EX-99 2 a07-21827_1ex99.htm EX-99

Exhibit 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:

 

Susan Kahn

 

 

 

 

(612) 761-6735

 

TARGET  CORPORATION  SECOND QUARTER

EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.80

MINNEAPOLIS, August 21, 2007 — Target Corporation today reported net earnings for the second quarter ended August 4, 2007 of $686 million, or 80 cents per share, compared with $609 million, or 70 cents per share in the second quarter ended July 29, 2006, representing a 14.0 percent increase in earnings per share. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted earnings per share.

“We are pleased with our second quarter and year-to-date results,” said Bob Ulrich, chairman and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. “We continue to believe Target will deliver strong sales and profit performance in 2007 and generate another year of profitable market share growth. We also continue to believe that $3.60 remains within the range of likely outcomes for our full-year 2007 earnings per share.”

Total revenues in the second quarter increased 9.5 percent to $14.620 billion from $13.347 billion in 2006, reflecting a 4.9 percent increase in comparable-store sales combined with the contribution from new store expansion and from our credit card operations. (Total revenues include retail sales and net credit card revenues. Comparable-store sales are sales from stores open longer than one year.)

Earnings before interest and income taxes (EBIT) in the second quarter of 2007 increased 11.8 percent to $1.267 billion, compared with $1.134 billion in the second quarter a year ago. Key contributors to this EBIT growth included gross margin rate improvement offset by unfavorable expense rate performance, combined with strong profit growth in our credit card operations. (Gross margin rate represents sales less cost of sales expressed as a percentage of sales. Expense rate represents selling, general and administrative expenses expressed as a percentage of sales.)

Net interest expense for the quarter increased $14 million compared with second quarter 2006 primarily due to higher average debt balances, including the debt to fund the growth in our accounts receivable.

The contribution from the company’s credit card operations to second quarter earnings before taxes (EBT), net of the allocated interest expense, was $163 million, an increase of $41 million, or 34.0 percent, from the same period in 2006. This favorability is attributable to growth in net interest income as well as other finance charges.

—more —




TARGET CORPORATION

Other Factors

The company’s effective income tax rate for the second quarter was 38.4 percent in 2007 compared with 38.8 percent in 2006. For the full year, the effective income tax rate is still expected to increase modestly from last year’s 38.0 percent rate.

Under a share repurchase program that began in 2004 and was increased by the Board to an $8 billion authorization in June 2007, the company repurchased $476 million of its common stock during the second quarter of 2007, acquiring 7.5 million shares at an average price of $63.23 per share. During the first half of 2007, the company repurchased $1,025 million of its common stock, acquiring 16.7 million shares at an average price of $61.34 per share. Program-to-date, the company has acquired 87.8 million shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $50.99, reflecting a total investment of approximately $4.5 billion. The company expects to continue to execute this program primarily in open market transactions, subject to market conditions, and expects to complete the total program by year-end 2010, or sooner.

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 23, 2007. The replay number is (800) 642-1687 (passcode: 7389853).

Forward-looking statements in this release, which include our outlook for full year tax rate, full year EPS and the timing to complete our share repurchase program, should be read in conjunction with the cautionary statements in Exhibit (99)A to the company’s 2006 Form 10-K.

Target Corporation’s continuing operations include large, general merchandise and food discount stores, as well as an on-line business called Target.com. At quarter-end, the company operated 1,537 Target stores in 47 states.

