ACQUIRING TARGET CORPORATION INTRODUCTION The current economic recession has taken a toll on corporations. Those who survive stay within their financial means, are innovative in retaining and attracting customers, and use technology to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Target Corporation is a company that possesses all of these characteristics. While some companies have cut payroll or ceased to exist, Target Corporation has survived in the economic recession and is positioned to gain further market share as economic conditions continue to improve. The purpose of this report is to analyze Target Corporation’s financial statements, determine the future growth potential of the company, and make a recommendation for or against the acquisition of the company. POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH Although many competing companies are projecting insignificant profit growth over the next few years, Target Corporation is projecting profit growth in the near future. Target expects 2012 annual sales to increase by four to five percent (Target Corporation, 2011). When combined with their continued emphasis on technology, customer rewards, and customer relations, the future of Target Corporation looks bright. Making Use of Technology Target Corporation recognizes the importance of technology in reaching its customers. In 2011 the company launched a completely redesigned website that focuses on ease of use. Target also has an industry leading mobile application that allows the company to reach its customers regardless of where they are located. In fact, Mobile Commerce Daily named Target the “2010 Mobile Retailer of the Year” (Target Corporation, 2011). It is in this sector that Target’s potential for growth is the highe... ... middle of paper ... ...ved March 11, 2012, from http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031794 Microsoft Network. (2012, March 8). Target Corp. Retrieved from MSN.Money: http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/ Moore, P. (n.d.) Target to add PFresh grocery concept at 350 stores. Business News – The Business Journals. Retrieved March 13, 2012, from http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/11/16/daily32.html Target Acquisition. (2011, January 13). Target Pressroom. Retrieved March 13, 2012, from http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/target-corporation-to-acquire-real-estate.aspx Target Corporation. (2011, March 11). Target 2010 Annual Report. Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://investors.target.com Target Corporation. (2012, February 23). Target Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2011 Earnings. Retrieved March 5, 2012, from http://investors.target.com
Home Depot Internal. (2010). Corporate Financial Overview. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from Home Depot: http://corporate.homedepot.com/en_US/Corporate/Public_Relations/Online_Press_Kit/Docs/Corp_Financial_Overview.pdf
Kohl’s Corporation (2013, March 22nd). Form 10-K 2013. Retrieved February, 7th, 2014 from SEC EDGAR website http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtm
As I have outlined in the charts below, there are various similarities and differences between Wal-Mart and Target. Wal-Mart is Target’s primary competitor, and vice versa. Wal-Mart has a strong market presence in its global markets and has a diverse range of products and services that are affordable and available in stock. Target, on the other hand, does not have a strong market presence or efficient product supply; however, Target’s physical environment and innovative products further the brand’s image and value. Unfortunately, Target and Wal-Mart are both e-commerce laggards with major competitors such as Amazon. Target faces complications with their pricing strategies and their product availability, which hinders their strength when competing
According to Kantar Retail, most of Target’s shoppers are younger on average than its rivals, and more educated. That means it has to consistently offer something different and appealing; it emphasizes more on the latest-trend apparel, eye-catching home décor and exclusive designer merchandise than its competitors. This results in a willingness to pay a bit more for items by customers who are willing to pay a bit more. Moreover, this successful
For example in the economic forces they work to provide higher end discounted items to keep the profits up by allowing shoppers to have quality and cost savings. In the technological forces, Target has used the increase use of mobile platforms to allow their customers to shop online and pick up in the store by saving time. With the political-legal forces Target works to provide a safe and non-discriminating environment for all customers. Environmental forces are taken in to effect by looking at better waste recycling management to decrease their carbon footprint. Target works hard to represent the values and mores of their customer base, by being actively involved within the community and addressing current social
Year over year, Target Corp. has been able to grow revenues from $51.3B to $57.9B. Most impressively, the company has been able to reduce the percentage of sales devoted to cost of goods sold from 69.64% to 69.29%. This was a driver that led to a bottom line growth from $2.4B to $2.8B. Target outperformed (corporate governance quotient) 85.5 % of S&P 500 companies and 97.7 % of discount retail stores. The corporate governance quotient incorporates the values of transparency, accountability, integrity, and responsibility towards maximizing shareholder value. Yahoo analysts opinions mean recommendation is currently a 2.2, indicating moderate buy to hold (a 1.0 is a strong buy and a 5.0 is a strong sell).
Target has seen consistent growth since its inception, and has confidence that future growth will continue (see attached financial statements). In 2004, Target sold two of there business units, Mervyn's and Marshall Field's for approximately $4.9 billion. This allowed for extensive aggregate pretax cash that will be used for future store sites (as well as upper management bonuses). Target's Board also approved a $3 billion share repurchase program which they expect to complete in two to three years.
"Nordstrom, Inc. SWOT Analysis." Nordstrom, Inc. SWOT Analysis (2012): 1-10. Business Source Premier. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
Target Corporation being a retail industry, the structure by product grouped to a functional level practices works the best. This is necessary for the other functional levels to collaborate as a single team to produce a positive customer shopping experience. Target Corporation further divided the functional level into a geographic area to exercise management tasks effectively with the given authority. Each structure of the management at the geographic level has a strategy discussion, a line of communication, growth, and progress reporting according to the corporate reporting plan. Jana Potts who manages Target Corporation store has closer to 300, 000 employees working for her and the effective can be improved if the role is broken within domestic into channels, stores into broader segments and a separate global position. The rapidly growing online channel and global expansion are necessary to support Target Corporation's strategy of internal growth and sustain it for long term sustainability. These structural changes will allow Target Corporation to connect with its employee at a functional level and bring changes faster, track and monitor the
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Target Corporation is the biggest discount retailing business in the US which comes just after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The headquarters are located in Minneapolis in Minnesota in the USA. George Dayton founded it. It initially started as a family business with a regional retailer shop and later grew into a national full retailer store. The company’s main aim is to offer retail services at friendly rates and, its main attracting feature is discount rates offed on different products in the business. The company has indicated tremendous growth in the retail business. It has a target to outgrow its market and achieve competitive advantage over its competitors. This essay seeks to discuss the competitive analysis and
The Target corporations in plans to grow converted retail stores to retail super stores. In 2004 Target added 65 new merchandise stores and eighteen new Target Superstores all across the United States.
1. The Discount Department Store. Target prefers to be called as the latter instead of just department store. Expect more, pay less. With this tagline, the customers expect to purchase more items and pay the least amount possible. Not like other retail industries like its competitor Kmart and Wal-Mart, Target maintains retail value in terms of product offerings. They are known in their designer’s items in clothes, exclusive beauty products, categorized and functional goods, and seasonal offerings. It also sells the greatest number of gift cards among its rival business.
Target has three primary retail divisions which consist of Mervyn’s, Marshall Field’s and the Target stores. The Target stores are currently the second ranked discount retailer in America behind Wal-Mart. Target has approximately 1,778 stores located across 47 states. The retailer distinguishes itself from competitors by selling higher end, fashionable products at discounted prices.
Koba, M. (2011, November 3). Gross Domestic Product: CNBC Explains. Retrieved from CNBC: EXPLAINS: http://www.cnbc.com/id/44505017