Target : Reports First Quarter 2016 Earnings

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today reported first quarter 2016 comparable sales growth of 1.2 percent, and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations¹ (Adjusted EPS) of $1.29, up 16.5 percent from $1.10 in 2015. First quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $1.02, compared with $1.01 in first quarter 2015. First quarter 2016 GAAP EPS from continuing operations reflects $261 million of pre-tax early debt retirement losses, costs related to the sale of the pharmacy and clinic businesses to CVS Health and the resolution of income tax matters. The attached tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures for first quarter 2016. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS.

“We are pleased with our first quarter financial results, which demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategy in an increasingly volatile consumer environment,” said Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target. “First quarter comparable sales in Signature Categories grew more than three times the Company average, digital comparable sales grew 23 percent, and strong execution by our team delivered stronger-than-expected growth in Adjusted EPS. With an outstanding team, a resilient business model and a strong balance sheet, we plan to successfully implement our long-term strategy, even in the face of a challenging short-term consumer landscape.”

Fiscal 2016 Earnings Guidance

While the Company’s view of second quarter results has been tempered by the recent slowdown in consumer trends, Target currently believes full-year adjusted EPS within its prior guidance range is achievable.

In second quarter 2016, Target expects comparable sales of flat to down two percent, and Adjusted EPS of $1.00 to $1.20. Second quarter GAAP EPS from continuing operations will include approximately $0.17 of expense related to early debt retirement losses, and also may include the impact of certain additional discrete items which will be excluded in calculating Adjusted EPS. In the past, these items have included data breach expenses, restructuring costs and certain other items that are discretely managed. Beyond losses related to the early debt retirement, Target is not currently aware of any other material discrete items.

Segment Results

First quarter 2016 sales decreased 5.4 percent to $16.2 billion from $17.1 billion last year, as a 1.2 percent increase in comparable sales was more than offset by the impact of the sale of the pharmacy and clinic businesses. Comparable digital channel sales grew 23 percent and contributed 0.6 percentage points to comparable sales growth. Segment earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) were $1,323 million in first quarter 2016, an increase of 4.9 percent from $1,261 million in 2015.

First quarter EBITDA and EBIT margin rates were 11.5 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively, compared with 10.5 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively, in 2015. First quarter gross margin rate was 30.9 percent, compared with 30.4 percent in 2015, reflecting the benefit of the sale of the Company’s pharmacy and clinic businesses, combined with the benefit of the Company’s cost savings initiatives, partially offset by investments in promotions. First quarter SG&A expense rate was 19.4 percent in 2016, compared with 19.9 percent in 2015, reflecting the benefit of the sale of the Company’s pharmacy and clinic businesses along with continued expense discipline across the organization.

Interest Expense and Taxes from Continuing Operations

The Company’s first quarter 2016 net interest expense was $415 million, compared with $155 million last year, driven by a $261 million charge related to the early retirement of debt. First quarter 2016 effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 31.6 percent, compared with 34.8 percent last year. The decrease was primarily due to the adoption of new accounting standards for employee share-based payments, which reduced the effective tax rate by approximately 1.9 percentage points, and losses related to the early retirement of debt.

Capital Returned to Shareholders

In first quarter 2016, the Company repurchased 11.4 million shares of common stock at an average price of $78.37, for a total investment of $893 million. The Company also paid dividends of $336 million. In total, the Company returned $1,229 million to shareholders in first quarter 2016, representing more than 200 percent of net income from continuing operations.

Since the beginning of the current $10 billion share repurchase program, the Company repurchased 106.0 million common shares at an average price of $70.51, for a total investment of approximately $7.5 billion.

For the trailing twelve months through first quarter 2016, after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) was 16.0 percent, compared with 12.5 percent for the twelve months through first quarter 2015. Excluding the net gain on the sale of the pharmacy and clinic businesses, ROIC for the trailing twelve months through first quarter 2016 was 14.0 percent, reflecting higher profits on a stable base of invested capital. See the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this release for additional information about the Company’s ROIC calculation.

Discontinued Operations

First quarter net earnings from discontinued operations were $18 million, compared with after-tax losses of ($16) million last year. First quarter 2016 net earnings from discontinued operations primarily reflect foreign currency gains on the Company’s net assets.

Certain assets and liabilities of Target’s discontinued operations are based on estimates. The recorded assets include estimated receivables, and the remaining liabilities include accruals for estimated losses related to claims that may be asserted against Target Corporation, primarily under guarantees of certain leases. These estimates involve significant judgment and are based on currently available information, an assessment of the validity of certain claims and estimated payments by the Canada Subsidiaries. These estimates are subject to change, and the Company believes it is reasonably possible that adjustments to these amounts could be material to its results of operations in future periods. Any such adjustments would be recorded in discontinued operations.

Conference Call Details

Target will webcast its first quarter earnings conference call at 9:30 a.m. CDT today. Investors and the media are invited to listen to the call at Target.com/Investors (hover over “company” then click on “events & presentations” in the “investors” column). A telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. CDT today through the end of business on May 20, 2016. The replay number is (855) 859-2056 (passcode: 56082202).

Miscellaneous

Statements in this release regarding second quarter and full-year 2016 earnings per share guidance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially. The most important risks and uncertainties are described in Item 1A of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Jan. 30, 2016. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

In addition to the GAAP results provided in this release, the Company provides Adjusted EPS for the three-month periods ended Apr. 30, 2016, and May 2, 2015. The Company also provides ROIC for the twelve-month periods ended Apr. 30, 2016, and May 2, 2015, respectively, which is a ratio based on GAAP information, with the exception of adjustments made to capitalize operating leases. Operating leases are capitalized as part of the ROIC calculation to control for differences in capital structure between the Company and its competitors. Adjusted EPS, capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Management believes Adjusted EPS is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of the Company’s ongoing retail operations. Management believes ROIC is useful in assessing the effectiveness of its capital allocation over time. The most comparable GAAP measure for adjusted diluted EPS is diluted EPS from continuing operations. The most comparable GAAP measure for capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest is total rent expense. Adjusted EPS, capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS and ROIC differently than the Company does, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,793 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.

Note: Per share amounts may not foot due to rounding.

Subject to reclassification

Common Stock Authorized 6,000,000,000 shares, $.0833 par value; 593,583,619, 602,226,517 and 638,408,643 shares issued and outstanding at April 30, 2016, January 30, 2016 and May 2, 2015, respectively.

Preferred Stock Authorized 5,000,000 shares, $.01 par value; no shares were issued or outstanding at April 30, 2016, January 30, 2016 or May 2, 2015.

^(a) At May 2, 2015, $502 million of pharmacy prescription inventory was included in other current assets.

Subject to reclassification

Subject to reclassification

^(a) In thousands: reflects total square feet, less office, distribution center and vacant space.

Subject to reclassification

TARGET CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide additional transparency, we have disclosed non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS). This metric excludes certain costs presented below. We believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our continuing operations. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The most comparable GAAP measure is diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
^(a) Costs related to our corporate restructuring announced during the first quarter of 2015.
^(b) For the three months ended April 30, 2016, represents contract termination charges, severance and other costs related to the December 2015 sale of our former pharmacy and clinic businesses to CVS. For the three months ended May 2, 2015, represents costs related to the 2013 data breach.

We have also disclosed after-tax return on invested capital for continuing operations (ROIC), which is a ratio based on GAAP information, with the exception of adjustments made to capitalize operating leases. Operating leases are capitalized as part of the ROIC calculation to control for differences in capital structure between us and our competitors. We believe this metric provides a meaningful measure of the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time. Other companies may calculate ROIC differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

^(a) Represents the hypothetical capitalization of our operating leases, using eight times our trailing twelve months rent expense and an estimated interest rate of six percent.
^(b) See the following Reconciliation of Capitalized Operating Leases table for the adjustments to our GAAP total rent expense to obtain the hypothetical capitalization of operating leases and related operating lease interest.
^(c) Calculated using the effective tax rate for continuing operations, which was 31.9% and 33.1% for the trailing twelve months ended April 30, 2016 and May 2, 2015.
^(d) Calculated as eight times our trailing twelve months rent expense.
^(e) Average based on the invested capital at the end of the current period and the invested capital at the end of the prior period.
^(f) Excluding the net gain on the sale of our pharmacy and clinic businesses, ROIC was 14.0 percent for the trailing twelve months ended April 30, 2016.

Capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The most comparable GAAP measure is total rent expense. Capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

Subject to reclassification

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