Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended July 29, 2017
 
Commission File Number 1-6049
 
 
targetbullseyea05a02a02a09.jpg
TARGET CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota
 
41-0215170
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
55403
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 612/304-6073
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: N/A
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes x No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Large accelerated filer  x
  Accelerated filer  o
 Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company  o
Emerging growth company  o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o
      
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).                 Yes o No x
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. Total shares of common stock, par value $0.0833, outstanding at August 15, 2017 were 546,231,798.





TARGET CORPORATION
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
(millions, except per share data) (unaudited)
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Sales
$
16,429

 
$
16,169

 
$
32,446

 
$
32,364

Cost of sales (a)
11,419

 
11,172

 
22,618

 
22,421

Gross margin
5,010

 
4,997

 
9,828

 
9,943

Selling, general and administrative expenses
3,382

 
3,249

 
6,515

 
6,402

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) (a)
514

 
500

 
1,022

 
981

Earnings from continuing operations before interest expense and income taxes
1,114

 
1,248

 
2,291

 
2,560

Net interest expense
135

 
307

 
278

 
722

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
979

 
941

 
2,013

 
1,838

Provision for income taxes
308

 
316

 
664

 
599

Net earnings from continuing operations
671

 
625

 
1,349

 
1,239

Discontinued operations, net of tax
1

 
55

 
4

 
73

Net earnings
$
672

 
$
680

 
$
1,353

 
$
1,312

Basic earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
1.22

 
$
1.07

 
$
2.45

 
$
2.10

Discontinued operations

 
0.09

 
0.01

 
0.12

Net earnings per share
$
1.22

 
$
1.17

 
$
2.45

 
$
2.22

Diluted earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
1.22

 
$
1.07

 
$
2.44

 
$
2.08

Discontinued operations

 
0.09

 
0.01

 
0.12

Net earnings per share
$
1.22

 
$
1.16

 
$
2.44

 
$
2.20

Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
549.3

 
582.2

 
550.8

 
590.3

Dilutive impact of share-based awards
2.6

 
4.6

 
2.8

 
5.0

Diluted
551.9

 
586.8

 
553.6

 
595.3

Antidilutive shares
5.2

 
0.2

 
3.6

 
0.1

Dividends declared per share
$
0.62

 
$
0.60

 
$
1.22

 
$
1.16

Note: Per share amounts may not foot due to rounding. 
(a) Refer to Note 3 for information about a reclassification of supply chain-related depreciation expense to cost of sales.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

1




Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
(millions) (unaudited)
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Net earnings
$
672

 
$
680

$
1,353

 
$
1,312

Other comprehensive income
 

 
 

 

 
 

Pension and other benefit liabilities, net of taxes of $5, $3, $10 and $8
7

 
5

14

 
12

Currency translation adjustment and cash flow hedges, net of taxes of $1, $0, $1, and $1
3

 

8

 
5

Other comprehensive income
10

 
5

22

 
17

Comprehensive income
$
682

 
$
685

$
1,375

 
$
1,329

 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2




Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
 

 
 

 
 

(millions) (unaudited)
July 29,
2017

 
January 28,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Assets
 
 
 

 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,291

 
$
2,512

 
$
1,480

Inventory
8,257

 
8,309

 
8,631

Assets of discontinued operations
19

 
69

 
83

Other current assets
1,053

 
1,100

 
1,309

Total current assets
11,620

 
11,990

 
11,503

Property and equipment
 

 
 

 
 

Land
6,089

 
6,106

 
6,111

Buildings and improvements
28,041

 
27,611

 
27,315

Fixtures and equipment
5,361

 
5,503

 
5,282

Computer hardware and software
2,518

 
2,651

 
2,504

Construction-in-progress
423

 
200

 
232

Accumulated depreciation
(17,571
)
 
(17,413
)
 
(16,510
)
Property and equipment, net
24,861

 
24,658

 
24,934

Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations
10

 
12

 
17

Other noncurrent assets
875

 
771

 
834

Total assets
$
37,366

 
$
37,431

 
$
37,288

Liabilities and shareholders’ investment
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
7,584

