Financial News Release

Dayton Hudson Fourth Quarter; Earnings per Share 97 Cents Before Unusual Items; Fiscal 1998 Earnings per Share $2.06 Before Unusual Items
03/02/99

MINNEAPOLIS, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Dayton Hudson Corporation (NYSE: DH) today reported earnings per share for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, 1999 of 97 cents before unusual items, compared with 76 cents in fourth quarter 1997. Including unusual items, fourth-quarter earnings per share were 90 cents in the quarter, compared with 76 cents in the prior year. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted earnings per share. Fourth-quarter net earnings increased 28 percent to $453 million before unusual items, compared with $356 million in 1997. Including unusual items, net earnings were $423 million in the current period.

"We are pleased with our results in 1998, which reflect the third consecutive year of significantly improved earnings and revenue growth," said Bob Ulrich, Dayton Hudson chairman and chief executive officer. "We are entering fiscal 1999 with good momentum and believe we are poised to deliver another year of continued growth in sales and earnings."

For the full year, diluted earnings per share were $2.06, compared with $1.64 in 1997, before unusual items in both periods. Including unusual items, full-year earnings per share were $1.98, compared with $1.59 in 1997. Net earnings were $970 million, up 25 percent compared with $775 million in fiscal 1997, before unusual items in both periods. Including unusual items, full-year net earnings were $935 million, compared with $751 million in 1997.

Unusual items in fourth-quarter and full-year 1998 include the beneficial effect of the change in our effective income tax rate of $20 million, or 4 cents per share, due to the favorable outcome of our inventory shortage tax matter. In addition, in fourth quarter 1998 we finalized plans to outsource our mainframe computer data center operations, resulting in a $42 million pre-tax charge (6 cents per share). Fourth quarter 1998 also includes an extraordinary charge of $24 million, net of tax, or 5 cents per share, related to the redemption of long-term debt. Unusual items for the quarter and full year are included in a table that follows.

Fourth-quarter 1998 pre-tax segment profit for the company increased 20 percent to $865 million, compared with $718 million in fourth quarter 1997. (Pre-tax segment profit is FIFO earnings from operations before securitization effects, interest, corporate and other, and unusual items.) Pre-tax segment profit for the full year increased 16 percent to $2.097 billion, compared with $1.807 billion in 1997.

Total revenues increased 13.2 percent in the quarter to $10.139 billion, compared with $8.953 billion last year. For fiscal 1998 total revenues increased 11.5 percent to $30.951 billion, compared with $27.757 billion in 1997. Comparable-store revenues increased 6.1 percent in the quarter and 5.2 percent for the fiscal year.

Target's pre-tax profit in the fourth quarter increased 26 percent to $646 million, compared with $512 million in the same period in 1997. For the full year, Target's pre-tax profit increased 23 percent to $1.578 billion, compared with $1.287 billion in 1997. Target's full-year profit margin rate was 6.8 percent, compared with 6.3 percent last year, reflecting modest improvement in the gross margin rate, slight improvement in the operating expense rate and continued growth in contribution from Guest Credit. Target's total revenues for the quarter increased 13.9 percent and for the full year increased 13.2 percent. Target's comparable-store sales in the quarter increased 6.8 percent, and for the full year increased 6.1 percent.

Mervyn's pre-tax profit in the quarter was $104 million, even with fourth-quarter 1997. For the full year, Mervyn's pre-tax profit was $240 million, compared with $280 million in 1997. Mervyn's full-year profit margin rate declined to 5.7 percent, compared with 6.6 percent last year, primarily due to a decline in the gross margin rate. The operating expense rate also was unfavorable principally due to lower sales leverage. Mervyn's total revenues for the quarter increased 3.4 percent and for the full year decreased 1.2 percent. Mervyn's comparable-store sales in the quarter increased 4.4 percent, and for the full year increased 0.9 percent.

Fourth-quarter pre-tax profit at the Department Store Division increased 12 percent to $115 million, compared with $102 million in 1997. For the full year, the Department Stores' pre-tax profit increased 16 percent to $279 million, compared with $240 million in 1997. The Department Stores' full-year profit margin rate was 8.5 percent, compared with 7.6 percent last year, due to a significant improvement in the gross margin rate. The Department Stores' total revenues for the quarter increased 4.2 percent, and for the full year increased 3.9 percent. The Department Stores' comparable-store sales in the quarter increased 3.5 percent, and for the full year increased 4.5 percent.

Pre-tax contribution from Guest Credit in the fourth quarter increased over the prior year principally due to continued growth of the Target Guest Card. For the full year, pre-tax contribution from Guest Credit increased 18 percent to $320 million, from $272 million last year. The results of Guest Credit are reflected within each division. At year end, accounts receivable serviced totaled $2.456 billion, up 4 percent from $2.355 billion last year (of these amounts, $800 million represents sold securitized receivables.)

Fourth quarter and full year 1998 results include a pre-tax LIFO credit of $18 million, compared with a 1997 charge of $6 million in the same periods. In 1998 net interest expense and interest equivalent decreased $3 million compared with the prior year due to a lower average portfolio interest rate partially offset by higher average funded balances. The company's full-year tax rate was 38.2 percent, compared with 39.5 percent last year, due to the favorable outcome of our inventory shortage tax matter.