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

###

(Tables Follow)

2




Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

Six months ended

 

 

 

 

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

 

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

 

 

(millions, except per share data) (unaudited)

 

2007

 

2006

 

Change

 

2007

 

2006

 

Change

 

Sales

 

$

14,167

 

$

12,959

 

9.3

%

$

27,790

 

$

25,453

 

9.2

%

Net credit card revenues

 

453

 

388

 

17.0

 

871

 

757

 

15.0

 

Total revenues

 

14,620

 

13,347

 

9.5

 

28,661

 

26,210

 

9.4

 

Cost of sales

 

9,439

 

8,686

 

8.7

 

18,625

 

17,159

 

8.5

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

3,328

 

2,987

 

11.4

 

6,421

 

5,865

 

9.5

 

Credit card expenses

 

182

 

170

 

7.1

 

351

 

330

 

6.5

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

404

 

370

 

9.0

 

796

 

704

 

12.9

 

Earnings before interest expense and income taxes

 

1,267

 

1,134

 

11.8

 

2,468

 

2,152

 

14.7

 

Net interest expense

 

154

 

140

 

9.9

 

290

 

272

 

6.9

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

1,113

 

994

 

12.0

 

2,178

 

1,880

 

15.9

 

Provision for income taxes

 

427

 

385

 

10.9

 

841

 

718

 

17.2

 

Net earnings

 

$

686

 

$

609

 

12.7

%

$

1,337

 

$

1,162

 

15.0

%

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.81

 

$

0.71

 

14.1

%

$

1.57

 

$

1.34

 

16.7

%

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.70

 

14.0

%

$

1.55

 

$

1.33

 

16.7

%

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

850.8

 

860.8

 

 

 

853.4

 

865.7

 

 

 

Diluted

 

857.4

 

867.2

 

 

 

860.1

 

872.4

 

 

 

 

Subject to reclassification

PR-1




Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

 

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

(millions) (unaudited)

 

2007

 

2006

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

555

 

$

477

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

6,397

 

5,540

 

Inventory

 

6,645

 

6,275

 

Other current assets

 

1,535

 

1,297

 

Total current assets

 

15,132

 

13,589

 

Property and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

5,239

 

4,612

 

Buildings and improvements

 

16,483

 

14,549

 

Fixtures and equipment

 

3,516

 

3,223

 

Computer hardware and software

 

2,209

 

2,002

 

Construction-in-progress

 

2,848

 

2,261

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

(7,268

)

(6,390

)

Property and equipment, net

 

23,027

 

20,257

 

Other non-current assets

 

1,307

 

1,577

 

Total assets

 

$

39,466

 

$

35,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Investment

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

6,101

 

$

5,868

 

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

2,761

 

2,535

 

Current portion of long-term debt and notes payable

 

2,160

 

1,257

 

Total current liabilities

 

11,022

 

9,660

 

Long-term debt

 

10,152

 

9,351

 

Deferred income taxes

 

408

 

768

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

1,930

 

1,271

 

Shareholders’ investment

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

71

 

71

 

Additional paid-in-capital

 

2,610

 

2,217

 

Retained earnings

 

13,451

 

12,087

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(178

)

(2

)

Total shareholders’ investment

 

15,954

 

14,373

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ investment

 

$

39,466

 

$

35,423

 

Common shares outstanding

 

847.8

 

857.8

 

 

Subject to reclassification

PR-2




Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

Six months ended

 

 

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

(millions) (unaudited)

 

2007

 

2006

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

1,337

 

$

1,162

 

Reconciliation of net earnings to operating cash flows

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

796

 

704

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

42

 

38

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(65

)

(112

)

Bad debt provision

 

182

 

181

 

Loss on disposal of property and equipment, net

 

35

 

47

 

Other non-cash items affecting earnings

 

61

 

20

 

Changes in operating accounts providing / (requiring) cash:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable originated at Target

 

(64

)

17

 

Inventory

 

(391

)

(437

)

Other current assets

 

(125

)

48

 

Other non-current assets

 

(12

)

5

 

Accounts payable

 

(475

)

(400

)

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

(161

)

(115

)

Other non-current liabilities

 

43

 

 

Other

 

 

11

 

Cash flow provided by operations

 

1,203

 

1,169

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditures for property and equipment

 

(2,363

)

(1,899

)

Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment

 

16

 

15

 

Change in accounts receivable originated at third parties

 

(321

)

(73

)

Other investments

 

(69

)

(111

)

Cash flow required for investing activities

 

(2,737

)

