Target reports Q2 EPS $4.11; tariff-excluding EPS $2.46
Target reports second-quarter EPS of $4.11 versus consensus of $2.34, but JPMorgan says $1.65 tariff refunds lifted earnings; excluding them EPS is in-line at $2.46.
Shares of Target Corp (NYSE: TGT ) rallied in early trading on Wednesday, after the company reported its second-quarter results.
The company reported strong sales and traffic, but its high earnings beat was driven by tariff benefits, according to JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers The Target Analyst: Horvers reiterated a Neutral rating on the stock.
While the company reported earnings of $4.11 per share, surpassing consensus of $2.34 per share, excluding tariff refunds of $1.65 per share, earnings were in-line with expectations, Horvers said in the note.
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He highlighted the following from Target’s second-quarter print: Same-store sales growth of 3.8% came in higher than consensus of 2.5%.
Management indicated "broad-based strength," with traffic up 3.6%, stores growing 2.7%, and digital higher by 8.7%.
All six merchandising categories recorded growth during the quarter, including +DD Fun101 and +HSD F&B and Beauty.
Non-merchandising sales grew 20%+ on Roundel, Target Circle 360, and Target+.
Gross margin expanded by 470 basis points (bps) to 33.7%, topping Street expectations of 29.8%, due to tariff refund benefits of 170 bps.
Target raised its full-year net sales growth guidance to around 5%, from its earlier projection of 4%, the analyst stated.
This was above consensus of 4.3%, he added.
Horvers noted that management also revised the following full-year forecasts: Operating margin expansion to 140 bps (50 bps excluding tariff refunds), from prior 20 bps.
Higher than consensus of 40 bps.
Earnings of $9.90-$10.90 per share ($8.25-$9.25 per share excluding tariff refunds), from prior $7.50-$8.50 per share.
The midpoint of $8.75 per share excluding tariff refunds came in higher than consensus of $8.55 per share.
TGT Price Action: Shares of Target had risen by 4.93% to $160.00 at the time of publication on Wednesday.
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