Target Stock Surges on Earnings Beat, Higher Profit Outlook

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Key Takeaways

  • Target shares jumped Wednesday after the retailer posted second-quarter earnings that beat expectations.
  • Comparable store sales returned to growth in the quarter, as Target said traffic in stores and digital sales grew from the same time last year.
  • The retailer lifted its projections for full-year profits, thanks to the strong second-quarter results.

Target ( TGT ) shares soared Wednesday after the retailer’s second-quarter earnings beat estimates, leading Target to lift its projections for full-year earnings per share (EPS) .

Target posted second-quarter revenue of $25.42 billion, up about 2.6% year-over-year and better than analysts had expected , according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. The retail giant’s cost-cutting measures also paid off, as Target reported $1.19 billion in net income , a 40% jump from the second quarter of fiscal 2023, and also above analysts’ estimates.

Comparable Store Sales Return to Growth

After comparable store sales declined year-over-year in the first quarter , the metric returned to growth in the second quarter, with comparable store sales up 2% from the same time last year. Target said in-store traffic rose 3% compared to last year, while digital sales jumped 8.7% thanks to the double-digit sales growth of Target’s same-day services like curbside pickup orders and same-day shipping offered in Target’s revamped membership program .

Target also said discretionary sales trends “continued to improve meaningfully” in the quarter, led by growth in categories like apparel and beauty. Target was one of a number of retailers who struggled with lower discretionary spending from many consumers as inflation led many Americans to focus their spending on essentials.

Target projects flat to up to 2% growth in comparable sales for the third quarter, with EPS of $2.10 to $2.40, with analysts projecting $2.21. For the full year, Target said it expects full-year comparable sales on the low end of its initial flat to 2% growth projection, but lifted its EPS projection to a range of $9 to $9.70, compared to $8.60 to $9.60 previously.

Shares of Target were up over 13% to $164.50 in pre-market trading Wednesday following the release.