 
$
7,252

 
$
6,811

Accrued and other current liabilities
3,790

 
3,737

 
3,544

Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings
1,354

 
1,718

 
647

Liabilities of discontinued operations
1

 
1

 
1

Total current liabilities
12,729

 
12,708

 
11,003

Long-term debt and other borrowings
10,892

 
11,031

 
12,063

Deferred income taxes
784

 
861

 
754

Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations
18

 
18

 
19

Other noncurrent liabilities
1,845

 
1,860

 
1,872

Total noncurrent liabilities
13,539

 
13,770

 
14,708

Shareholders’ investment
 

 
 

 
 

Common stock
46

 
46

 
48

Additional paid-in capital
5,707

 
5,661

 
5,562

Retained earnings
5,961

 
5,884

 
6,579

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(616
)
 
(638
)
 
(612
)
Total shareholders’ investment
11,098

 
10,953

 
11,577

Total liabilities and shareholders’ investment
$
37,366

 
$
37,431

 
$
37,288

Common Stock Authorized 6,000,000,000 shares, $.0833 par value; 546,183,291, 556,156,228 and 574,801,225 shares issued and outstanding at July 29, 2017, January 28, 2017 and July 30, 2016, respectively.
 
Preferred Stock Authorized 5,000,000 shares, $.01 par value; no shares were issued or outstanding at July 29, 2017, January 28, 2017 or July 30, 2016.
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3




Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
(millions) (unaudited)
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Operating activities
 

 
 

Net earnings
$
1,353

 
$
1,312

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
4

 
73

Net earnings from continuing operations
1,349

 
1,239

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
1,151

 
1,116

Share-based compensation expense
43

 
67

Deferred income taxes
(87
)
 
(79
)
Loss on debt extinguishment

 
422

Noncash losses / (gains) and other, net
81

 
(26
)
Changes in operating accounts
 

 
 
Inventory
52

 
(29
)
Other assets
74

 
131

Accounts payable
332

 
(607
)
Accrued and other liabilities
(129
)
 
(838
)
Cash provided by operating activities—continuing operations
2,866

 
1,396

Cash provided by operating activities—discontinued operations
57

 
92

Cash provided by operations
2,923

 
1,488

Investing activities
 

 
 

Expenditures for property and equipment
(1,203
)
 
(684
)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment
22

 
14

Other investments
(80
)
 
1

Cash required for investing activities
(1,261
)
 
(669
)
Financing activities
 

 
 

Additions to long-term debt

 
1,979

Reductions of long-term debt
(614
)
 
(2,611
)
Dividends paid
(663
)
 
(666
)
Repurchase of stock
(615
)
 
(2,238
)
Stock option exercises
9

 
151

Cash required for financing activities
(1,883
)
 
(3,385
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(221
)
 
(2,566
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
2,512

 
4,046

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
2,291

 
$
1,480

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

4




Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Investment
 
Common

 
Stock

 
Additional

 
 

 
Accumulated Other

 
 

 
Stock

 
Par

 
Paid-in

 
Retained

 
Comprehensive

 
 

(millions)  (unaudited)
Shares

 
Value

 
Capital

 
Earnings

 
(Loss) / Income

 
Total

January 30, 2016
602.2

 
$
50

 
$
5,348

 
$
8,188

 
$
(629
)
 
$
12,957

Net earnings

 

 

 
2,737

 

 
2,737

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 
(9
)
 
(9
)
Dividends declared

 

 

 
(1,359
)
 

 
(1,359
)
Repurchase of stock
(50.9
)
 
(4
)
 

 
(3,682
)
 

 
(3,686
)
Stock options and awards
4.9

 

 
313

 

 

 
313

January 28, 2017
556.2

 
$
46

 
$
5,661

 
$
5,884

 
$
(638
)
 
$
10,953

Net earnings

 

 

 
1,353

 

 
1,353

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 
22

 
22

Dividends declared

 

 

 
(675
)
 

 
(675
)
Repurchase of stock
(10.6
)
 

 

 
(601
)
 

 
(601
)
Stock options and awards
0.6

 

 
46

 

 

 
46

July 29, 2017
546.2

 
$
46

 
$
5,707

 
$
5,961

 
$
(616
)
 
$
11,098

 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

5




Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
1. Accounting Policies
 
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statement disclosures in our 2016 Form 10-K.

