Target
TGT on NYSE. Target sells clothes, home goods, and everyday items to families. Market value $69.5bn.
Price checks use the past 12 months to July 2026. Quality checks use five annual reports, the latest for the year to January 2026.
Should I look at this?
Worth a closer look
Why it could be worth it
What to watch out for
Nothing stood out in the numbers we check.
This is not advice. Check the numbers below.
For every $100 of what the whole company costs, it produced $6.41 of spare cash in the past 12 months. A savings account pays about $4.
You pay 13.2 years of operating profit for the business. The average large US company costs around 18.
Each dollar kept in the business earns 17 cents a year. Above 10 is good.
Quality score: 71 of 100. Price score: 97 of 100. Our list needs 70 on quality and 60 on price.
$152.99 a share, 83% above its 1-year low
Over the past year the price has ranged from $83.44 to $170.75.
Dividend: 3.0% a year
Paid every year for at least 5 years
Prices from Monday’s close (5 October).
Five years of cash, in billions
Spare cash swings from quarter to quarter here: $4.5 billion in the past 12 months, $2.8 billion in the year to January 2026.
| Revenue | |||||
| Revenue | $106.0bn | $109.1bn | $107.4bn | $106.6bn | $104.8bn |
| Operating margin | |||||
| Operating margin | 8.4% | 3.5% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.9% |
| Debt to equity | |||||
| Debt to equity | 1.07 | 1.44 | 1.19 | 1.09 | 1.02 |
| Shares outstanding | |||||
| Shares outstanding | 0.46bn | 0.46bn | 0.46bn | 0.45bn | 0.45bn |
Health checks
- Free cash flow positive4 of 5 years
- Accounting looks honest (Beneish)Nothing unusual
- Financial strength (Piotroski)6 of 9
- Profit backed by cash (accruals)Yes
- Debt1.02× equity
- Revenue growth, five yearsSlow, 2.3% a year
- Buying back its own sharesRoughly flat
The quarter to July 2026
How the business did, compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
- Sales: $26.5 billion last quarter, up 5% on a year ago.
- Profit: $1.9 billion, up 101% on a year ago.
- It keeps 6 cents of each $1 of sales as operating profit, up from 5 cents a year earlier.
- Spare cash over the past 12 months: $4.5 billion, up from $2.9 billion.
- About the same number of shares as a year ago.
- Debt is $9.9 billion more than cash, down from $12.1 billion a year ago.
- Sales grew on a year ago in 2 of the last 4 quarters.
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| October 2024 | $25.7bn |
| January 2025 | $30.9bn |
| April 2025 | $23.8bn |
| July 2025 | $25.2bn |
| October 2025 | $25.3bn |
| January 2026 | $30.5bn |
| April 2026 | $25.4bn |
| July 2026 | $26.5bn |
| Quarter to | Amount |
|---|---|
| October 2024 | $854m |
| January 2025 | $1.1bn |
| April 2025 | $1.0bn |
| July 2025 | $935m |
| October 2025 | $689m |
| January 2026 | $1.0bn |
| April 2026 | $781m |
| July 2026 | $1.9bn |
From the company's quarterly reports to the SEC.
Dates
- Next results (estimated)
- 18 November 2026
- Last annual report (10-K)
- 11 March 2026
- Next quarterly (estimated, 10-Q)
- 27 November 2026
Who owns it
13 long-term investors we follow own it, down from 14 last quarter. 1,885 funds in all.
