Guardian Investment Management Reduces Stake in Target Co. (NYSE:TGT)

Guardian Investment Management lowered its position in Target Co. (NYSE:TGT) by 3.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,000 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Guardian Investment Management’s holdings in Target were worth $855,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tower View Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Target by 82.8% during the 3rd quarter. Tower View Wealth Management LLC now owns 234 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Target in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Target during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Target during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Impact Partnership Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Target by 106.6% during the 3rd quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 405 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.73% of the company’s stock.

Target Stock Performance

TGT traded up $2.12 during trading on Thursday, hitting $166.59. 2,050,319 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,771,779. The firm has a market capitalization of $76.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.72, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.14. Target Co. has a 1-year low of $102.93 and a 1-year high of $181.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $162.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $140.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11.

Target (NYSE:TGT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 5th. The retailer reported $2.98 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.41 by $0.57. The company had revenue of $31.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.83 billion. Target had a return on equity of 33.41% and a net margin of 3.85%. The firm’s revenue was up 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.89 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Target Co. will post 9.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Target Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 15th will be issued a $1.10 dividend. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 14th. Target’s payout ratio is currently 49.27%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Christina Hennington sold 4,600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.88, for a total value of $786,048.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 38,487 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,576,658.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Melissa K. Kremer sold 3,000 shares of Target stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.05, for a total value of $495,150.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 30,527 shares in the company, valued at $5,038,481.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Christina Hennington sold 4,600 shares of Target stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.88, for a total value of $786,048.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 38,487 shares in the company, valued at $6,576,658.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 52,600 shares of company stock valued at $8,819,598. Company insiders own 0.23% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TGT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. TheStreet raised Target from a “c+” rating to a “b-” rating in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Citigroup raised their target price on Target from $142.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. Bank of America raised their target price on Target from $160.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. HSBC upgraded Target from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $140.00 to $195.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Target from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 1st. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $181.85.

Target Company Profile

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.