Target Corporation Reports Third Quarter Earnings

Rhea-AI Summary

Target reported a strong third quarter in 2020, with comparable sales growing by 20.7% and digital sales increasing 155%. Total revenue reached $22.6 billion, a 21.3% increase from last year. GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $2.01, up 46.3%, while Adjusted EPS rose 105.1% to $2.79. Operating income surged 93.1% to $1.9 billion, with a 30.6% gross margin. The company gained over $6 billion in market share and plans to resume share repurchases in 2021.

Positive

• Comparable sales grew 20.7%.
• Digital sales surged 155%, contributing significantly to overall growth.
• Total revenue reached $22.6 billion, up 21.3%.
• GAAP EPS from continuing operations rose 46.3% to $2.01.
• Adjusted EPS increased 105.1% to $2.79.
• Operating income rose 93.1% to $1.9 billion.
• The company gained over $6 billion in market share.
• Plan to resume share repurchases in 2021.

Negative

• Net interest expense increased significantly to $632 million due to early debt retirement costs.
• Gross margin pressure from higher digital fulfillment and supply chain costs.

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

• Third quarter comparable sales grew 20.7 percent
• Comparable traffic grew 4.5 percent, and average ticket grew 15.6 percent
• Store comparable sales increased 9.9 percent
• Digital comparable sales grew 155 percent, accounting for 10.9 percentage points of Target's comparable sales growth
• Same-day services (Order Pick Up, Drive Up and Shipt) grew 217 percent
• More than 95 percent of Target's third quarter sales were fulfilled by its stores
• Throughout the third quarter, the Company continued to gain market share across all five of its core merchandising categories. Year to date, the Company has gained more than $6 billion in market share.
• Third quarter GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $2.01 was 46.3 percent higher than last year. Third quarter Adjusted EPS¹ of $2.79 was 105.1 percent higher than last year, as strong operating performance offset continued investments in team member pay and benefits and safety measures to protect guests and team members.
• For additional media materials, please visit: https://corporate.target.com/article/2020/11/q3-2020-earnings

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced its third quarter 2020 financial results, which reflected continued, robust growth in both sales and profitability. The Company reported third quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $2.01, up 46.3 percent from $1.37 in 2019. GAAP EPS included a $0.75 loss on debt extinguishment, which was excluded from Adjusted EPS. Third quarter Adjusted EPS of $2.79 grew 105.1 percent compared with $1.36 in 2019. The attached tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS.

"Our strong results in 2020 reflect the benefits of our multi-year effort to build a durable and flexible model, with a differentiated assortment and a suite of industry-leading fulfillment options — all brought to life through the passion and effort of our team. As a result, we've seen a deepening level of engagement and trust from our guests. The result is unprecedented market share gains and historically strong sales growth, both in our stores and our digital channels," said Brian Cornell, chairman and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. "In preparation for the holiday season, we focused first on the safety of our guests and our team, making changes to eliminate crowds while enhancing our fast-growing, contactless options like in-store pickup, Drive Up and Shipt. In a holiday season that will feel different for our guests, we're committed to helping them navigate the season safely, as they find new ways to celebrate with family and friends."

Fiscal 2020 Guidance

During the first quarter, the Company withdrew its guidance given the unusually wide range of potential outcomes, in light of the highly fluid and uncertain outlook for consumer shopping patterns and the impact of COVID-19.

Operating Results

The Company's total comparable sales grew 20.7 percent in the third quarter, reflecting comparable stores sales growth of 9.9 percent and digital sales growth of 155 percent. Total revenue of $22.6 billion grew 21.3 percent compared with last year, driven by sales growth of 21.3 percent and an 18.1 percent increase in other revenue. Operating income was $1.9 billion in third quarter 2020, up 93.1 percent from $1.0 billion in 2019.