We use the same accounting policies in preparing quarterly and annual financial statements. All adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of quarterly operating results are reflected herein and are of a normal, recurring nature. Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Note 3 provides more information about a reclassification of supply chain-related depreciation expense to cost of sales. Unless otherwise noted, amounts presented within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements refer to our continuing operations.
 
Due to the seasonal nature of our business, quarterly revenues, expenses, earnings, and cash flows are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

2. Revenues

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). We plan to adopt the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 using the full retrospective approach. We do not expect the standard to materially affect our consolidated net earnings, financial position, or cash flows.

We are evaluating the impact the standard has on our determination of whether we act as principal or agent in certain vendor arrangements where the purchase and sale of inventory is virtually simultaneous. We currently record virtually all revenue and related costs gross, with approximately 3 percent of consolidated sales made under such arrangements. Due to the varying terms of these arrangements, the presentation required under the standard will depend on contract-specific terms and, in some instances, may result in net presentation of these amounts. Any change to net presentation would not impact gross margin dollars or earnings. We also expect minor changes to the timing of recognition of revenues related to promotional gift cards, and we expect to present certain other income streams, including credit card profit sharing income, in an other revenue line on our Consolidated Statements of Operations upon adoption.

3. Cost of Sales and Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

During the second quarter of 2017, we reclassified supply chain-related depreciation expense to cost of sales whereas it was previously included in depreciation and amortization on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We reclassified prior year amounts to reflect this change. This reclassification increased cost of sales by $64 million and $129 million for the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, respectively, and $70 million and $135 million for the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively, with equal and offsetting decreases to depreciation and amortization. This reclassification had no impact on sales, EBIT, net earnings or earnings per share.

The following table illustrates the primary items classified in each major expense category:

Cost of Sales
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Total cost of products sold including:
•   Freight expenses associated with moving
    merchandise from our vendors to and between our
    distribution centers and our retail stores
•   Vendor income that is not reimbursement of
    specific, incremental and identifiable costs
Inventory shrink
Markdowns
Outbound shipping and handling expenses
    associated with sales to our guests
Payment term cash discounts
Distribution center costs, including compensation
    and benefits costs and depreciation
Import costs
Compensation and benefit costs for stores and
    headquarters
Occupancy and operating costs of retail and
    headquarters facilities
Advertising, offset by vendor income that is a
    reimbursement of specific, incremental and
    identifiable costs
Pre-opening and exit costs of stores and other facilities
U.S. credit cards servicing expenses and profit
    sharing
Costs associated with accepting 3
rd party bank issued
    payment cards
Litigation and defense costs and related insurance
    recovery
Other administrative costs
Note: The classification of these expenses varies across the retail industry.


6




4. Fair Value Measurements
 
Fair value measurements are reported in one of three levels reflecting the valuation techniques used to determine fair value.
 
 
Fair Value Measurements - Recurring Basis
 
Fair Value at
(millions)
Pricing Category
July 29,
2017

 
January 28,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Assets
 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
 

 
 

 
 

Short-term investments held by U.S. entities
Level 1
$
251

 
$
1,110

 
$
303

Short-term investments held by entities located outside the U.S. (a)
Level 1
1,366

 
762

 
497

Other current assets
 
 

 
 

 
 

Prepaid forward contracts
Level 1
37

 
26

 
31

Beneficial interest asset
Level 3
6

 
12

 
13

Interest rate swaps (b)
Level 2

 
1

 

Other noncurrent assets
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate swaps (b)
Level 2
4

 
4

 
28

Beneficial interest asset
Level 3

 

 
6

(a)  Amounts may be subject to tax if repatriated.
(b) See Note 8 for additional information on interest rate swaps.
 
