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Target's (TGT) Q3 Earnings Top Estimates, Digital Sales Soar
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Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) continued with its stellar performance in third-quarter fiscal 2020, wherein both the top and the bottom lines not only surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but also improved year over year. While the quarter marked the seventh straight earnings beat, revenues surpassed the estimate for the third time in a row. Notably, comparable sales increased for the 14th consecutive quarter. The metric gained from strength in the digital channel, given customers’ increased shift to online shopping amid coronavirus-led social distancing.
The company has been focusing on store refurbishments, enhancing digital capabilities and expanding same-day fulfillment options, keeping in mind speed and convenience. Cumulatively, these contributed to the upbeat performance.
Shares of this Minneapolis, MN-based company have increased 34.1% in the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 24.2%.
This general merchandise retailer reported adjusted earnings of $2.79 per share that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61, and rose sharply from $1.36 per share reported in the year-ago period.
The company generated total revenues of $22,632 million that increased 21.3% from the year-ago period and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $20,908 million. We note that sales jumped 21.3% to $22,336 million, while other revenues were up 18.1% to $296 million.
Target Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Markedly, Target witnessed sturdy market-share gains in all five core merchandise categories owing to strong demand. While Electronics soared more than 50%, comparable sales in Apparel category rose nearly 10% in the quarter. Home registered comparable-sales growth in the mid-20% range. Essentials & Beauty and Food & Beverage witnessed broad-based growth in the high teens.
We note that stores fulfilled more than 95% of the company’s sales in the quarter. Same-day services (Order Pick Up, Drive Up and Shipt) surged 217%. Sales fulfilled by Shipt were up nearly 280% year over year and sales through Drive-Up were up more than 500% during the quarter under review. Order Pickup rose more than 50% in the quarter.
Meanwhile, comparable sales for the quarter increased 20.7%, backed by 15.6% jump in average ticket as consumers consolidated trips amid the pandemic. Comparable traffic grew 4.5%. Digital comparable sales soared 155% and added 10.9 percentage points to comparable sales. Comparable stores sales grew 9.9% during the quarter.
Gross margin expanded 80 basis points to 30.6% during the quarter, gaining from merchandising actions, mainly from exceptionally low markdown rates. This was partly offset by increased digital fulfillment and supply chain costs as well as unfavorable category mix. Again, operating margin grew 310 basis points to 8.5%.
Target’s debit card penetration shrunk 30 basis points to 12.2%, while credit card penetration fell 140 basis points to 9.3%. Total REDcard penetration declined to 21.5% from the year-ago quarter’s 23.1%.
Other Financial Details
During the reported quarter, Target paid dividends of $340 million. The company also informed that it intends to resume share repurchase activity next year. The company had $4.5 billion remaining under its $5-billion share-buyback program approved in September 2019.
This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $5,996 million, long-term debt and other borrowings of $12,490 million and shareholders’ investment of $13,319 million.
Ross Stores (ROST - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10%.
Dollar General (DG - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 11.1%. Currently, it carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Zacks Names “Single Best Pick to Double”
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
You know this company from its past glory days, but few would expect that it’s poised for a monster turnaround. Fresh from a successful repositioning and flush with A-list celeb endorsements, it could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in a little more than 9 months and Nvidia which boomed +175.9% in one year.
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Target's (TGT) Q3 Earnings Top Estimates, Digital Sales Soar
Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) continued with its stellar performance in third-quarter fiscal 2020, wherein both the top and the bottom lines not only surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but also improved year over year. While the quarter marked the seventh straight earnings beat, revenues surpassed the estimate for the third time in a row. Notably, comparable sales increased for the 14th consecutive quarter. The metric gained from strength in the digital channel, given customers’ increased shift to online shopping amid coronavirus-led social distancing.
The company has been focusing on store refurbishments, enhancing digital capabilities and expanding same-day fulfillment options, keeping in mind speed and convenience. Cumulatively, these contributed to the upbeat performance.
Shares of this Minneapolis, MN-based company have increased 34.1% in the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 24.2%.
This general merchandise retailer reported adjusted earnings of $2.79 per share that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61, and rose sharply from $1.36 per share reported in the year-ago period.
The company generated total revenues of $22,632 million that increased 21.3% from the year-ago period and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $20,908 million. We note that sales jumped 21.3% to $22,336 million, while other revenues were up 18.1% to $296 million.
Target Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Target Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Target Corporation Quote
Let’s Delve Deeper
Markedly, Target witnessed sturdy market-share gains in all five core merchandise categories owing to strong demand. While Electronics soared more than 50%, comparable sales in Apparel category rose nearly 10% in the quarter. Home registered comparable-sales growth in the mid-20% range. Essentials & Beauty and Food & Beverage witnessed broad-based growth in the high teens.
We note that stores fulfilled more than 95% of the company’s sales in the quarter. Same-day services (Order Pick Up, Drive Up and Shipt) surged 217%. Sales fulfilled by Shipt were up nearly 280% year over year and sales through Drive-Up were up more than 500% during the quarter under review. Order Pickup rose more than 50% in the quarter.
Meanwhile, comparable sales for the quarter increased 20.7%, backed by 15.6% jump in average ticket as consumers consolidated trips amid the pandemic. Comparable traffic grew 4.5%. Digital comparable sales soared 155% and added 10.9 percentage points to comparable sales. Comparable stores sales grew 9.9% during the quarter.
Gross margin expanded 80 basis points to 30.6% during the quarter, gaining from merchandising actions, mainly from exceptionally low markdown rates. This was partly offset by increased digital fulfillment and supply chain costs as well as unfavorable category mix. Again, operating margin grew 310 basis points to 8.5%.
Target’s debit card penetration shrunk 30 basis points to 12.2%, while credit card penetration fell 140 basis points to 9.3%. Total REDcard penetration declined to 21.5% from the year-ago quarter’s 23.1%.
Other Financial Details
During the reported quarter, Target paid dividends of $340 million. The company also informed that it intends to resume share repurchase activity next year. The company had $4.5 billion remaining under its $5-billion share-buyback program approved in September 2019.
This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $5,996 million, long-term debt and other borrowings of $12,490 million and shareholders’ investment of $13,319 million.
3 More Stocks Hogging the Limelight
Grocery Outlet (GO - Free Report) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 59%, on average. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ross Stores (ROST - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10%.
Dollar General (DG - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 11.1%. Currently, it carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Zacks Names “Single Best Pick to Double”
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
You know this company from its past glory days, but few would expect that it’s poised for a monster turnaround. Fresh from a successful repositioning and flush with A-list celeb endorsements, it could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in a little more than 9 months and Nvidia which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>