(2,068

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in notes payable, net

 

1,586

 

748

 

Additions to long-term debt

 

1,900

 

750

 

Reductions of long-term debt

 

(1,253

)

(750

)

Dividends paid

 

(205

)

(174

)

Repurchase of stock

 

(940

)

(900

)

Stock option exercises and related tax benefit

 

195

 

58

 

Other

 

(7

)

(4

)

Cash flow provided by (required for) financing activities

 

1,276

 

(272

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(258

)

(1,171

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

813

 

1,648

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

555

 

$

477

 

 

Subject to reclassification

PR-3




Number of Stores, Retail Square Feet and Comparable-store Sales

 

 

Number of Stores

 

Retail Square Feet (a)

 

 

 

 

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Change

 

Target general merchandise stores

 

1,345

 

1,282

 

165,672

 

156,036

 

6.2

%

SuperTarget stores

 

192

 

162

 

33,890

 

28,641

 

18.3

%

Total

 

1,537

 

1,444

 

199,562

 

184,677

 

8.1

%


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

 

Three months ended

 

Six months ended

 

 

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

(unaudited)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Comparable-store sales (b)

 

4.9

%

4.6

%

4.6

%

4.9

%


(b)  Comparable-store sales growth is calculated by comparing sales in current year periods to comparable, prior year periods of equivalent length.

Credit Card Contribution to Earnings Before Tax

Effective February 2007, the Company redefined Credit Card Contribution to Earnings Before Taxes (EBT).  We have reclassified prior period amounts to conform to the current year disclosure.  These reclassifications had no effect on our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

 

Three months ended

 

Six months ended

 

 

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

August 4,

 

July 29,

 

(millions) (unaudited)

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance charges

 

$

305

 

$

273

 

$

601

 

$

532

 

Interest expense (a)

 

(80

)

(68

)

(157

)

(131

)

Net interest income

 

225

 

205

 

444

 

401

 

Late fees and other revenues

 

109

 

80

 

197

 

160

 

Third-party merchant fees

 

39

 

35

 

73

 

65

 

New account and loyalty rewards discounts (b)

 

(25

)

(25

)

(49

)

(49

)

Non-interest income

 

123

 

90

 

221

 

176

 

Total credit card revenues

 

348

 

295

 

665

 

577

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bad debt provision

 

95

 

93

 

182

 

181

 

Operations and marketing

 

87

 

77

 

169

 

149

 

Allocated depreciation charge (c)

 

3

 

3

 

8

 

7

 

Total expenses

 

185

 

173

 

359

 

337

 

Credit card contribution to EBT

 

$

163

 

$

122

 

$

306

 

$

240

 

As a percentage of average receivables (annualized)

 

9.7

%

8.2

%

9.2

%

8.1

%

Net interest margin (annualized) (d)

 

13.4

%

13.9

%

13.3

%

13.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period-end receivables

 

$

6,906

 

$

6,041

 

$

6,906

 

$

6,041

 

Average receivables

 

$

6,718

 

$

5,936

 

$

6,670

 

$

5,945

 

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

 

3.5

%

3.4

%

 

 

 

 

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

 

2.3

%

2.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance at beginning of period

 

$

504

 

$

476

 

$

517

 

$

451

 

Bad debt provision

 

95

 

93

 

182

 

181

 

Net write-offs

 

(90

)

(68

)

(190

)

(131

)

Allowance at end of period

 

$

509

 

$

501

 

$

509

 

$

501

 

As a percentage of period-end receivables

 

7.4

%

8.3

%

7.4

%

8.3

%

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

 

5.4

%

4.6

%

5.7

%

4.4

%


(a)    Represents an allocation of consolidated interest expense based on estimated funding costs for average net accounts receivable and other financial services assets and is included in net interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(b)    Primarily consists of new account and loyalty rewards program discounts on our REDcard products, which are included as reductions of sales in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(c)    Included in depreciation and amortization in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(d)    Net interest income divided by average accounts receivable.

PR-4