Target (NYSE:TGT) Sets New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?

Target Co. (NYSE:TGT)’s share price reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $111.84 and last traded at $113.34, with a volume of 5435060 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $115.08.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Telsey Advisory Group decreased their price target on Target from $150.00 to $145.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Target from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on Target from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Target from $165.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on shares of Target from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eighteen have given a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $145.87.

Target Trading Down 1.2 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market cap of $52.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.18. The business’s 50 day moving average is $132.05 and its 200-day moving average is $141.37.

Target (NYSE:TGT) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, March 4th. The retailer reported $2.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.24 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $30.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $30.83 billion. Target had a net margin of 4.06% and a return on equity of 31.11%. As a group, analysts forecast that Target Co. will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Target Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 12th were paid a dividend of $1.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 12th. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.94%. Target’s dividend payout ratio is presently 50.56%.

Institutional Trading of Target

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TGT. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its stake in shares of Target by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 241,447 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $37,632,000 after purchasing an additional 19,095 shares during the last quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Target by 7.6% in the 3rd quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,658 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $882,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC bought a new position in Target in the third quarter worth $1,157,000. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in Target by 3.2% in the third quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,358 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $523,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. Finally, Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Target by 20.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,777 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $589,000 after buying an additional 645 shares in the last quarter. 79.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Target Company Profile

Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies.