Financial News Release

Target Corporation Announces Second Quarter Earnings
08/18/09

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2009-- Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) today reported net earnings of $594 million for the second quarter ended August 1, 2009, compared with $634 million in the second quarter ended August 2, 2008. Earnings per share in the second quarter decreased 3.9 percent to $0.79 from $0.82 in the same period a year ago. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted earnings per share.

“Second quarter earnings were stronger than expected due to very strong operating margin in our retail segment, and credit card segment performance in line with expectations,” said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Looking forward to the second half of the year, we are focused on initiatives to drive incremental traffic and sales in our stores while maintaining disciplined execution in both of our business segments.”

Retail Segment Results

Sales decreased 2.7 percent in the second quarter to $14.6 billion in 2009 from $15.0 billion in 2008, due to a 6.2 percent decline in comparable-store sales partially offset by the contribution from new store expansion. Retail segment earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) were $1,064 million in the second quarter of 2009, a 3.1 percent decrease from $1,098 million in 2008.

Second quarter gross margin rate increased to 31.9 percent from 31.2 percent in 2008, due to gross margin rate improvements within categories, partially offset by the unfavorable mix impact of faster sales growth in non-discretionary lower margin rate categories. Second quarter selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense dollars were 0.4 percent lower than 2008, benefiting from productivity improvements that more-than-offset the expense of operating additional stores in 2009. At quarter-end, the company was operating 71 more stores than a year ago.

Credit Card Segment Results

Average credit card receivables in the quarter decreased $150 million, or 1.8 percent, from the second quarter of 2008, and quarter-end receivables decreased $349 million, or 4.0 percent, from the same period a year ago.

Credit card segment profit in the quarter declined to $63 million from $74 million last year as a result of Target’s reduced investment in the segment and lower floating interest rates, partially offset by improved portfolio performance. Target’s pretax return on invested capital (ROIC) from its investment in the credit card segment increased to 8.8 percent in the second quarter from 8.2 percent in 2008.

Net write-offs in the quarter were $304 million, in line with expectations. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $1,004 million at quarter-end, compared with $1,005 million at the end of the first quarter.

Other Expenses

Net interest expense for the quarter decreased $22 million from second quarter 2008 to $194 million, reflecting a lower average portfolio interest rate combined with modestly lower average debt balances.

The company’s effective income tax rate for the second quarter was 37.9 percent in 2009, up from 36.8 percent in 2008, primarily due to the favorable resolution of specific tax uncertainties in 2008 that did not recur in 2009. For the full year, the company now expects an effective income tax rate in the range of 37.0 to 38.0 percent.

Miscellaneous

Target Corporation will webcast its second quarter earnings conference call at 9:30am CDT today. Investors and the media are invited to listen to the call through the company’s website at www.target.com/investors (click on “webcasts”). A telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 11:30am CDT today through the end of business on August 20, 2009. The replay number is (800) 642-1687 (passcode: 73958812).

The statement on the expected tax rate is a forward-looking statement within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements speak only as of the date they are made and 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 January 31, 2009.

Target Corporation’s retail segment includes large, general merchandise and food discount stores, and a fully integrated on-line business called Target.com. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary and Visa credit card products. At quarter-end, the company operated 1,719 Target stores in 49 states.

Target Corporation news releases are available at www.target.com.

TARGET CORPORATION
             
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended  
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2,
(millions, except per share data)   2009     2008     Change     2009     2008     Change  
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Sales $ 14,567 $ 14,971 (2.7 ) % $ 28,928 $ 29,273 (1.2 ) %
Credit card revenues     500       501     (0.1 )       972       1,001     (2.9 )  
Total revenues 15,067 15,472 (2.6 ) 29,900 30,274 (1.2 )
Cost of sales 9,914 10,304 (3.8 ) 19,851 20,202 (1.7 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses 3,136 3,153 (0.6 ) 6,150 6,190 (0.7 )
Credit card expenses 388 347 12.0 772 620 24.5
Depreciation and amortization     478       448     6.7         950       884     7.5    
Earnings before interest expense and income taxes 1,151 1,220 (5.7 ) 2,177 2,378 (8.5 )
Net interest expense

Nonrecourse debt collateralized
by credit card receivables

24 48 (49.5 ) 51 67 (24.2 )
Other interest expense 171 179 (4.3 ) 348 369 (5.8 )
  Interest income     (1 )     (10 )   (89.8 )       (2 )     (19 )   (87.1 )  
Net interest expense     194       217     (10.3 )       397       417     (5.1 )  
Earnings before income taxes 957 1,003 (4.7 ) 1,780 1,961 (9.2 )
Provision for income taxes     363       369     (1.8 )       664       724     (8.2 )  
Net earnings   $ 594     $ 634     (6.4 ) %   $ 1,116     $ 1,237     (9.8 ) %
Basic earnings per share   $ 0.79     $ 0.82     (4.1 ) %   $ 1.48     $ 1.57     (5.5 ) %
Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.79     $ 0.82     (3.9 ) %   $ 1.48     $ 1.56     (5.3 ) %
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic 752.0 770.3 752.1 787.9
  Diluted     754.4       773.9             754.2       791.8        
 
 
Subject to reclassification
 
TARGET CORPORATION
       
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
August 1, January 31, August 2,
(millions)     2009       2009       2008  
Assets (unaudited) (unaudited)

Cash and cash equivalents, including marketable securities
of $385, $302 and $904

$ 957 $ 864 $ 1,527

Credit card receivables, net of allowance of $1,004,
$1,010 and $661

7,288 8,084 7,980
Inventory 7,528 6,705 7,313
Other current assets     1,910       1,835       1,800  
Total current assets 17,683 17,488 18,620
Property and equipment
Land 5,726 5,767 5,687
Buildings and improvements 21,530 20,430 19,511
Fixtures and equipment 4,481 4,270 4,031
Computer hardware and software 2,540 2,586 2,498
Construction-in-progress 978 1,763 1,851
  Accumulated depreciation     (9,543 )     (9,060 )     (8,426 )
Property and equipment, net 25,712 25,756 25,152
Other noncurrent assets     838       862       1,368  
Total assets   $ 44,233     $ 44,106     $ 45,140  
Liabilities and shareholders' investment
Accounts payable $ 6,233 $ 6,337 $ 6,606
Accrued and other current liabilities 3,004 2,913 3,030
Unsecured debt and other borrowings 517 1,262 1,723
Nonrecourse debt collateralized by credit card receivables     56       -       -  
Total current liabilities 9,810 10,512 11,359
Unsecured debt and other borrowings 11,983 12,000 12,465
Nonrecourse debt collateralized by credit card receivables 5,458 5,490 5,467
Deferred income taxes 494 455 534
Other noncurrent liabilities     1,886       1,937       1,858  
Total noncurrent liabilities 19,821 19,882 20,324
Shareholders' investment
Common stock 63 63 63
Additional paid-in capital 2,822 2,762 2,707
Retained earnings 12,266 11,443 10,861
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (549 )     (556 )     (174 )
  Total shareholders' investment     14,602       13,712       13,457  
Total liabilities and shareholders' investment   $ 44,233     $ 44,106     $ 45,140  
Common shares outstanding     751.9       752.7       755.0  
 
 
Subject to reclassification
 
TARGET CORPORATION
       
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Six Months Ended
August 1, August 2,
(millions)     2009       2008  
Operating activities (unaudited) (unaudited)
Net earnings $ 1,116 $ 1,237
Reconciliation to cash flow
Depreciation and amortization 950 884
Share-based compensation expense 48 37
Deferred income taxes 64 14
Bad debt provision 600 437
Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net 74 24
Other non-cash items affecting earnings 28 106
Changes in operating accounts providing / (requiring) cash
Accounts receivable originated at Target 154 (150 )
Inventory (823 ) (533 )
Other current assets (59 ) (104 )
Other noncurrent assets 19 (17 )
Accounts payable (103 ) (115 )
Accrued and other current liabilities 30 (179 )
Other noncurrent liabilities (47 ) (47 )
  Other           160  
Cash flow provided by operations     2,051       1,754  
Investing activities
Expenditures for property and equipment (1,042 ) (1,956 )
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment 24 17
Change in accounts receivable originated at third parties 42 (213 )
  Other investments     4       (53 )
Cash flow required for investing activities     (972 )     (2,205 )
Financing activities
Reductions of short-term notes payable (500 )
Additions to long-term debt 3,557
Reductions of long-term debt (754 ) (503 )
Dividends paid (241 ) (224 )
Repurchase of stock (2,815 )
Stock option exercises and related tax benefit 9 21
  Other           (8 )
Cash flow provided by/(required for) financing activities     (986 )     (472 )
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 93 (923 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     864       2,450  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 957     $ 1,527  
 
 
Subject to reclassification
 
TARGET CORPORATION
           
Retail Segment
                                   
Retail Segment Results Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2,
(millions) (unaudited)     2009       2008     Change       2009       2008   Change  
Sales $ 14,567 $ 14,971 (2.7 )% $ 28,928 $ 29,273 (1.2 )%
Cost of sales     9,914       10,304     (3.8 )     19,851       20,202   (1.7 )
Gross margin 4,653 4,667 (0.3 ) 9,077 9,071 0.1
SG&A expenses(a)     3,115       3,126     (0.4 )     6,109       6,139   (0.5 )
EBITDA 1,538 1,541 (0.2 ) 2,968 2,932 1.2
Depreciation and amortization     474       443     6.9       942       876   7.7  
EBIT   $ 1,064     $ 1,098     (3.1 )%   $ 2,026     $ 2,056   (1.5 )%
EBITDA is earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.
EBIT is earnings before interest expense and income taxes.
(a) New account and loyalty rewards redeemed by our guests reduce reported sales. Our Retail Segment charges the cost of these discounts to our Credit Card Segment, and the reimbursements of $21 million and $41 million for the three and six months ended August 1, 2009, respectively, and $27 million and $51 million for the three and six months ended August 2, 2008, respectively, are recorded as a reduction to SG&A expenses within the Retail Segment.
                         
Retail Segment Rate Analysis Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2,
(unaudited)     2009       2008     2009       2008  
Gross margin rate 31.9 % 31.2 % 31.4 % 31.0 %
SG&A expense rate 21.4 % 20.9 % 21.1 % 21.0 %
EBITDA margin rate 10.6 % 10.3 % 10.3 % 10.0 %
Depreciation and amortization expense rate 3.3 % 3.0 % 3.3 % 3.0 %
EBIT margin rate     7.3 %     7.3 %   7.0 %     7.0 %
Retail Segment rate analysis metrics are computed by dividing the applicable amount by sales.
                         
Comparable-Store Sales Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2,
(unaudited)     2009       2008     2009       2008  
Comparable-store sales (6.2 )% (0.4 )% (5.0 )% (0.6 )%
Drivers of changes in comparable-store sales:
Number of transactions (2.6 )% (2.0 )% (1.9 )% (1.9 )%
Average transaction amount (3.7 )% 1.6 % (3.1 )% 1.4

 %

Units per transaction (2.6 )% (1.5 )% (2.9 )% (1.2 )%
Selling price per unit     (1.2 )%     3.2 %   (0.2 )%     2.6

 %

The comparable-store sales increases or decreases above are calculated by comparing sales in fiscal year periods with comparable prior year periods of equivalent length.
                                 
Number of Stores and Retail Square Feet Number of Stores Retail Square Feet(a)
August 1, January 31, August 2, August 1, January 31, August 2,
(unaudited)     2009       2009     2008       2009       2009   2008
Target general merchandise stores 1,472 1,443 1,417 184,663 180,321 176,171
SuperTarget stores     247       239     231       43,739       42,267   40,828
Total     1,719       1,682     1,648       228,402       222,588   216,999

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

 
 
Subject to reclassification
 
TARGET CORPORATION
     
Credit Card Segment
                                   
Credit Card Segment Results Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008 August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008  
Amount Annualized Amount Annualized Amount Annualized Amount Annualized
(millions) (unaudited)   (in millions)   Rate(d)   (in millions)   Rate(d)   (in millions)   Rate(d)   (in millions)   Rate(d)  
Finance charge revenue $ 377 18.1 % $ 340 16.0 % $ 732 17.2 % $ 694 16.4 %
Late fees and other revenue 91 4.3 121 5.7 178 4.2 229 5.4
Third party merchant fees     32     1.5       40       1.9       62     1.5       78     1.9    
Total revenues     500     23.9       501       23.5       972     22.8       1,001     23.6    
Bad debt expense 303 14.5 256 12.0 600 14.1 437 10.3
Operations and marketing expenses(a) 106 5.0 118 5.5 213 5.0 234 5.5
Depreciation and amortization     4     0.2       5       0.2       7     0.2       8     0.2    
Total expenses     413     19.7       379       17.8       820     19.2       679     16.0    
EBIT 87 4.2 122 5.8 152 3.6 322 7.6

Interest expense on nonrecourse debt collateralized by credit card receivables

    24         48           51           67        
Segment profit   $ 63       $ 74         $ 101         $ 255        

Average gross credit card receivables funded by Target(b)

$ 2,853 $ 3,636 $ 3,027 $ 4,952
Segment pretax ROIC(c)     8.8 %       8.2 %         6.7 %         10.3 %      
(a) New account and loyalty rewards redeemed by our guests reduce reported sales. Our Retail Segment charges the cost of these discounts to our Credit Card Segment, and the reimbursements of $21 million and $41 million for the three and six months ended August 1, 2009, respectively, and $27 million and $51 million for the three and six months ended August 2, 2008, respectively, are recorded as an increase to operations and marketing expenses within the Credit Card Segment.
(b) Amounts represent the portion of average credit card receivables funded by Target. These amounts exclude $5,508 million and $5,502 million for the three and six months ended August 1, 2009, respectively, and $4,875 million and $3,528 million for the three and six months ended August 2, 2008, respectively, of receivables funded by nonrecourse debt collateralized by credit card receivables.
(c) ROIC is return on invested capital, and this rate represents segment profit divided by average receivables funded by Target, expressed as an annualized rate.
(d) As an annualized percentage of average gross credit card receivables.
                                   
Spread Analysis - Total Portfolio Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008 August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008  
Yield Yield Yield Yield  
Amount Annualized Amount Annualized Amount Annualized Amount Annualized
(unaudited)   (in millions)   Rate   (in millions)   Rate   (in millions)   Rate   (in millions)   Rate  
EBIT $ 87 4.2 % (b) $ 122 5.8 % (b) $ 152 3.6 % (b) $ 322 7.6 % (b)
LIBOR(a) 0.3 % 2.5 % 0.4 % 2.7 %
Spread to LIBOR(c)   $ 81     3.9 % (b) $ 70       3.3 % (b) $ 135     3.2 % (b) $ 208     4.9 % (b)
(a) Balance-weighted average one-month LIBOR
(b) As a percentage of average gross credit card receivables.
(c) Spread to LIBOR is a metric used to analyze the performance of our total credit card portfolio because the vast majority of our portfolio earns finance charge revenue at rates tied to the Prime Rate, and the interest rate on all nonrecourse debt securitized by credit card receivables is tied to LIBOR.
 
Receivables Rollforward Analysis Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2,
(millions) (unaudited)   2009 2008   Change   2009   2008   Change  
Beginning gross credit card receivables $ 8,457 $ 8,420 0.4 % $ 9,094 $ 8,624 5.4 %
Charges at Target 843 1,021 (17.5 ) 1,646 1,968 (16.3 )
Charges at third parties 1,768 2,258 (21.7 ) 3,432 4,406 (22.1 )
Payments (2,940 ) (3,358 ) (12.4 ) (6,201 ) (6,988 ) (11.3 )
Other     165     300       (44.9 )     322       631     (49.0 )  
Period-end gross credit card receivables   $ 8,293   $ 8,641       (4.0 ) % $ 8,293     $ 8,641     (4.0 ) %
Average gross credit card receivables   $ 8,361   $ 8,511       (1.8 ) % $ 8,529     $ 8,479     0.6   %

Accounts with three or more payments (60+ days) past due as a percentage of period-end gross credit card receivables

    5.8 %   4.5 %         5.8 %     4.5 %      

Accounts with four or more payments (90+ days) past due as a percentage of period-end gross credit card receivables

    4.1 %   3.1 %         4.1 %     3.1 %      
                           
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2,
(millions) (unaudited)   2009 2008   Change   2009   2008   Change  
Allowance at beginning of period $ 1,005 $ 590 70.2 % $ 1,010 $ 570 77.1 %
Bad debt provision 303 256 18.5 600 437 37.3
Net write-offs(a)     (304 )   (185 )     63.6       (606 )     (346 )   74.9    
Allowance at end of period   $ 1,004   $ 661       52.0   % $ 1,004     $ 661     52.0   %

As a percentage of period-end gross credit card receivables

    12.1 %   7.6 %         12.1 %     7.6 %      

Net write-offs as a percentage of average gross credit card receivables (annualized)

    14.5 %   8.7 %         14.2 %     8.2 %      
(a) Net write-offs include the principal amount of losses (excluding accrued and unpaid finance charges) less current period principal recoveries.
 
Subject to reclassification

Source: Target Corporation

Target Corporation
Investors:
John Hulbert, 612-761-6627
or
Financial Media:
Eric Hausman, 612-761-2054