Forward-looking statements in this release should be read in conjunction with the cautionary statements in Exhibit (99) to the company's second-quarter 1998 Form 10-Q.

Dayton Hudson Corporation operates large-store general merchandise formats, including discount stores, moderate-priced promotional and traditional department stores. The company currently operates 1,182 stores in 41 states. This includes 851 Target stores, 268 Mervyn's stores and 63 Department Stores.

Dayton Hudson news releases are available through Company News on Call by fax at 800-758-5804 extension 342677 (DHCorp) and at www.prnewswire.com or http://www.dhc.com

                               (Tables Follow)

    Dayton Hudson Corporation and Subsidiaries
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
    RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    (Millions of Dollars,      Three Months Ended           Total Year
     Except Per Share Data)

                            January 30,  January 31,  January 30,  January 31,
                                  1999         1998         1999         1998

    Revenues                   $10,139       $8,953      $30,951      $27,757
    Costs and Expenses
        Cost of retail sales,
         buying and occupancy    7,431        6,666       22,634       20,320
        Selling, publicity and
         administrative          1,561        1,307        5,077        4,532
        Depreciation and
         amortization              203          173          780          693
        Interest expense, net       97           95          398          416
        Taxes other than income
         taxes                     142          124          506          470
        Total Costs and
         Expenses                9,434        8,365       29,395       26,431
    Earnings Before Income Taxes
     and Extraordinary Charges     705          588        1,556        1,326
    Provision for Income Taxes     258          232          594          524
    Net Earnings Before
     Extraordinary Charges         447          356          962          802
    Extraordinary Charges from
     Purchase and Redemption of
     Debt, Net of Tax               24           --           27           51
    Net Earnings                  $423         $356         $935         $751

    Earnings Per Share:

    Basic Earnings Per Share:
    Earnings Before Extraordinary
     Charges                     $1.00        $0.80        $2.14        $1.80
    Extraordinary Charges         (.05)          --         (.06)        (.12)
    Basic Earnings Per Share     $0.95        $0.80        $2.08        $1.68

    Diluted Earnings Per Share:
    Earnings Before Extraordinary
     Charges                     $0.95        $0.76        $2.04        $1.70
    Extraordinary Charges         (.05)          --         (.06)        (.11)
    Diluted Earnings Per Share   $0.90        $0.76        $1.98        $1.59

    Dividends Declared Per
     Common Share                $0.09        $0.09        $0.36        $0.33
    Average Common Shares
     Outstanding (Millions)
       Basic                     441.3        437.4        440.0        436.1
       Diluted                   468.8        464.6        467.3        463.7


    Dayton Hudson Corporation and Subsidiaries
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
    OF FINANCIAL POSITION

   (Millions of Dollars)                   January 30,             January 31,
                                              1999                    1998
    ASSETS
    Current Assets
      Cash and cash equivalents               $255                    $211
      Retained securitized receivables       1,656                   1,555
      Merchandise inventories                3,475                   3,251
      Other                                    619                     544
      Total Current Assets                   6,005                   5,561

    Property and Equipment, net              8,969                   8,125
    Other                                      692                     505
    Total Assets                           $15,666                 $14,191

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
     INVESTMENT
    Current Liabilities
      Accounts payable                      $3,150                  $2,727
      Current portion of long-term
       debt and notes payable                  256                     273
      Other                                  1,651                   1,556
      Total Current Liabilities              5,057                   4,556

    Long-Term Debt                           4,452                   4,425
    Other                                      846                     750
    Shareholders' Investment                 5,311                   4,460
    Total Liabilities and
     Shareholders' Investment              $15,666                 $14,191

    Common Shares Outstanding
     (Millions)                              441.8                   437.8


    Dayton Hudson Corporation and Subsidiaries
   (Millions of Dollars)

    REVENUES

                     Three Months Ended                  Total Year
            January 30, January 31, % Change  January 30, January 31, % Change
                  1999        1998                  1999        1998


    Target      $7,598      $6,673     13.9%     $23,056     $20,368     13.2%

    Mervyn's     1,346       1,302      3.4        4,176       4,227     (1.2)
    DSD          1,019         978      4.2        3,285       3,162      3.9
    Corporate
     and other     176          --      n/a          434          --      n/a

    TOTAL      $10,139      $8,953     13.2%     $30,951     $27,757     11.5%


    COMPARABLE-STORE SALES

    Comparable-store sales are sales from stores open longer than one year.

                                          % Change                 % Change
                                Three Months Ended               Total Year
   (Unaudited)                    January 30, 1999         January 30, 1999

    Target                                     6.8%                     6.1%
    Mervyn's                                   4.4                      0.9
    DSD                                        3.5                      4.5

    TOTAL                                      6.1%                     5.2%


    MERCHANDISE INVENTORIES (LIFO)

                                 January 30,    January 31
                                       1999           1998        % Change

    Target                           $2,427         $2,388             1.6 %
    Mervyn's                            502            435            15.2
    DSD                                 430            428             0.4
    Corporate and other                 116             --             n/a

    TOTAL                            $3,475         $3,251             6.9%


    Dayton Hudson Corporation and Subsidiaries
    (Millions of Dollars)

    PRE-TAX SEGMENT PROFIT AND EARNINGS RECONCILIATION

    Pre-tax segment profit is first-in, first-out (FIFO) earnings from
    operations before securitization effects, interest, corporate and other,
    and unusual items.