Significant Financial Instruments not Measured at Fair Value (a)

(millions)
July 29, 2017
 
January 28, 2017
 
July 30, 2016
Carrying
Amount

Fair
Value

 
Carrying
Amount

Fair
Value

 
Carrying
Amount

Fair
Value

Debt (b)
$
11,122

$
12,143

 
$
11,715

$
12,545

 
$
11,712

$
13,542

(a) The carrying amounts of certain other current assets, accounts payable, and certain accrued and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.
(b) The carrying amount and estimated fair value of debt exclude unamortized swap valuation adjustments and capital lease obligations.

5. Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less from the time of purchase. Cash equivalents also include amounts due from third-party financial institutions for credit and debit card transactions, which typically settle in 5 days or less.
(millions)
July 29,
2017

January 28,
2017

July 30,
2016

 
 
 
 
Cash held by U.S. entities
$
239

$
257

$
249

Cash held by entities located outside the U.S. (a)
21

17

13

Short-term investments held by U.S. entities
251

1,110

303

Short-term investments held by entities located outside the U.S. (a)
1,366

762

497

Receivables from third-party financial institutions for credit and debit card transactions
414

366

418

Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,291

$
2,512

$
1,480

(a) Amounts may be subject to tax if repatriated.


7




6. Property and Equipment

We review long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances—such as a decision to relocate or close a store or distribution center, make significant software changes or discontinue projects—indicate that the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. We recognized impairment losses of $87 million and $88 million during the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, respectively, primarily resulting from planned or completed store closures and supply chain changes. We recognized impairment losses of $27 million and $28 million during the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively, primarily resulting from planned or completed store closures. The impairments are recorded in selling, general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and are included in segment results.

7. Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt
 
We obtain short-term financing from time to time under our commercial paper program, a form of notes payable. No balances were outstanding at any time during the six months ended July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016.

In May 2017, we used cash on hand to repay $598 million of debt at its maturity.

In April 2016, we issued unsecured fixed rate debt of $1 billion at 2.5% that matures in April 2026 and $1 billion at 3.625% that matures in April 2046. During the first and second quarter of 2016, we used cash on hand and proceeds from these issuances to repurchase $565 million and $824 million of debt, respectively, before its maturity at a market value of $820 million and $981 million, respectively. We recognized a loss on early retirement of approximately $261 million and $161 million in first and second quarter of 2016, respectively, which was recorded in net interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

8. Derivative Financial Instruments
 
Our derivative instruments primarily consist of interest rate swaps, which we use to mitigate interest rate risk. As a result of our use of derivative instruments, we have counterparty credit exposure to large global financial institutions. We monitor this concentration of counterparty credit risk on an ongoing basis. See Note 4 for a description of the fair value measurement of our derivative instruments and their classification on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
 
As of July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016, interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $1,000 million were designated fair value hedges. No ineffectiveness was recognized during the three and six months ended July 29, 2017 or July 30, 2016.

As of July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016, one interest rate swap with a notional amount of $250 million was not designated a fair value hedge because it was de-designated concurrent with the repurchase of debt during the first half of 2016.

We recorded income of $2 million and $6 million during the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, respectively, and $8 million and $16 million during the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively, within net interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations related to periodic payments, valuation adjustments, and amortization of gains or losses on our interest rate swaps.
  
9. Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. The new standard requires lessees to record assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement.

We must adopt the standard no later than the first quarter of 2019, which begins on February 3, 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements.

We plan to adopt the standard in the first quarter of 2018. We expect to take advantage of the package of practical expedients permitted within the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carryforward the historical lease classification. In addition, we plan to elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine the reasonably certain lease term. While lease classification will remain unchanged, hindsight may result in different accounting lease terms for certain leases and affect the timing of depreciation, interest, and rent expense, and the amount of lease assets and liabilities recognized. We expect to make an accounting policy election that would keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the balance sheet and would result in recognizing those lease payments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.


