Target (NYSE:TGT) Price Target Lowered to $137.00 at Stifel Nicolaus

Target (NYSE:TGT) had its price objective reduced by Stifel Nicolaus from $165.00 to $137.00 in a research note released on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a hold rating on the retailer’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Roth Mkm cut their price objective on shares of Target from $157.00 to $131.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Target from $180.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Target in a report on Wednesday, August 21st. TD Cowen reduced their target price on Target from $165.00 to $145.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on Target from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $162.13.

Target Stock Up 2.8 %

Shares of TGT stock opened at $125.01 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.27. Target has a one year low of $120.21 and a one year high of $181.86. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $151.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $149.54. The company has a market capitalization of $57.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.26, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.24.

Target (NYSE:TGT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 20th. The retailer reported $1.85 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.30 by ($0.45). The business had revenue of $25.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.87 billion. Target had a net margin of 4.06% and a return on equity of 31.11%. Target’s revenue was up .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.10 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Target will post 9.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Target Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be issued a $1.12 dividend. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.58%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 20th. Target’s payout ratio is presently 47.51%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO Matthew A. Liegel sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.13, for a total transaction of $153,130.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 7,276 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,114,173.88. This trade represents a 12.08 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Richard H. Gomez sold 6,348 shares of Target stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.17, for a total value of $997,715.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 123,551 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,418,510.67. The trade was a 4.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 52,348 shares of company stock valued at $8,290,995 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.15% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Target

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Triad Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Target in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Slocum Gordon & Co LLP purchased a new position in Target in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in Target in the third quarter worth about $28,000. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Target during the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Wolff Wiese Magana LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Target by 156.5% in the 3rd quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 218 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.73% of the company’s stock.

About Target

Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies.