable category mix and lower book to physical inventory adjustments compared to the prior-year period.
Current wording
•merchandising activities, including cost improvements which more than offset higher promotional markdown rates;
Previous wording
For the three months ended May 4, 2024, our SG&A expense rate was 21.1 percent compared with 19.8 percent for the comparable prior-year period. The increase reflected the combined impact of lower sales and the net impact of cost increases across our business, including investments in team member pay and benefits and increased marketing activities.
Current wording
For the three months ended August 3, 2024, our SG&A expense rate was 21.2 percent compared with 20.9 percent for the comparable prior-year period. For the six months ended August 3, 2024, our SG&A expense rate was 21.1 percent compared with 20.4 percent for the comparable prior-year period. The increases reflected the net impact of cost increases across our business, including investments in team member pay and benefits, partially offset by the benefit of lower store remodel-related expenses.
Previous wording
For the three months ended May 4, 2024, net interest expense was $106 million compared with $147 million in the comparable prior-year period. The decrease in net interest expense was primarily due to an increase in interest income.
Current wording
Net interest expense was $110 million and $216 million for the three and six months ended August 3, 2024, respectively, compared with $141 million and $288 million in the comparable prior-year periods. The decrease in net interest expense was primarily due to an increase in interest income.
Previous wording
To provide additional transparency, we disclose non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share (Adjusted EPS). When applicable, this metric excludes certain discretely managed items. We believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, U.S. GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is diluted earnings per share. Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.
Current wording
To provide additional transparency, we disclose non-GAAP Adjusted EPS. When applicable, this metric excludes certain discretely managed items. However, there are no adjustments in any period presented. We believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, U.S. GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is diluted earnings per share. Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.
Previous wording
(c)Calculated using the effective tax rates, which were 22.2 percent and 19.3 percent for the trailing twelve months ended May 4, 2024 and April 29, 2023, respectively. For the trailing twelve months ended May 4, 2024 and April 29, 2023, includes tax effect of $1.3 billion and $0.8 billion, respectively, related to EBIT and $30 million and $18 million, respectively, related to operating lease interest.
Current wording
(c)Calculated using the effective tax rates, which were 22.4 percent and 20.2 percent for the trailing twelve months ended August 3, 2024 and July 29, 2023, respectively. For the trailing twelve months ended August 3, 2024 and July 29, 2023, includes tax effect of $1.4 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, related to EBIT and $33 million and $20 million, respectively, related to operating lease interest.
Previous wording
Our cash and cash equivalents balance was $3.6 billion, $3.8 billion, and $1.3 billion as of May 4, 2024, February 3, 2024, and April 29, 2023, respectively. Our cash and cash equivalents balance includes short-term investments of $2.7 billion, $2.9 billion, and $408 million as of May 4, 2024, February 3, 2024, and April 29, 2023, respectively. Our investment policy is designed to preserve principal and liquidity of our short-term investments. This policy allows investments in large money market funds or in highly-rated direct short-term instruments that mature in 60 days or less. We also place dollar limits on our investments in individual funds or instruments.
Current wording
Our cash and cash equivalents balance was $3.5 billion, $3.8 billion, and $1.6 billion as of August 3, 2024, February 3, 2024, and July 29, 2023, respectively. Our cash and cash equivalents balance includes short-term investments of $2.5 billion, $2.9 billion, and $739 million as of August 3, 2024, February 3, 2024, and July 29, 2023, respectively. Our investment policy is designed to preserve principal and liquidity of our short-term investments. This policy allows investments in large money market funds or in highly-rated direct short-term instruments that mature in 60 days or less. We also place dollar limits on our investments in individual funds or instruments.
Previous wording
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $1.1 billion for the three months ended May 4, 2024, compared with $1.3 billion for the three months ended April 29, 2023. The operating cash flow decrease is primarily due to higher incentive compensation and other payments, partially offset by the net impact of inventory and accounts payable activity.
Current wording
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $3.3 billion and $3.4 billion for the six months ended August 3, 2024, and July 29, 2023, respectively. The operating cash flow decrease is primarily due to higher income tax and incentive compensation payments, offset by higher net earnings and the combined impact of inventory and accounts payable activity.
Previous wording
Inventory was $11.7 billion as of May 4, 2024, compared with $11.9 billion and $12.6 billion at February 3, 2024 and April 29, 2023, respectively. The balance as of May 4, 2024, reflects cost improvement, including lower freight rates, and the impact of changes in merchandise mix. We have also increased our inventory turnover rate, allowing us to support sales with a lower inventory investment.
Current wording
Inventory was $12.6 billion as of August 3, 2024, compared with $11.9 billion and $12.7 billion as of February 3, 2024, and July 29, 2023, respectively.
Previous wording
Cash required for investing activities decreased to $0.7 billion for the three months ended May 4, 2024, compared to $1.6 billion for the three months ended April 29, 2023, due to lower capital investments.
Current wording
Cash required for investing activities decreased to $1.3 billion for the six months ended August 3, 2024, compared to $2.8 billion for the six months ended July 29, 2023, due to lower capital investments.
Previous wording
We paid dividends totaling $508 million ($1.10 per share) for the three months ended May 4, 2024, and $497 million ($1.08 per share) for the three months ended April 29, 2023, a per share increase of 1.9 percent. We declared dividends totaling $516 million ($1.10 per share) during the first quarter of 2024 and $507 million ($1.08 per share) during the first quarter of 2023, a per share increase of 1.9 percent. We have paid dividends every quarter since our 1967 initial public offering, and it is our intent to continue to do so in the future.
Current wording
We paid dividends totaling $509 million ($1.10 per share) and $1,017 million ($2.20 per share) for the three and six months ended August 3, 2024, respectively, and $499 million ($1.08 per share) and $996 million ($2.16 per share) for the three and six months ended July 29, 2023, respectively, a per share increase of 1.9 percent. We declared dividends totaling $527 million ($1.12 per share) during the second quarter of 2024 and $516 million ($1.10 per share) during the second quarter of 2023, a per share increase of 1.8 percent. We have paid dividends every quarter since our 1967 initial public offering, and it is our intent to continue to do so in the future.
Previous wording
We did not repurchase any shares during the three months ended May 4, 2024. See Part II, Item 2, Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information.
Current wording
We returned $155 million to shareholders through share repurchase during the six months ended August 3, 2024. See Part II, Item 2, Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Note 8 to the Financial Statements for more information.
Previous wording
We have the ability to obtain short-term financing from time to time under our commercial paper program and credit facilities. Our committed $1.0 billion 364-day and $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facilities that will expire in October 2024 and October 2028, respectively, backstop our commercial paper program. No balances were outstanding under either credit facility at any time during 2024 or 2023. There was no commercial paper outstanding as of May 4, 2024, and we had $90 million outstanding as of April 29, 2023. Note 5 to the Financial Statements provides additional information.
Current wording
We have the ability to obtain short-term financing from time to time under our commercial paper program and credit facilities. Our committed $1.0 billion 364-day and $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facilities that will expire in October 2024 and October 2028, respectively, backstop our commercial paper program. No balances were outstanding under either credit facility at any time during 2024 or 2023. There was no commercial paper outstanding as of either August 3, 2024 or July 29, 2023. Note 6 to the Financial Statements provides additional information.
Rearranged current paragraphs (1)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
•lower book to physical inventory adjustments compared to the prior-year period; and