8




While we are continuing to assess all potential impacts of the standard, we expect to record additional net lease liabilities of $1.2-$1.7 billion, with an offsetting increase to leased assets of $0.9-$1.4 billion. The difference between these amounts will be recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings. We do not believe the standard will materially affect our consolidated net earnings. These estimates — based on our current lease portfolio — may change as we continue to evaluate the new standard and as we implement a new lease accounting information system. The estimates could also change due to changes in the lease portfolio, which could include (a) lease volume, (b) lease commencement dates, and (c) renewal option and lease termination expectations. We will update our estimates each quarter as changes occur.

We do not believe the new standard will have a notable impact on our liquidity. The standard will have no impact on our debt-covenant compliance under our current agreements.

10. Share Repurchase

 
Six Months Ended
(millions, except per share data)
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Total number of shares purchased
10.6

 
30.4

Average price paid per share
$
56.76

 
$
73.70

Total investment
$
601

 
$
2,243


11. Pension Benefits
 
We provide pension plan benefits to certain eligible team members.

Net Pension Benefits Expense
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
(millions)
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Service cost
$
21

 
$
20

 
$
42

 
$
41

Interest cost
34

 
35

 
69

 
69

Expected return on assets
(61
)
 
(65
)
 
(123
)
 
(129
)
Amortization of losses
15

 
13

 
30

 
25

Amortization of prior service cost
(3
)
 
(3
)
 
(5
)
 
(6
)
Total
$
6

 
$

 
$
13

 
$


In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), which requires employers to disaggregate and present separately the current service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost within the Consolidated Statement of Operations. We plan to adopt the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. We expect to reclassify the other components of net benefit cost to an other income and expense line on our Consolidated Statements of Operations upon adoption.
 
12. Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) / Income
 
 
(millions)
Cash Flow
Hedges

 
Currency
Translation
Adjustment

 
Pension and
Other
Benefits

 
Total

January 28, 2017
$
(16
)
 
$
(21
)
 
$
(601
)
 
$
(638
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 
6

 

 
6

Amounts reclassified from AOCI
2

(a) 

 
14

(b) 
16

July 29, 2017
$
(14
)
 
$
(15
)
 
$
(587
)
 
$
(616
)
(a)  Represents gains and losses on cash flow hedges, net of $1 million of taxes.
(b)  Represents amortization of pension and other benefit liabilities, net of $10 million of taxes.


9




13. Segment Reporting
 
Our segment measure of profit (segment earnings before interest expense and income taxes) is used by management to evaluate performance and make operating decisions. We operate as a single segment that includes all of our continuing operations, which are designed to enable guests to purchase products seamlessly in stores or through our digital channels. Virtually all of our consolidated revenues are generated in the United States. The vast majority of our long–lived assets are located within the United States.
 
Business Segment Results
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
(millions)
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Sales
$
16,429

 
$
16,169

 
$
32,446

 
$
32,364

Cost of sales (a)
11,419

 
11,172

 
22,618

 
22,421

Gross margin
5,010

 
4,997

 
9,828

 
9,943

Selling, general, and administrative expenses (c)
3,382

 
3,256

 
6,515

 
6,398

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) (a)
514

 
500

 
1,022

 
981

Segment earnings before interest expense and income taxes
1,114

 
1,241

 
2,291

 
2,564

Pharmacy Transaction-related costs (b)(c)

 
7

 

 
(4
)
Earnings from continuing operations before interest expense and income taxes
1,114

 
1,248

 
2,291

 
2,560

Net interest expense
135

 
307

 
278

 
722

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
$
979

 
$
941

 
$
2,013

 
$
1,838

Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(a) Refer to Note 3 for information about the impact of a reclassification of supply chain-related depreciation expense.
(b) For the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, represents items related to the December 2015 sale of our former pharmacy and clinic businesses to CVS (Pharmacy Transaction).
(c) The sum of segment SG&A expenses and Pharmacy Transaction-related costs equal consolidated SG&A expenses.

Reconciliation of Segment Assets to Total Assets
(millions)
July 29,
2017

 
January 28,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Segment assets
$
37,337

 
$
37,350

 
$
37,182

Assets of discontinued operations
29

 
81

 
100

Unallocated assets (a)

 

 
6

Total assets
$
37,366

 
$
37,431

 
$
37,288

(a)  Represents the insurance receivable related to the 2013 data breach.