                           Three Months Ended            Total Year
                     January 30, January 31,    January 30, January 31,
                        1999       1998  % Change   1999      1998   % Change
    Target              $646       $512      26%  $1,578    $1,287       23%
    Mervyn's             104        104      --      240       280      (14)
    DSD                  115        102      12      279       240       16
    Total pre-tax
     segment profit      865        718      20    2,097     1,807       16
    LIFO provision credit
     / (expense)          18         (6)              18        (6)
    Securitization
     adjustments:
    SFAS 125 gain/(loss)  --         --               (3)      45
    Interest equivalent  (12)       (13)             (48)      (33)
    Interest expense,
     net                 (97)       (95)            (398)     (416)
    Mainframe
     outsourcing         (42)        --              (42)       --
    Corporate and other  (27)       (16)             (68)      (71)
    Earnings before
     income taxes
     and extraordinary
     charges            $705       $588     20%   $1,556    $1,326      17%


    EBITDA

    EBITDA is pre-tax segment profit before depreciation and amortization.


                        Three Months Ended                Total Year
                   January 30, January 31,          January 30, January 31,
    (Unaudited)         1999       1998   % Change  1999      1998    %Change
    Target              $779       $628      24%  $2,074    $1,724       20%
    Mervyn's             140        135       3      378       406       (7)
    DSD                  147        128      15      414       368       12

    TOTAL             $1,066       $891      19%  $2,866    $2,498       15%


    Pre-tax Segment Profit as a % of Revenues
                                                   Target   Mervyn's   DSD
    Three Months Ended January 30, 1999             8.5%      7.7%    11.3%
    Three Months Ended January 31, 1998             7.7%      8.0%    10.5%

    Year Ended January 30, 1999                     6.8%      5.7%     8.5%
    Year Ended January 31, 1998                     6.3%      6.6%     7.6%


    EBITDA as a % of Revenues                     Target    Mervyn'    DSD
    Three Months Ended January 30, 1999            10.2%     10.4%    14.4%
    Three Months Ended January 31, 1998             9.4%     10.4%    13.1%

    Year Ended January 30, 1999                     9.0%      9.0%    12.6%
    Year Ended January 31, 1998                     8.5%      9.6%    11.6%


    Dayton Hudson Corporation and Subsidiaries
    (Millions of Dollars, except Per Share Data)

    EARNINGS ANALYSIS

                                                    Earnings
                                    Three Months Ended        Total Year
                                    Jan. 30,   Jan. 31,   Jan. 30,   Jan. 31,
    (Unaudited)                        1999       1998       1999       1998
    Net earnings before unusual items  $453       $356       $970       $775
    Favorable outcome of inventory
     shortage tax matter                 20         --         20         --
    Securitization gain (pretax 1998
     $35 mil, 1997 $45 mil)              --         --         21         27
    Securitization loss (pretax 1998
     $38 mil)                            --         --        (23)        --
     Net SFAS 125 gain/(loss)            --         --         (2)        27
    Mainframe outsourcing (pretax
     1998 $42 mil)                      (26)        --        (26)        --
    Net earnings before
     extraordinary charges              447        356        962        802
    Extraordinary charges for
     debt repurchase                    (24)        --        (27)       (51)
    Net earnings                       $423       $356       $935       $751

                                           Diluted Earnings Per Share
                                    Three Months Ended         Total Year
                                    Jan. 30,   Jan. 31,   Jan. 30,   Jan. 31,
    (unaudited)                        1999       1998       1999       1998
    Net earnings before unusual items  $.97       $.76      $2.06      $1.64
    Favorable outcome of inventory
     shortage tax matter                .04         --        .04         --
    Securitization gain (pretax 1998
     $35 mil, 1997 $45 mil)              --         --        .05        .06
    Securitization loss (pretax 1998
     $38 mil)                            --         --       (.05)        --
    Net SFAS 125 gain/(loss)             --         --         --        .06
    Mainframe outsourcing (pretax
     1998 $42 mil)                     (.06)        --       (.06)        --
    Net earnings before
     extraordinary charges              .95        .76       2.04       1.70
    Extraordinary charges for
     debt repurchase                   (.05)        --       (.06)      (.11)
    Net earnings                       $.90       $.76      $1.98      $1.59


    LIFO PROVISION:  CREDIT / (EXPENSE)
                                    Three Months Ended         Total Year
                                    Jan. 30,   Jan. 31,    Jan. 30,   Jan. 31,
                                       1999       1998        1999       1998
    Target                              $--        $--         $--        $--
    Mervyn's                              6         --           6         --
    DSD                                  12         (6)         12         (6)

    TOTAL                               $18        $(6)        $18        $(6)

    Per Share                          $.02      $(.01)       $.02      $(.01)