Target Shares Slides 7.38% After Inflation Hurts Earnings

Target's first-quarter earnings and sales fell by 7.38% due to inflation, causing shares to fall in pre-market trading. Adjusted earnings per share were $2.03, down from $2.05 year on year and worse than analysts expected. Total revenue was $24.53 billion in the first quarter ended May 4, down 3.1% from $25.32 billion in the same period last year. First-quarter comparable sales were down 3.7%, marking the fourth straight quarter of decline. The slowdown in sales was primarily in discretionary categories like home decor and electronics but partially offset by a continued growth in beauty. Target's net income came in weaker, at $942 million compared to $950 million in the same quarter in 2023.

The number of transactions and average amount spent at Target stores ( TGT ) and digital channels were both down 1.9% in the first quarter, compared to a traffic growth of 0.9% and a decline of 0.9% in average transaction amount in the comparable period last year. Target stock was down more than 9% to about $141 per share in Wednesday’s pre-market trading, following Wednesday’s report.

Target's ( TGT ) revenue fell slightly last year for the first time in seven years following a weaker growth in visitor numbers that hit retail businesses across the United States. In March 2024, the big-box retailer re-introduced its free loyalty program, Target Circle, and launched a paid membership program that allows customers to get free same-day delivery on orders over $35 in as little as an hour at $99 a year. These initiatives were aimed to stimulate demand and rival existing paid membership programs by Amazon Prime and Walmart+.

Target shares ( TGT ) slipped ahead of markets opening Wednesday after the retailer reported first-quarter results, with revenue meeting expectations but declining 3% year-over-year. Despite posting a slight earnings beat for the quarter, Target's second-quarter and full-year profit guidance ranges were mostly below estimates. The company said it is still feeling the impact of shoppers lowering their discretionary spending, but added that "discretionary sales trends continued to improve" from previous quarters.