10




Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Executive Summary
 
Second quarter 2017 includes the following notable items:

GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.22.
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.23.
Comparable sales increased 1.3 percent, driven by a 2.1 percent increase in traffic.
Comparable digital channel sales increased 32 percent.
We made $717 million of capital investments and returned $627 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchase.

Sales were $16,429 million for the three months ended July 29, 2017, an increase of $260 million or 1.6 percent from the same period in the prior year. Operating cash flow provided by continuing operations was $2,866 million and $1,396 million for the six months ended July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016, respectively. The operating cash flow increase is partially due to an increase in accounts payable driven by changes in vendor payment terms during the first half of 2017 and improved inventory turnover, compared to a decrease in accounts payable during the first half of 2016. The operating cash flow increase is also partially due to the payment of approximately $500 million of taxes during the first quarter of 2016, primarily related to the December 2015 sale of our pharmacy and clinic businesses (Pharmacy Transaction).
 
Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations
Three Months Ended
 
 

 
Six Months Ended
 
 

July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
Change

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
Change

GAAP diluted earnings per share
$
1.22

 
$
1.07

 
14.2
%
 
$
2.44

 
$
2.08

 
17.1
 %
Adjustments
0.01

 
0.16

 
 
 

 
0.43

 
 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share
$
1.23

 
$
1.23

 
0.1
%
 
$
2.43

 
$
2.51

 
(3.2
)%
Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS), a non-GAAP metric, excludes the impact of certain items not related to our routine retail operations. Management believes that Adjusted EPS is meaningful to provide period-to-period comparisons of our operating results. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is provided on page 16.

We report after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) from continuing operations because we believe ROIC provides a meaningful measure of the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time. For the trailing twelve months ended July 29, 2017, ROIC was 13.8 percent, compared with 15.8 percent for the trailing twelve months ended July 30, 2016. Excluding the net gain on the Pharmacy Transaction, ROIC was 13.7 percent for the trailing twelve months ended July 30, 2016. A reconciliation of ROIC is provided on page 17.

Analysis of Results of Operations
 
Segment Results
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 

 
Six Months Ended
 
 

(dollars in millions)
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
Change

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
Change

Sales
$
16,429

 
$
16,169

 
1.6
 %
 
$
32,446

 
$
32,364

 
0.3
 %
Cost of sales (a)
11,419

 
11,172

 
2.2

 
22,618

 
22,421

 
0.9

Gross margin
5,010

 
4,997

 
0.3

 
9,828

 
9,943

 
(1.2
)
SG&A expenses (b)
3,382

 
3,256

 
3.9

 
6,515

 
6,398

 
1.8

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) (a)
514

 
500

 
2.8

 
1,022

 
981

 
4.1

EBIT
$
1,114

 
$
1,241

 
(10.3
)%
 
$
2,291

 
$
2,564

 
(10.6
)%
Note: See Note 13 of our Financial Statements for a reconciliation of our segment results to earnings before income taxes.
(a) Refer to Note 3 of the Financial Statements for information about a reclassification of supply chain-related depreciation expense to cost of sales.

11




(b) SG&A includes $172 million and $342 million net profit-sharing income under our credit card program agreement for the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, respectively, and $163 million and $321 million for the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively.

Rate Analysis
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Gross margin rate (a)
30.5
%
 
30.9
%
30.3
%
 
30.7
%
SG&A expense rate
20.6

 
20.1

20.1

 
19.8

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) expense rate (a)
3.1

 
3.1

3.2

 
3.0

EBIT margin rate
6.8

 
7.7

7.1

 
7.9

Note: Rate analysis metrics are computed by dividing the applicable amount by sales.
(a) Reclassifying supply chain-related depreciation expense to cost of sales reduced the gross margin and depreciation and amortization rates by (0.4) percent for all periods presented.

Sales
 
Sales include all merchandise sales, net of expected returns, and gift card breakage. Digital channel sales include all sales initiated through mobile applications and our conventional websites. Digital channel sales may be fulfilled through our distribution centers, our vendors, or our stores.