- Cullen Capital ManagementJames Cullen
- Value
- $146m
- Share of fund
- 1.4%
- Brandes Investment PartnersCharles Brandes
- Value
- $75m
- Share of fund
- 0.5%
- Pzena Investment ManagementRichard Pzena
- Value
- $49m
- Share of fund
- 0.1%
- Dodge & CoxDodge & Cox investment committee
- Value
- $12m
- Share of fund
- <0.1%
| Fund | Value | Share of that fund | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSV Asset ManagementJosef Lakonishok | $248m | 0.4% | Added |
| Smead Capital ManagementBill Smead | $184m | 4.0% | Cut |
| Cullen Capital ManagementJames Cullen | $146m | 1.4% | |
| Brandes Investment PartnersCharles Brandes | $75m | 0.5% | |
| Pzena Investment ManagementRichard Pzena | $49m | 0.1% | |
| GMOJeremy Grantham | $47m | 0.1% | Cut |
| First Manhattan Co.First Manhattan partners | $25m | <0.1% | Cut |
| Gotham Asset ManagementJoel Greenblatt | $24m | <0.1% | Added |
| Mairs & PowerAndy Adams | $21m | 0.2% | Cut |
| Matrix Asset AdvisorsDavid Katz | $15m | 1.2% | Cut |
| Dodge & CoxDodge & Cox investment committee | $12m | <0.1% | |
| Boyar Asset ManagementMark Boyar | $949,842 | 0.5% | Cut |
| Barrow HanleyBarrow Hanley team | $21,028 | <0.1% | Cut |
Sold out this quarter
Largest holders overall
- BlackRock$5.1bnAdded
- State Street$4.7bnCut
- Vanguard Capital Management$3.9bn
- FMR$3.2bnAdded
- Vanguard Portfolio Management$2.9bn
- Charles Schwab Investment Management$2.0bnAdded
- Geode Capital Management$1.4bnAdded
- Morgan Stanley$896mCut
- Bank of New York Mellon$831mAdded
- Goldman Sachs Group$817mAdded
From 13F filings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026.
Big holders and activists
2 investors own more than 5%.
- Vanguard Capital ManagementPassive investor7.5%Since 31 March 2026
- FMR LLCPassive investorat least 5.4%(filed with 1 related holder)Since 30 June 2026
- The Vanguard GroupPassive investorSold down below 5%Since 13 March 2026
| Holder | Stake | Since | |
|---|---|---|---|
Vanguard Capital Management Passive investor | 7.5% | 31 March 2026 | |
FMR LLC Passive investor | at least 5.4% (filed with 1 related holder) | 30 June 2026 | |
The Vanguard Group Passive investor | Sold down below 5% | 13 March 2026 |
From Schedule 13D and 13G filings: anyone owning more than 5% must file one.
What insiders did
No insider bought shares on the open market in the last 12 months. 5 sold $26m.
- Cornell Brian CExecutive Officer, DirectorSold
- Date
- 25 August 2026
- Shares
- 50,000
- Price
- $163.56
- Value
- $8m
- Kremer Melissa KExecutive OfficerSold
- Date
- 24 August 2026
- Shares
- 15,500
- Price
- $169.96
- Value
- $3m
- LIEGEL MATTHEW AChief Accounting OfficerSold
- Date
- 21 August 2026
- Shares
- 926
- Price
- $163.51
- Value
- $151,410
- ROATH LISA RExecutive OfficerSold
- Date
- 29 June 2026
- Shares
- 7,000
- Price
- $138.07
- Value
- $966,490
- SYLVESTER CARA AExecutive OfficerSold
- Date
- 29 May 2026
- Shares
- 10,000
- Price
- $125.89
- Value
- $1m
- Cornell Brian CExecutive Officer, DirectorSold
- Date
- 27 May 2026
- Shares
- 50,000
- Price
- $129.85
- Value
- $6m
- LIEGEL MATTHEW AChief Accounting OfficerSold
- Date
- 17 March 2026
- Shares
- 2,053
- Price
- $117.19
- Value
- $240,591
- Cornell Brian CExecutive Officer, DirectorSold
- Date
- 10 March 2026
- Shares
- 50,000
- Price
- $121.76
- Value
- $6m
| Date | Who | Did | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 2026 | Cornell Brian C Executive Officer, Director | Sold | 50,000 | $163.56 | $8m |
| 24 August 2026 | Kremer Melissa K Executive Officer | Sold | 15,500 | $169.96 | $3m |
| 21 August 2026 | LIEGEL MATTHEW A Chief Accounting Officer | Sold | 926 | $163.51 | $151,410 |
| 29 June 2026 | ROATH LISA R Executive Officer | Sold | 7,000 | $138.07 | $966,490 |
| 29 May 2026 | SYLVESTER CARA A Executive Officer | Sold | 10,000 | $125.89 | $1m |
| 27 May 2026 | Cornell Brian C Executive Officer, Director | Sold | 50,000 | $129.85 | $6m |
| 17 March 2026 | LIEGEL MATTHEW A Chief Accounting Officer | Sold | 2,053 | $117.19 | $240,591 |
| 10 March 2026 | Cornell Brian C Executive Officer, Director | Sold | 50,000 | $121.76 | $6m |
From Form 4 filings: insiders must report trades in their own company's shares within two days.
