GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $1.06, up 40 percent from third quarter 2015
Adjusted EPS of $1.04, up 22 percent from third quarter 2015
- Third quarter GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $1.06 and Adjusted EPS of $1.04 were both above the high end of guidance1.
- Third quarter comparable sales decreased 0.2 percent, near the high-end of the guidance range of flat to down 2 percent.
- Comparable sales growth in Signature Categories outpaced total comparable sales by more than 3 percentage points; digital channel sales increased by 26 percent.
- Target returned $1.2 billion to shareholders in the third quarter through dividends and share repurchases.
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today reported a third quarter 2016 comparable sales decline of 0.2 percent and GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $1.06, an increase of 39.7 percent from third quarter 2015. Third quarter adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations2 (Adjusted EPS), which excludes the favorable resolution of income tax matters and certain items related to the pharmacy transaction, was $1.04, an increase of 22.1 percent from third quarter 2015. The attached tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS.
“We are very pleased with our third quarter financial results, which reflect meaningful improvement in our traffic and sales trends and much stronger-than-expected profitability,” said Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target. “Favorable gross margin mix and efficient execution by our team drove third quarter EPS performance well beyond our guidance. We also continued to gain market share in key Signature Categories and saw unexpectedly strong sales in the Back-to-School and Back-to-College season. As we move into the biggest quarter of the year, we are pleased with our inventory position and confident that our team will deliver a great guest experience as they bring our merchandising and marketing plans to life throughout the holiday season.”
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2016 Guidance
Target raised its expectations for fourth quarter comparable sales and now expects growth in the range of (1.0) percent to 1.0 percent, compared with prior guidance of (2.0) to flat. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Target expects both GAAP EPS from continuing operations and Adjusted EPS of $1.55 to $1.75.
For full-year 2016, Target now expects GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $4.67 to $4.87, compared with prior guidance of $4.36 to 4.76. The Company expects full-year 2016 Adjusted EPS of $5.10 to $5.30, compared with prior guidance of $4.80 to $5.20. The 43-cent difference between these ranges reflects early debt-retirement losses and a small benefit from the resolution of income tax matters.
Fourth quarter and full-year 2016 GAAP EPS from continuing operations may include the impact of unforeseen discrete items which may be excluded in calculating Adjusted EPS. The Company is not currently aware of any such discrete items beyond those already reported in the first, second and third quarters of 2016.
Segment Results
Third quarter 2016 sales decreased 6.7 percent to $16.4 billion from $17.6 billion last year, reflecting a 0.2 percent decline in comparable sales combined with the removal of pharmacy and clinic sales from this year’s results. Comparable digital channel sales grew 26 percent and contributed 0.7 percentage points to comparable sales growth. Segment earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT), which is Target’s measure of segment profit, were $1,057 million in third quarter 2016, an increase of 9.9 percent from $962 million in 2015.
Third quarter EBITDA and EBIT margin rates were 9.9 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively, compared with 8.6 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, in 2015. Third quarter gross margin rate was 30.2 percent, compared with 29.4 percent in 2015, reflecting the benefit of the sale of the Company’s pharmacy and clinic businesses and strong Signature Category sales growth. Third quarter SG&A expense rate was 20.3 percent in 2016, compared with 20.7 percent in 2015, reflecting continued expense discipline across the organization.
Interest Expense and Taxes from Continuing Operations
The Company’s third quarter 2016 net interest expense was $142 million, compared with $151 million last year. Third quarter 2016 effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 33.8 percent, compared with 34.3 percent last year. The decrease was due to a variety of factors, none of which was individually significant.
Shareholder Returns
The Company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders in third quarter 2016, including:
- Dividends of $345 million, compared with $352 million in third quarter 2015.
- Share repurchases totaling $878 million, including:
o Open market transactions that retired 8.1 million shares of common stock at an average price of $69.73, for a total investment of $564 million.
o An accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement that retired 4.6 million shares of common stock at an average price of $67.67, for a total investment of $314 million. Final settlement of the ASR occurred in November, and 1.3 million of the 4.6 million shares repurchased through the ASR were delivered in the fourth quarter.
In September 2016, Target’s Board of Directors authorized a new $5 billion share repurchase program. Repurchases through this program will begin upon completion of the prior $10 billion program. At the end of the third quarter, including the $314 million investment in the ASR, $300 million of capacity remained under the prior program.
For the trailing twelve months through third quarter 2016, after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) was 16.3 percent, compared with 13.0 percent for the twelve months through third quarter 2015. Excluding the net gain on the sale of the pharmacy and clinic businesses, ROIC for the trailing twelve months through third quarter 2016 was 14.3 percent, reflecting higher profits on a modestly lower base of invested capital. See the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this release for additional information about the Company’s ROIC calculation.
Conference Call Details
Target will webcast its third quarter earnings conference call at 7 a.m. CST today. Investors and the media are invited to listen to the call at Investors.Target.com (hover over “company” then click on “events & presentations” in the “investors” column). A telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. CST today through the end of business on Nov. 18, 2016. The replay number is 855-859-2056 (passcode: 56082205).
Miscellaneous
Statements in this release regarding fourth quarter and full-year 2016 earnings per share and comparable sales guidance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company’s actual results 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 Jan. 30, 2016. 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.
In addition to the GAAP results provided in this release, the Company provides Adjusted EPS for the three and nine-month periods ended Oct. 29, 2016, and Oct. 31, 2015, respectively. The Company also provides ROIC for the twelve-month periods ended Oct. 29, 2016, and Oct. 31, 2015, respectively, which is a ratio based on GAAP information, with the exception of adjustments made to capitalize operating leases. Operating leases are capitalized as part of the ROIC calculation to control for differences in capital structure between the Company and its competitors. Adjusted EPS, capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Management believes Adjusted EPS is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of the Company’s ongoing retail operations. Management believes ROIC is useful in assessing the effectiveness of its capital allocation over time. The most comparable GAAP measure for Adjusted EPS is diluted EPS from continuing operations. The most comparable GAAP measure for capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest is total rent expense. Adjusted EPS, capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS and ROIC differently than the Company does, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.
Related: Review Target's Complete Q3 Financial Statements
1 On Aug. 17, 2016, Target provided third quarter 2016 GAAP EPS from continuing operations and Adjusted EPS guidance of $0.75 to $0.95.
2 Adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP financial measure, excludes losses on the early retirement of debt, charges and other financial impacts related to the sale of the pharmacy and clinic businesses to CVS, and the impact of certain discretely managed items and certain other gains and expenses. See the “Miscellaneous” sections of this release, as well as the tables of this release, for additional information about the items that have been excluded from Adjusted EPS.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,802 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.