Sales by Channel
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Stores
95.7
%
 
96.7
%
 
95.7
%
 
96.6
%
Digital
4.3

 
3.3

 
4.3

 
3.4

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%

Sales by Product Category
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Household essentials (a)
25
%
 
25
%
 
25
%
 
25
%
Apparel and accessories
22

 
22

 
21

 
21

Food and beverage (a)
19

 
20

 
21

 
21

Home furnishings and décor
19

 
19

 
18

 
18

Hardlines
15

 
14

 
15

 
15

Total
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
(a) For all periods presented, pet supplies, which represented approximately 2 percent of total sales, has been reclassified from food and beverage to household essentials.

Comparable sales is a measure that highlights the performance of our stores and digital channels by measuring the change in sales for a period over the comparable, prior-year period of equivalent length. Comparable sales include all sales, except sales from stores open less than 13 months, digital acquisitions we have owned less than 13 months, stores that have been closed, and digital acquisitions that we no longer operate. Comparable sales measures vary across the retail industry. As a result, our comparable sales calculation is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
 

12




Comparable Sales
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Comparable sales change
1.3
 %
 
(1.1
)%
 
 %
 
 %
Drivers of change in comparable sales
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Number of transactions
2.1

 
(2.2
)
 
0.6

 
(0.9
)
Average transaction amount
(0.7
)
 
1.1

 
(0.7
)
 
1.0

Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

Contribution to Comparable Sales Change
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Stores channel comparable sales change
0.2
%
 
(1.6
)%
 
(1.0
)%
 
(0.5
)%
Digital channel contribution to comparable sales change
1.1

 
0.5

 
0.9

 
0.6

Total comparable sales change
1.3
%
 
(1.1
)%
 
 %
 
 %
Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.

The collective interaction of a broad array of macroeconomic, competitive, and consumer behavioral factors, as well as sales mix, and transfer of sales to new stores makes further analysis of sales metrics infeasible.

We monitor the percentage of sales that are paid for using REDcards (REDcard Penetration) because our internal analysis has indicated that a meaningful portion of the incremental purchases on REDcards are also incremental sales for Target. Guests receive a 5 percent discount on virtually all purchases when they use a REDcard at Target.
 
REDcard Penetration
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Target Debit Card
13.0
%
 
12.7
%
 
13.2
%
 
12.9
%
Target Credit Cards
11.6

 
11.1

 
11.3

 
10.7

Total REDcard Penetration
24.6
%
 
23.9
%
 
24.5
%
 
23.6
%
Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.


13




Gross Margin Rate
tgt2015q2gmrateqtra06.jpg
tgt-2017729_chartx20282.jpg

For the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, our gross margin rate was 30.5 percent 30.3 percent, respectively, compared with 30.9 percent and 30.7 percent in the comparable periods last year. The decrease was due to increased digital fulfillment costs and other items, including impacts of our efforts to improve pricing and promotions.


Selling, General, and Administrative Expense Rate
tgt-2015050_chartx49372a08.jpg

14




tgt-2017729_chartx23049.jpg

For the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, our SG&A expense rate was 20.6 percent and 20.1 percent, respectively, compared to 20.1 percent and 19.8 percent in the comparable periods last year. The increase was primarily due to higher compensation, primarily due to increased bonus expense, and impairment losses resulting from planned or completed store closures and supply chain changes, partially offset by cost savings driven by efficiency in our technology operations and, for the second quarter, timing of marketing campaigns.

Store Data
 
Change in Number of Stores
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

Beginning store count
1,807

 
1,793

 
1,802

 
1,792

Opened
9

 
5

 
14

 
6

Closed

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Ending store count
1,816

 
1,797

 
1,816

 
1,797


Number of Stores and
Retail Square Feet
Number of Stores
 
Retail Square Feet (a)
July 29,
2017

January 28,
2017

July 30,
2016

 
July 29,
2017

January 28,
2017

July 30,
2016

170,000 or more sq. ft.
276

276

278

 
49,328

49,328

49,688

50,000 to 169,999 sq. ft.
1,506

1,504

1,505

 
189,796

189,620

189,732

49,999 or less sq. ft.
34

22

14

 
958

554

300

Total
1,816

1,802

1,797

 
240,082

239,502

239,720

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

Net Interest Expense
 
Net interest expense from continuing operations was $135 million and $278 million for the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, respectively, compared to $307 million and $722 million for the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively. Net interest expense for the three and six months ended July 30, 2016 included a loss on early retirement of debt of $161 million and $422 million, respectively.


