Comparable Sales Increase 4.5 Percent
GAAP EPS from Cont. Ops. of $1.37 and Adj EPS of $1.36 vs. Guidance of $1.04 to $1.24
Company Raises Full-Year EPS Guidance
- Third quarter comparable sales grew 4.5 percent, on top of 5.1 percent last year, meaning that comparable sales have risen nearly 10 percent over the last two years.
- Third quarter comparable sales growth reflects 2.8 percent growth in stores and a 1.7 percentage point contribution from digital sales.
- Third quarter comparable digital channel sales grew 31 percent, on top of 49 percent last year. Same-day fulfillment services (Order Pick Up, Drive Up and Shipt) accounted for 80% of Target’s digital comparable sales growth.
- Third quarter comparable traffic grew 3.1 percent, driven by increases in both stores and digital channels.
- Third quarter operating income grew 22.3 percent compared with last year.
- GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $1.37 was 18.2 percent higher than last year. Adjusted EPS of $1.36 was 24.9 percent higher than last year.
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced its third quarter 2019 performance, including comparable sales growth of 4.5 percent and a 3.1 percent increase in comparable traffic.The Company reported GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $1.37 in third quarter 2019, up 18.2 percent from $1.16 in third quarter 2018. Third quarter Adjusted EPS of $1.36 was 24.9 percent higher than $1.09 in third quarter 2018. The attached tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS.
Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target, said “The Target team did an excellent job serving our guests and executing our strategy throughout the third quarter. Our third quarter results are further proof of the durability of our strategy, as we’re seeing industry-leading strength across multiple metrics, from the top line to the bottom line. Looking ahead, we have ushered in the holiday season with an unwavering commitment to guest service that complements our highly differentiated, value-driven assortment, our exceptional in-store shopping experience as well as an unmatched suite of easy and convenient fulfillment options.”
Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Guidance
For the fourth quarter, Target expects comparable sales growth of 3 to 4 percent, and GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $1.55 to $1.75 and Adjusted EPS of $1.54 to $1.74. For the full year, the Company now expects GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $6.27 to $6.47 and Adjusted EPS of $6.25 to $6.45, compared with the prior range of $5.90 to $6.20. The difference between the GAAP and Adjusted ranges reflect an expected $0.01 impact from a discrete item in the fourth quarter and the $0.01 difference recognized through the third quarter.
Fourth quarter and full-year 2019 GAAP EPS from continuing operations may include the impact of additional discrete items which will be excluded in calculating Adjusted EPS.
The Company announced today that it plans to issue a post-holiday financial update on Wednesday, January 15, 2020.
Operating Results
Total revenue of $18.7 billion increased 4.7 percent from $17.8 billion last year, reflecting sales growth combined with an 8.8 percent increase in other revenue. Third quarter sales growth of 4.7 percent reflected comparable sales growth of 4.5 percent combined with the contribution from non-mature stores. Comparable digital sales grew 31 percent, contributing 1.7 percentage points to total comparable sales growth. Operating income was $1,002 million in third quarter 2019, up 22.3 percent from $819 million in third quarter 2018.
Third quarter operating income margin rate was 5.4 percent in 2019, compared with 4.6 percent in 2018. Third quarter gross margin rate was 29.8 percent, compared with 28.7 percent in 2018, reflecting the benefit of merchandising efforts to optimize costs, pricing, promotions and assortment, combined with favorable category sales mix. Third quarter SG&A expense rate was 22.3 percent in 2019, compared with 22.1 percent in 2018. This increase reflected higher marketing and compensation costs, partially offset by broad-based cost savings.
Interest Expense and Taxes
The Company’s third quarter 2019 net interest expense was $113 million, compared with $115 million last year, reflecting lower average net debt balances compared to last year. Third quarter 2019 effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 21.7 percent, compared with 13.6 percent last year. Last year’s effective income tax rate included discrete benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Tax Act).
Shareholder Returns
The Company returned $631 million to shareholders in third quarter 2019, including:
- Dividends of $337 million, compared with $337 million in third quarter 2018, reflecting a 3.1 percent increase in the dividend per share offset by a decline in share count.
- Share repurchases totaling $294 million that retired 3.0 million shares of common stock at an average price of $99.25.
At the end of the third quarter, the Company had approximately $0.3 billion of remaining capacity under the $5 billion share repurchase program approved in 2016. In September 2019, Target’s Board of Directors authorized a new $5 billion share repurchase program. Repurchases through this program will begin upon completion of the 2016 program.
For the trailing twelve months through third quarter 2019, after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) was 15.0 percent, compared with 15.8 percent for the twelve months through third quarter 2018. Excluding the discrete impacts of the Tax Act, ROIC was 15.1 percent for the trailing twelve months ended November 2, 2019, compared with 13.9 percent in the comparable prior-year period. See the tables 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 7:00 a.m. CST today. Investors and the media are invited to listen to the call at investors.target.com (hover over “investors” then click on “events & presentations”). A telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. CST today through the end of business on November 22, 2019. The replay number is 800-477-4783.
Miscellaneous
Statements in this release regarding fourth quarter and full-year 2019 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 February 2, 2019. 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 more than 1,850 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 more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.