Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today reported a second quarter 2017 comparable sales increase of 1.3 percent and GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $1.22, an increase of 14.2 percent from second quarter 2016. Second quarter adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS) were $1.23, an increase of 0.1 percent from second quarter 2016. The attached tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS.
“I want to thank the team for their strong execution in the second quarter, which drove broad-based improvement in Target’s performance. In particular, we are pleased that second-quarter traffic increased more than 2 percent, reflecting growth in both our store and digital channels,” said Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target. “We continue to focus on our long-term strategy, as we work to transform every part of our business and build an even better Target that will thrive in this new era in retail. While our recent results are encouraging, we will continue to plan prudently as we invest in building our brands, our digital channel, the value we provide our guests and elevating service levels in our stores.”
Second quarter 2017 sales increased 1.6 percent to $16.4 billion from $16.2 billion last year, reflecting a 1.3 percent comparable sales increase combined with the benefit from sales in non-mature stores. Comparable digital channel sales grew 32 percent and contributed 1.1 percentage points to comparable sales growth. Segment earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT), which is Target’s measure of segment profit, were $1,114 million in second quarter 2017, a decrease of 10.3 percent from $1,241 million in second quarter 2016.
Second quarter EBIT margin rate was 6.8 percent, compared with 7.7 percent in 2016. Second quarter gross margin rate2 was 30.5 percent, compared with 30.9 percent in 2016, reflecting increased digital fulfillment costs and the Company’s efforts to improve pricing and promotions. Second quarter SG&A expense rate was 20.6 percent in 2017, compared with 20.1 percent in 2016, driven by higher compensation costs, primarily due to increased bonus expense, and impairment losses resulting from planned or completed store closures and supply chain changes partially offset by the benefit of the Company’s cost-saving efforts.
more detail at: http://investors.target.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=65828&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2294141