Third quarter operating income margin rate was 8.5 percent in 2020 compared with 5.4 percent in 2019. Third quarter gross margin rate was 30.6 percent, compared with 29.8 percent in 2019, reflecting the benefit of merchandising actions, primarily from exceptionally low markdown rates, partially offset by the impact of higher digital fulfillment and supply chain costs, along with unfavorable category mix. Third quarter SG&A expense rate was 20.5 percent in 2020, compared with 22.3 percent in 2019, reflecting the benefit of leverage from strong sales growth, partially offset by the net impact of other factors, primarily investments in team member pay, benefits, and safety.

Interest Expense and Taxes

The Company's third quarter 2020 net interest expense was $632 million, compared with $113 million last year. The increase was driven primarily by a $512 million charge related to the early retirement of debt in third quarter 2020.

Third quarter 2020 effective income tax rate was 21.9 percent, in line with 21.7 percent last year.

Capital Deployment and Return on Invested Capital

The Company paid dividends of $340 million in the third quarter, compared with $337 million last year, reflecting a 3.0 percent increase in the dividend per share, partially offset by a decline in average share count.

The Company has recently taken a number of actions in light of its strong operating performance and cash position. 

• Today, the Company announced it has lifted its share repurchase suspension, which it had announced on March 25, at a time of unusually high uncertainty following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company expects to resume share repurchases in 2021, consistent with its long-standing capital deployment policies and within the limits of its strong, middle-A credit ratings. As of the end of the third quarter, the Company had approximately $4.5 billion of remaining capacity under the repurchase program approved by Target's Board of Directors in September 2019.
• In October, the Company executed a debt tender offer, deploying $2.3 billion in cash to retire $1.8 billion of long-term debt.
• In early November, the Company terminated a supplementary 364 day credit facility, which had been secured in April given the uncertainty around COVID-19.

For the trailing twelve months through third quarter 2020, after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) was 19.9 percent, compared with 15.0 percent for the twelve months through third quarter 2019. The increase to ROIC was driven primarily by increased profitability combined with a decrease in the base of invested capital. The tables in this release provide additional information about the Company's ROIC calculation.

Webcast Details

Target will webcast its third quarter earnings conference call at 7:00 a.m. CT today. Investors and the media are invited to listen to the meeting at Investors.Target.com (click "investors" then click on "events & presentations"). A replay of the webcast will be provided when available. The replay number is 1-866-454-1406.

Miscellaneous

The statement in this release regarding the Company's expected resumption of share repurchase activity in 2021 is a forward-looking statement within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statement is subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actions to differ materially.  The most important risks and uncertainties are described in Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, 2020 and Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 2, 2020. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at nearly 1,900 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5% of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For the latest store count or for more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.

For more on the Target Foundation, click here.

1Adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP financial measure, excludes the impact of certain discretely managed items. See the tables of this release for additional information about the items that have been excluded from Adjusted EPS.

 

TARGET CORPORATION   Consolidated Statements of Operations
		Three Months Ended											Nine Months Ended
(millions, except per share data) (unaudited)		October 31, 2020				November 2, 2019				Change			October 31, 2020				November 2, 2019				Change
Sales		$	22,336			$	18,414			21.3	%		$	64,403			$	53,997			19.3	%
Other revenue		296				251				18.1			819				716				14.3
Total revenue		22,632				18,665				21.3			65,222				54,713				19.2
Cost of sales		15,509				12,935				19.9			45,692				37,808				20.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses		4,647				4,153				11.9			13,167				11,728				12.3
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)		541				575				(5.8)			1,660				1,717				(3.3)
Operating income		1,935				1,002				93.1			4,703				3,460				35.9
Net interest expense		632				113				457.7			871				359				142.6
Net other (income) / expense		5				(12)				(148.5)			16				(38)				(144.1)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes		1,298				901				44.1			3,816				3,139				21.6
Provision for income taxes		284				195				45.7			828				703				17.8
Net earnings from continuing operations		1,014				706				43.6			2,988				2,436				22.6
Discontinued operations, net of tax		—				8							—				11
Net earnings		$	1,014			$	714			41.9	%		$	2,988			$	2,447			22.1	%
Basic earnings per share
Continuing operations		$	2.02			$	1.38			46.2	%		$	5.97			$	4.75			25.6	%
Discontinued operations		—				0.02							—				0.02
Net earnings per share		$	2.02			$	1.40			44.5	%		$	5.97			$	4.77			25.0	%
Diluted earnings per share
Continuing operations		$	2.01			$	1.37			46.3	%		$	5.91			$	4.71			25.5	%
Discontinued operations		—				0.02							—				0.02
Net earnings per share		$	2.01			$	1.39			44.5	%		$	5.91			$	4.74			24.9	%
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic		500.6				509.7				(1.8)	%		500.6				512.5				(2.3)	%
Diluted		505.4				514.8				(1.8)	%		505.2				516.8				(2.2)	%
Antidilutive shares		—				—							—				—
Dividends declared per share		$	0.68			$	0.66			3.0	%		$	2.02			$	1.96			3.1	%
Note:  Per share amounts may not foot due to rounding.

 

TARGET CORPORATION   Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(millions, except footnotes) (unaudited)		October 31, 2020				February 1, 2020				November 2, 2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	5,996			$	2,577			$	969
Inventory		12,712				8,992				11,396
Other current assets		1,601				1,333				1,440
Total current assets		20,309				12,902				13,805
Property and equipment
Land		6,063				6,036				6,040
Buildings and improvements		31,398				30,603				30,467
Fixtures and equipment		5,843				6,083				6,032
Computer hardware and software		2,706				2,692				2,636
Construction-in-progress		518				533				298
Accumulated depreciation		(19,755)				(19,664)				(19,089)
Property and equipment, net		26,773				26,283				26,384
Operating lease assets		2,208				2,236				2,151
Other noncurrent assets		1,371				1,358				1,401
Total assets		$	50,661			$	42,779			$	43,741
Liabilities and shareholders' investment
Accounts payable		$	14,203			$	9,920			$	11,258
Accrued and other current liabilities		5,023				4,406				4,191
Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings		131				161				1,159
Total current liabilities		19,357				14,487				16,608
Long-term debt and other borrowings		12,490				11,338				10,513
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities		2,196				2,275				2,208
Deferred income taxes		1,171				1,122				1,215
Other noncurrent liabilities		2,128				1,724				1,652
Total noncurrent liabilities		17,985				16,459				15,588
Shareholders' investment
Common stock		42				42				42
Additional paid-in capital		6,285				6,226				6,006
Retained earnings		7,789				6,433				6,270
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(797)				(868)				(773)
Total shareholders' investment		13,319				11,833				11,545
Total liabilities and shareholders' investment		$	50,661			$	42,779			$	43,741

Common Stock  Authorized 6,000,000,000 shares, $0.0833 par value; 500,754,729, 504,198,962 and 506,677,740 shares issued and outstanding as of October 31, 2020, February 1, 2020, and November 2, 2019, respectively.

Preferred Stock Authorized 5,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value; no shares were issued or outstanding during any period presented.

 

TARGET CORPORATION   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
		Nine Months Ended
(millions) (unaudited)		October 31, 2020				November 2, 2019
Operating activities
Net earnings		$	2,988			$	2,447
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax		—				11
Net earnings from continuing operations		2,988				2,436
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization		1,848				1,905
Share-based compensation expense		161				116
Deferred income taxes		26				235
Loss on debt extinguishment		512				—
Noncash losses / (gains) and other, net		124				6
Changes in operating accounts:
Inventory		(3,720)				(1,899)
Other assets		(174)				(10)
Accounts payable		4,287				1,473
Accrued and other liabilities		992				(121)
Cash provided by operating activities—continuing operations		7,044				4,141
Cash provided by operating activities—discontinued operations		—				18
Cash provided by operations		7,044				4,159
Investing activities
Expenditures for property and equipment		(2,009)				(2,403)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment		27				29
Other investments		(3)				14
Cash required for investing activities		(1,985)				(2,360)
Financing activities
Additions to long-term debt		2,480				994
Reductions of long-term debt		(2,395)				(1,041)
Dividends paid		(1,002)				(995)
Repurchase of stock		(741)				(959)
Accelerated share repurchase pending final settlement		—				(450)
Stock option exercises		18				65
Cash required for financing activities		(1,640)				(2,386)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		3,419				(587)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		2,577				1,556
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	5,996			$	969

