Earnings: Target rises on strong Q4 comp sales

Target Corp (TGT) on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings in line with street expectations. Earnings for the quarter rose 12.5% to $1.53 per share, even as revenue remained flat at $22.9 billion. Analysts had predicted earnings of $1.53 per share on revenue of $23.15 billion.

On a GAAP basis, earnings fell to $1.52 per share from $1.99 per share in the same quarter last year.

Comp sales came in at 5.3%, higher than the 5% projected by the management. Last month, the company said its comparable sales for the November/December period grew 5.7%, helped by strong traffic and positive store comps.

Comparable digital sales grew by 31% in Q4. In the November/December period, comp sales had improved 29% fuelled by store-fulfilled digital sales growth. For the full year, digital sales jumped 36%, marking the fifth consecutive year of more than 25% growth.

Target was among the few retail players that did relatively well during the last holiday quarter, which was the slowest since 2009. 

The company saw the strongest growth in toys, baby products, and seasonal gift items during the holiday period. Target has also been taking measures to improve its delivery service, and the acquisition of Shipt has benefited the company in this area.

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Outlook

The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based retailer expects a low- to mid-single digit increase in comparable sales in the first quarter of 2019. During this period, Adjusted EPS is expected in the range of $1.32 to $1.52.

For the full year, meanwhile, Target expects a low- to mid-single digit increase in comparable sales and a mid-single digit increase in operating income. Adjusted EPS is forecast in the range of $5.75 to $6.05.

TGT shares rose 4.75% during pre-market trading on Tuesday. The stock has gained 9% since the start of this year, following a tumultuous second half of last year.

CFO change

Target said last month that Chief Financial Officer Cathy Smith would be retiring from the company. Since her replacement is yet to be named, Target said that Smith would continue in her role as CFO till the process is complete, and then move to an advisory role until May 2020 to ensure a smooth transition.

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