TGT TARGET CORP

NYSE Retail-Variety Stores MN CIK: 0000027419
AI RATING
SELL
68% Confidence

Investment Thesis

Target faces fundamental headwinds with declining revenue (-1.7% YoY) and contracting profitability (EPS -8.2% YoY), compounded by negative free cash flow of -$319M despite operating cash flow of $716M. Weak returns on capital (ROE 4.8%, ROA 1.3%) and liquidity stress (current ratio 0.93x) signal operational challenges, though strong gross margins (81.6%) indicate the business retains underlying pricing power.

Strengths

  • + Exceptional gross margin of 81.6% demonstrates pricing power and operational efficiency
  • + Manageable debt/equity ratio of 0.87x with strong interest coverage of 10.7x indicates debt is serviceable
  • + Large asset base of $58B provides scale and competitive infrastructure

Risks

  • ! Negative free cash flow of -$319M is unsustainable and indicates cash burn despite capital investments
  • ! Current ratio of 0.93x and quick ratio of 0.30x signal working capital stress and potential liquidity constraints
  • ! Revenue contraction and declining earnings momentum suggest market share or demand erosion in competitive retail landscape

Key Metrics to Watch

Financial Metrics

Revenue
25.4B
Net Income
781.0M
EPS (Diluted)
$1.71
Free Cash Flow
-319.0M
Total Assets
58.0B
Cash
3.5B

Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin 81.6%
Operating Margin 4.5%
Net Margin 3.1%
ROE 4.8%
ROA 1.3%
FCF Margin -1.3%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
0.93x
Quick Ratio
0.30x
Debt/Equity
0.87x
Debt/Assets
0.0%
Interest Coverage
10.71x
Long-term Debt
14.3B
Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: 2026-05-30T07:32:47.453348 | Data as of: 2026-05-02 | Powered by Claude AI