 

TARGET CORPORATION   Operating Results
Rate Analysis		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(unaudited)		October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019			October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019
Gross margin rate		30.6	%		29.8	%		29.1	%		30.0	%
SG&A expense rate		20.5			22.3			20.2			21.4
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) expense rate		2.4			3.1			2.5			3.1
Operating income margin rate		8.5			5.4			7.2			6.3
Note:  Gross margin rate is calculated as gross margin (sales less cost of sales) divided by sales. All other rates are calculated by dividing the applicable amount by total revenue. Other revenue includes $164 million and $488 million of profit-sharing income under our credit card program agreement for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2020, respectively, and $177 million and $505 million for the three and nine months ended November 2, 2019, respectively.
Comparable Sales		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(unaudited)		October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019			October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019
Comparable sales change		20.7	%		4.5	%		18.7	%		4.2	%
Drivers of change in comparable sales
Number of transactions		4.5			3.1			2.6			3.3
Average transaction amount		15.6			1.4			15.7			0.9
Contribution to Comparable Sales Change		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(unaudited)		October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019			October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019
Stores originated channel comparable sales change		9.9	%		2.8	%		7.3	%		2.3	%
Contribution from digitally originated sales		10.9			1.7			11.4			1.9
Total comparable sales change		20.7	%		4.5	%		18.7	%		4.2	%
Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
Sales by Channel		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(unaudited)		October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019			October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019
Stores originated		84.3	%		92.5	%		83.9	%		92.7	%
Digitally originated		15.7			7.5			16.1			7.3
Total		100	%		100	%		100	%		100	%
RedCard Penetration		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(unaudited)		October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019			October 31, 2020			November 2, 2019
Target Debit Card		12.2	%		12.5	%		12.2	%		12.7	%
Target Credit Cards		9.3			10.7			9.2			10.6
Total RedCard Penetration		21.5	%		23.1	%		21.4	%		23.3	%
Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

 

Number of Stores and Retail Square Feet		Number of Stores									Retail Square Feet (a)
(unaudited)		October 31, 2020			February 1, 2020			November 2, 2019			October 31, 2020			February 1, 2020			November 2, 2019
170,000 or more sq. ft.		273			272			272			48,798			48,619			48,619
50,000 to 169,999 sq. ft.		1,509			1,505			1,504			189,508			189,227			189,164
49,999 or less sq. ft.		115			91			86			3,342			2,670			2,475
Total		1,897			1,868			1,862			241,648			240,516			240,258
(a)           In thousands, reflects total square feet less office, distribution center, and vacant space.

 

TARGET CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide additional transparency, we have disclosed non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS). This metric excludes certain items presented below. We believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our continuing operations. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The most comparable GAAP measure is diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS		Three Months Ended
		October 31, 2020												November 2, 2019
(millions, except per share data) (unaudited)		Pretax				Net of Tax				Per Share				Pretax				Net of Tax				Per Share				Change
GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations										$	2.01											$	1.37			46.3	%
Adjustments
Loss on debt extinguishment		$	512			$	379			$	0.75			$	—			$	—			$	—
Loss on investment (a)		8				9				0.02				—				—				—
Other (b)		8				6				0.01				(9)				(6)				(0.01)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations										$	2.79											$	1.36			105.1	%
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS		Nine Months Ended
		October 31, 2020												November 2, 2019
(millions, except per share data) (unaudited)		Pretax				Net of Tax				Per Share				Pretax				Net of Tax				Per Share				Change
GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations										$	5.91											$	4.71			25.5	%
Adjustments
Loss on debt extinguishment		$	512			$	379			$	0.75			$	—			$	—			$	—
Loss on investment (a)		19				18				0.03				—				—				—
Other (b)		33				24				0.05				(9)				(6)				(0.01)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations										$	6.75											$	4.70			43.5	%

Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

(a)       Includes an unrealized loss on our investment in Casper Sleep Inc., which is not core to our continuing operations.