Warning signs in its filings
Problems the company itself reported to the SEC, in its own words.
None of the warning signs we check for were found.
We look for five warning signs: doubt it can keep going, weak checks on its own accounts, a notice that its past accounts can't be relied on, a change of auditor, and one customer bringing in a big share of sales. We don't check lawsuits, investigations or debt yet.
We checked the auditor's report, internal controls, restatement notices, auditor changes and big customers in the 10-K filed 11 Mar 2026, plus the 10-Q filed 28 Aug 2026 and 5 later 8-Ks.
A 10-K is the yearly report every US company files with the SEC. An 8-K is a short notice of a big event.
What could go wrong
Cheap for a reason is the question the numbers cannot answer.
Whether the price already reflects the risks is what the deep dive is for.
What changed in the risks this year
Companies must list what could hurt them each year. These are the parts that changed since last year’s report.
Changes in our relationships with our vendors or other companies, changes in tax or trade policy, interruptions in our operations or supply chain, and increased commodity or supply chain costs could adversely affect our reputation and results of operations.
Could happenWe also utilize a first sale declaration program, which is subject to rigorous requirements, to pay duties and tariffs to U.S. Customs for merchandise on the basis of the price paid by our vendors rather than the price paid by the importer of record. Our program may be subject to inquiries, investigations, or regulatory proceedings by U.S. Customs. The amount of duties and tariffs that we pay to import merchandise could rise substantially if the U.S. government eliminates the availability of the first sale declaration methodology, if the requirements to utilize this methodology change, or if our ability to rely on this methodology is limited or eliminated. Any of these outcomes could adversely affect our reputation, results of operations, and financial condition.
Read moreOur Roundel retail media network may not maintain or grow advertising revenue, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Could happenRoundel, our in-house retail media network, offers advertising services on a variety of digital platforms primarily to our merchandise vendors, either directly or via advertising agencies, and Target Plus third-party sellers to promote their products and services. The digital advertising environment is highly competitive, and our advertisers do not have long-term commitments with us.
Read moreShareholder activism could adversely affect our business, strategic execution, and stock price.
Could happenWe regularly engage with shareholders with a goal of strengthening our business. From time to time, shareholders may pursue public or private campaigns to influence our corporate strategy, capital allocation, or environmental, political, social, and governance matters. Any such activist campaigns, including rumors of such campaigns, could result in increased costs, including legal expenses, and diversion of management and board attention. Public activism campaigns may also create actual or perceived uncertainty regarding our strategic direction, which could impair relationships with guests, suppliers, team members, and others, or cause volatility in our stock price that is not reflective of our underlying business fundamentals. These risks could adversely impact our reputation, ability to execute on strategic objectives, results of operations, and financial condition.
Read moreOur Roundel retail media network may not maintain or grow advertising revenue, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Could happenIn addition, changes in data privacy laws and regulations (as discussed elsewhere in this Item 1A, Risk Factors), as well as new or modified policies of third-party platforms through which Roundel’s offerings are delivered, could negatively affect Roundel’s business model. Increased competition, including from new or enhanced technology offerings such as artificial intelligence-enabled advertising solutions, may further pressure demand for our services. If advertisers reduce or discontinue their use of Roundel’s offerings, our competitive position and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Read moreOur business transformation initiatives may not achieve their intended objectives, which could adversely affect our competitive position, results of operations, and financial condition.
Already happenedIn addition, the execution of our business transformation efforts has resulted, and may continue to result, in additional costs, including impairment of long-lived assets and costs associated with exiting certain activities or terminating commercial relationships. For example, in 2025, we recognized costs and charges related to reductions in our workforce, facility exits, and the termination of a commercial partnership. Such costs and charges could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Read more
The deep dive
Everything above is arithmetic on public filings. The deep dive reads the last ten years of annual reports, the proxy statements, and the earnings calls, then argues the case the way Buffett, Klarman, and Hohn would, and checks every claim against the source.
- What the business is worth, as a range, and the margin of safety at today’s price
- Prices to start buying, buy, and buy hard
- The three things that would make this a mistake
- Every number footnoted to the filing it came from
Your first deep dive is free.
Not advice. Numbers on this page come from SEC filings and are updated each night; prices are updated again after the US market closes. The five-year figures are rounded.