Target Faces Investor Backlash Over Weak Forecast

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Target’s latest quarterly earnings report has rattled investors, with the retail giant’s shares plummeting as it issued a disappointing forecast for the current quarter. Shares were down 7.7% at $143.84, marking the sharpest one-day drop since November 2022.

The weak performance comes in contrast to Target’s larger rival Walmart, which reported better-than-expected results last week and raised its annual outlook. Analysts suggest that Target’s struggles indicate a loss of market share, with its performance lagging behind the overall market.

According to data from Kantar, Target’s share of U.S. retail sales declined from 2.1% in 2020 to 1.8% in 2023. While some, like Charles Sizemore, chief investment officer of Sizemore Capital Management, caution against directly comparing Target’s results with Walmart’s due to differences in their market focus, Target’s performance still raises concerns.

In the first quarter, Target saw comparable sales drop by 3.7%, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly decline. The company’s forecast for the second quarter also fell short of expectations, with flat to 2% comparable sales growth projected, below analysts’ forecasts.

Target’s CEO Brian Cornell attributed the decline in sales to consumers delaying purchases, waiting for deals, and shifting spending towards out-of-home activities. While the company expects short-term pressure on discretionary spending to persist, it anticipates improvement later in the year.

Analysts and investors acknowledge that Target faces both external economic challenges and internal hurdles but suggest that the company has strategies to address these issues and bolster its performance.