(b)       For 2020, includes store damage and inventory losses related to civil unrest. For 2019, represents an insurance recovery related to the 2013 data breach.

Earnings from continuing operations before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) and earnings from continuing operations before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe these measures provide meaningful information about our operational efficiency compared with our competitors by excluding the impact of differences in tax jurisdictions and structures, debt levels, and, for EBITDA, capital investment. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is net earnings from continuing operations. EBIT and EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate EBIT and EBITDA differently, limiting the usefulness of the measures for comparisons with other companies.

EBIT and EBITDA		Three Months Ended											Nine Months Ended
(dollars in millions) (unaudited)		October 31, 2020				November 2, 2019				Change			October 31, 2020				November 2, 2019				Change
Net earnings from continuing operations		$	1,014			$	706			43.6	%		$	2,988			$	2,436			22.6	%
+ Provision for income taxes		284				195				45.7			828				703				17.8
+ Net interest expense		632				113				457.7			871				359				142.6
EBIT		$	1,930			$	1,014			90.2	%		$	4,687			$	3,498			34.0	%
+ Total depreciation and amortization (a)		603				637				(5.1)			1,848				1,905				(2.9)
EBITDA		$	2,533			$	1,651			53.5	%		$	6,535			$	5,403			21.0	%

(a)       Represents total depreciation and amortization, including amounts classified within Depreciation and Amortization and within Cost of Sales.

We have also disclosed after-tax return on invested capital from continuing operations (ROIC), which is a ratio based on GAAP information, with the exception of the add-back of operating lease interest to operating income. We believe this metric is useful in assessing the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time. Other companies may calculate ROIC differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

After-Tax Return on Invested Capital
(dollars in millions)
		Trailing Twelve Months
Numerator		October 31, 2020				November 2, 2019
Operating income		$	5,901			$	4,577
+ Net other income / (expense)		(46)				45
EBIT		5,855				4,622
+ Operating lease interest (a)		87				86
- Income taxes (b)		1,277				1,043
Net operating profit after taxes		$	4,665			$	3,665
Denominator		October 31, 2020				November 2, 2019				November 3, 2018
Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings		$	131			$	1,159			$	1,535
+ Noncurrent portion of long-term debt		12,490				10,513				10,104
+ Shareholders' investment		13,319				11,545				11,080
+ Operating lease liabilities (c)		2,400				2,390				2,208
- Cash and cash equivalents		5,996				969				825
Invested capital		$	22,344			$	24,638			$	24,102
Average invested capital (d)		$	23,491			$	24,369
After-tax return on invested capital			19.9	%			15.0	%

(a)	Represents the add-back to operating income driven by the hypothetical interest expense we would incur if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as finance leases. Calculated using the discount rate for each lease and recorded as a component of rent expense within SG&A. Operating lease interest is added back to Operating Income in the ROIC calculation to control for differences in capital structure between us and our competitors.
(b)	Calculated using the effective tax rates for continuing operations, which were 21.5 percent and 22.1 percent for the trailing twelve months ended October 31, 2020, and November 2, 2019, respectively. For the twelve months ended October 31, 2020, and November 2, 2019, includes tax effect of $1.3 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, related to EBIT and $19 million and $19 million, respectively, related to operating lease interest.
(c)	Total short-term and long-term operating lease liabilities included within Accrued and Other Current Liabilities and Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities.
(d)	Average based on the invested capital at the end of the current period and the invested capital at the end of the comparable prior period.

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SOURCE Target Corporation