Target Struggles As Consumers Skip Non-Essential Buys

Core Insights - Target Corporation reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.78, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.72, but the stock fell following the announcement [1] - The company is enhancing its artificial intelligence initiatives by integrating ChatGPT into its operations through an expanded partnership with OpenAI [1] - Target has revised its 2025 adjusted EPS outlook to a range of $7.00–$8.00, down from $7.00–$9.00, which is below the consensus estimate of $7.36 [1] Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter of 2025, Target expects a low-single-digit decline in sales [2] - Analyst Joseph Feldman from Telsey Advisory Group maintained a Market Perform rating on Target's stock with a price forecast of $110 [3] - Target shares were trading lower by 2.47% to $86.22 following the mixed third-quarter results and guidance [4] Future Outlook - Feldman anticipates that same-store sales will decline by 2.1% in 2025, with a projected growth of 1.5% in 2026 [4] - For 2025, the expected EPS is $7.48 [4] - Incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke aims to enhance sales and efficiency through improved merchandising and technology utilization, although these efforts may require patience from investors [3][4]