Do Wall Street Analysts Like Target Stock?

Do Wall Street Analysts Like Target Stock?

Thu, August 6, 2026 at 4:58 PM GMT+3 2 min read

• TGT +1.78%
• ^GSPC +0.62%

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Target Corporation (TGT) owns and operates general merchandise stores. Valued at $67.1 billion by market cap, the company focuses on merchandising operations, which include general merchandise and food discount stores and a fully integrated online business. TGT also offers credit to qualified applicants through its branded proprietary credit cards.

Shares of this retail giant have outperformed the broader market over the past year. TGT has gained 44.2% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 22.6%. In 2026, TGT stock is up 51.1%, surpassing the SPX's 12.8% rise on a YTD basis.

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Zooming in further, TGT's outperformance is also apparent compared to the VanEck Retail ETF (RTH). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 13.1% over the past year. Moreover, TGT's double-digit returns on a YTD basis outshine the ETF's 9.3% gains over the same time frame.

Target has outperformed as its turnaround gains traction, driven by positive comp sales, better earnings, and stronger traffic. CEO Michael Fiddelke credited new merchandising and a focus on core customers like busy families, while new leadership pushes product resets and store upgrades. Investments in food, wellness, beauty, and baby, including 3,000 new food items are driving growth. With its 2,000th store open, expanded distribution, and AI/digital investments, management remains optimistic but cautious on comps.

For the current fiscal year, ending in January 2027, analysts expect TGT's EPS to grow 9.9% to $8.32 on a diluted basis. The company's earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on another occasion.

Among the 35 analysts covering TGT stock, the consensus is a "Moderate Buy." That's based on 10 "Strong Buy" ratings, three "Moderate Buys," 18 "Holds," one "Moderate Sell," and three "Strong Sells."

This configuration is more bullish than a month ago, with an overall "Hold" rating, consisting nine analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy."

On Aug. 4, Evercore ISI analyst Greg Melich kept an "In Line" rating on TGT and raised the price target to $150, implying a potential upside of 1.6% from current levels.

While TGT currently trades above its mean price target of $138.15, the Street-high price target of $170 suggests a notable upside potential of 43.7%.

On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com