Target (TGT): analysis in plain words
Is Target cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Target (TGT) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in retail. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Target according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Target (TGT) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $163.10 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.9x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +5.3% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 4.1% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.6x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 3.01% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $74.1 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Target figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any TGT figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Target makes money
Target runs discount general merchandise stores across the United States and sells online. It offers household essentials, food, apparel, home goods, beauty and toys, many under owned brands like Good & Gather and Cat & Jack, and also earns advertising and Target Circle revenue. It reports a single segment.
Over the last 12 months, Target brought in revenue of $107.7 billion. For every 100 it sells, Target keeps 28.4 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 6.0 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 400,000 full-time employees, that is about $269,000 of revenue per employee.
Target against its sector
To know whether a Target figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Target with the median of the 18 retail companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Target | retail median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 16.9x | 26.2x (18) |
| Revenue growth | +5.3% | +7.1% (18) |
| Net margin | 4.1% | 7.2% (18) |
| Dividend yield | 3.01% | 0.78% (18) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.6x | 1.5x (18) |
In short, against the typical retail company, Target trades on a lower P/E, grows more slowly and earns a thinner margin. By size, Target ranks number 12 of 17 retail companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Target
These are the strengths in the Target figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Target earns 26.4% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- On a P/E basis Target trades cheaper than its sector: 16.9x its annual earnings, against 26.2x for the retail median (18 companies with data).
- For income seekers, Target pays a dividend yielding 3.01% at today's price, using 47% of its profit to fund it.
The main risk for Target
The Target figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: price competition, which keeps margins thin, and a slowdown in consumer spending.
Frequently asked questions about Target
Is it a good time to buy Target stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Target, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Target stock trades at $163.10, 4% below its 52-week high ($170.75) and 95% above its low ($83.44). Its P/E is 16.9x against a retail median of 26.2x, and 17.1x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Target, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Target pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Target pays $4.64 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 3.01%. It uses 47% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 2.80%. The retail median on Fintols is 0.78%.
Is Target stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Target trades at 16.9x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the retail median (26.2x). Including its debt, Target is valued at 9.8x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Target expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Target's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Target with O'Reilly Automotive, AutoZone and MercadoLibre, which are also in retail. As of November 4, 2026, O'Reilly Automotive is worth $74.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 28.3; AutoZone is worth $53.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 21.8; MercadoLibre is worth $88.2 billion and trades on a P/E of 47.3. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Target below.
Target competitors
- O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY) analysis · Target vs O'Reilly Automotive comparison
- AutoZone (AZO) analysis · Target vs AutoZone comparison
- MercadoLibre (MELI) analysis · Target vs MercadoLibre comparison
To understand Target better
- Economic Moats Explained: From Warren Buffett to AI
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
More companies like Target: retail stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full TGT analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Target, not investment advice.