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Investing.com - Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) maintained its Neutral rating and $94.00 price target on Target (NYSE:TGT) following the retailer’s disappointing second-quarter performance. The retail giant, currently trading at a P/E ratio of 10.87 with a market capitalization of $44.9 billion, appears undervalued according to InvestingPro Fair Value metrics.
The research firm noted that Target shares declined sharply after a weak quarterly report, with investor reaction compounded by concerns about the company’s leadership decisions. Mizuho indicated that the appointment of Michael Fiddelke was not investors’ preferred choice for leading a turnaround, though acknowledged his qualifications shouldn’t be discounted. Despite market concerns, Target maintains strong shareholder returns with a 4.62% dividend yield and has raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years.
Target faces significant challenges ahead, with tariffs adding complexity to its business environment while competitors like Walmart (NYSE:WMT) and Amazon (NYSE:NASDAQ:AMZN) maintain competitive pressure. With annual revenue of $105.88 billion, Target remains a formidable player in retail, though Mizuho warned that Target has not yet had its "kitchen sink" moment, suggesting more difficulties may emerge before improvement begins.
Despite these challenges, Mizuho highlighted several positive areas within Target’s merchandising operations. The company reported an "encouraging" start to the back-to-school season, while trading cards have grown 70% year-to-date and are expected to exceed $1 billion in annual revenues. Certain hardlines categories are also showing momentum with positive traffic and comparable sales. InvestingPro subscribers can access 10+ additional exclusive insights about Target’s financial health and growth prospects.
The research firm acknowledged Target’s potential upside but emphasized that earnings revision risk remains a significant concern in the early stages of any retail turnaround effort, supporting its continued Neutral stance on the stock. Analyst price targets currently range from $82 to $135, reflecting mixed sentiment about the company’s near-term prospects.
In other recent news, Target reported its second-quarter results, revealing a 1.9% decline in comparable sales and a 19% year-over-year decrease in profit. Despite these results, Target’s earnings were in line with expectations, and the company maintained its previous guidance. The retailer experienced a 3.2% drop in brick-and-mortar sales, contrasted by a 4.3% increase in e-commerce, which led to margin pressure. Analyst firms have responded differently to these developments. Evercore ISI lowered its price target to $106, maintaining an "In Line" rating, citing a loss in market share. Bernstein raised its price target slightly to $87 while keeping an Underperform rating, noting the smaller-than-expected sales decline. BMO Capital maintained its price target at $95 with a Market Perform rating, observing a lackluster investor response. Meanwhile, Guggenheim upheld its Buy rating with a $115 price target, suggesting the market’s reaction to Target’s internal CEO promotion was an overreaction. Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) also maintained an Overweight rating and a $115 price target, despite investor concerns over the CEO appointment.
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