Target stock hits a 52-week high after August 19 earnings
Published on 08/25/2026 at 13:08 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Target Corp. (US87612E1064) stock traded up to $170.75 on August 25, 2026, after a second-quarter print that showed $4.11 in EPS on $26.54 billion in revenue. The move put the shares at a fresh 52-week high and left them at $169.9640 in late trade, with volume at 6,409,823 shares.
Earnings beat still matters
The August 19, 2026 report beat the consensus EPS estimate by $1.76 and topped revenue expectations by $410 million. Revenue rose 5.3% from the same quarter a year earlier, while net margin came in at 4.08% and return on equity reached 23.23%.
That combination matters more than the headline price move. The stock now carries a market cap of $77.20 billion and trades on a 17.65 P/E, so investors are paying up for earnings that are still being reset higher after the quarter.
Analysts lifted targets
Brokerage updates helped frame the rally into August 25, 2026. One report showed the consensus rating at Hold with an average price target of $159.52, while individual targets ranged from $140 to $185.
The spread is wide enough to matter. It shows that the market is not treating Target as a uniform story, even after the company raised its fiscal 2026 EPS guidance to $9.90 to $10.90.
Dividend and balance sheet
Target also lifted its quarterly dividend to $1.16 a share, up from $1.14, with payment set for September 1, 2026. The annualized payout stands at $4.64 a share and the payout ratio is 48.18%.
Debt and liquidity are part of the same equation. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a current ratio of 0.99, which keeps the cash flow and payout story relevant for income investors.
Target stores and digital sales
Target's business still rests on full-line and small-format stores across the U.S., plus its e-commerce platform and mobile app. The retailer also sells apparel, home goods, electronics, groceries, household essentials, beauty, baby and pet products under a mix of national, owned and exclusive labels.
Shares near the top
Target stock last traded at $169.9640 on August 25, 2026, after opening at $169.96 and touching $170.75. The 12-month low sits at $83.44, so the gap between the low and the new high remains wide.
Fact box
Company: Target Corp.
ISIN: US87612E1064
Ticker: TGT
Exchange: NYSE
Price (as of August 25, 2026): $169.9640 USD
Market cap: $77.20 billion (as of August 25, 2026)
Sector / Industry: Consumer defensive / Discount stores
Index membership: S&P 500
