BNP Paribas Increases Target Corporation Holdings by Over 2,300%

BNP Paribas has significantly boosted its stake in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), increasing its holdings by an astounding 2,319.3% during the third quarter of 2023. According to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the institutional investor now owns 5,758 shares of the retailer, following the acquisition of an additional 5,520 shares during this period. The total value of BNP Paribas’ holdings in Target stands at approximately $517,000.

Other hedge funds have also made notable adjustments to their positions in Target. For instance, Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. increased its holdings by 32.3% in the second quarter, now owning 401 shares valued at $41,000 after acquiring 98 shares recently. Similarly, OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp raised its position by 0.6%, bringing its total to 17,618 shares worth $1,738,000 after purchasing 100 shares.

Furthermore, Binnacle Investments Inc. and Empirical Finance LLC increased their stakes by 11.4% and 0.7%, respectively, highlighting a growing institutional interest in the retail giant. Currently, approximately 79.73% of Target’s stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Target Performance and Future Outlook

On Monday, Target’s stock opened at $117.35, reflecting a 1.4% increase. The stock has seen a fifty-day simple moving average of $112.03 and a two-hundred-day average of $99.01. Target’s market capitalization is approximately $53.14 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.43 and a beta of 1.12. The retailer’s financial performance has shown fluctuations, with a 1-year low of $83.44 and a 1-year high of $126.00.

In its most recent earnings report, announced on March 3, 2026, Target reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.44, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.16 by $0.28. The company generated revenue of $30.45 billion for the quarter, slightly below the estimated $30.52 billion. Despite this, Target managed a return on equity of 22.25% and a net margin of 3.54%. Notably, revenue decreased by 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year, which saw an EPS of $2.41.

Looking ahead, Target has set guidance for the first quarter of 2026 at an EPS range of 1.300 and for the fiscal year at 7.500-8.500 EPS, with analysts forecasting an EPS of 8.69 for the current year.

Dividend and Analyst Ratings

In addition to its operating performance, Target recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.14 per share, scheduled for payment on June 1, 2026. Shareholders on record as of May 13, 2026, will receive this dividend, which translates to an annualized payout of $4.56 and a yield of 3.9%. The company’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) stands at 56.09%.

Analysts have varying views on Target’s stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating with a target price of $130.00. In contrast, Barclays revised its price target from $91.00 to $108.00, maintaining an “underweight” rating. Meanwhile, Argus lowered its price target from $135.00 to $125.00, while still issuing a “buy” rating.

Overall, Target has received eleven “buy” ratings, twenty “hold” ratings, and three “sell” ratings from analysts. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently holds an average rating of “hold” and an average target price of $116.45.

Investors are paying close attention to the retailer’s strategic moves, especially under the leadership of new CEO Michael Fiddelke, who is implementing price cuts on around 3,000 products to enhance traffic and regain market share against discount competitors.

As Target navigates these changes, the impact of its pricing strategies and overall performance will be crucial in determining its standing in the competitive retail landscape.