15




Provision for Income Taxes
 
Our effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three and six months ended July 29, 2017 was 31.4 percent and 33.0 percent, respectively, compared with 33.6 percent and 32.6 percent for the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively. For the three months ended July 29, 2017, the decrease was due to the net tax effect of our global sourcing operations. For the six months ended July 29, 2017, the increase was due to the recognition of $18 million of excess tax benefits related to share-based payments for the six months ended July 30, 2016, offset by the net tax effect of our global sourcing operations and other items, none of which are individually significant.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Measures
 
To provide additional transparency, we have disclosed non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS). This metric excludes certain items presented below. We believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our continuing operations. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The most comparable GAAP measure is diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
July 29, 2017
 
July 30, 2016
(millions, except per share data)
 
Pretax

 
Net of Tax

 
Per Share Amounts

 
Pretax

 
Net of Tax

 
Per Share Amounts

GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
$
1.22

 
 
 
 
 
$
1.07

Adjustments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on early retirement of debt
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
161

 
$
98

 
$
0.17

Pharmacy Transaction-related costs
 

 

 

 
(7
)
 
(4
)
 
(0.01
)
Income tax matters (a)
 

 
5

 
0.01

 

 

 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
$
1.23

 
 
 
 
 
$
1.23


 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
July 29, 2017
 
July 30, 2016
(millions, except per share data)
 
Pretax

 
Net of Tax

 
Per Share Amounts

 
Pretax

 
Net of Tax

 
Per Share Amounts

GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
$
2.44

 
 
 
 
 
$
2.08

Adjustments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on early retirement of debt
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
422

 
$
257

 
$
0.43

Pharmacy Transaction-related costs
 

 

 

 
4

 
3

 

Income tax matters (a)
 

 
(2
)
 

 

 
(3
)
 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
 
 
 
 
 
$
2.43

 
 
 
 
 
$
2.51

Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding.
(a) Represents expense/(income) from income tax matters not related to current period operations.



16




We have also disclosed after-tax ROIC, which is a ratio based on GAAP information, with the exception of adjustments made to capitalize operating leases. Operating leases are capitalized as part of the ROIC calculation to control for differences in capital structure between us and our competitors. We believe this metric provides a meaningful measure of the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time. Other companies may calculate ROIC differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies.

After-Tax Return on Invested Capital
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Numerator
 
Trailing Twelve Months
 
 
(dollars in millions)
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
 
Earnings from continuing operations before interest expense and income taxes
 
$
4,700

 
$
5,605

 
 
+ Operating lease interest (a)(b)
 
76

 
77

 
 
Adjusted earnings from continuing operations before interest expense and income taxes
 
4,776

 
5,682

 
 
- Income taxes (c)
 
1,571

 
1,791

 
 
Net operating profit after taxes
 
$
3,205

 
$
3,891

 
 

Denominator
(dollars in millions) 
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
August 1,
2015

Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings
 
$
1,354

 
$
647

 
$
841

+ Noncurrent portion of long-term debt
 
10,892

 
12,063

 
11,817

+ Shareholders' equity
 
11,098

 
11,577

 
13,942

+ Capitalized operating lease obligations (b)(d)
 
1,257

 
1,274

 
1,497

- Cash and cash equivalents
 
2,291

 
1,480

 
2,742

- Net assets of discontinued operations
 
10

 
80

 
217

Invested capital
 
$
22,300

 
$
24,001

 
$
25,138

Average invested capital (e)
 
$
23,150

 
$
24,569

 
 
After-tax return on invested capital (f)
 
13.8
%
 
15.8
%
 
 
(a) Represents the add-back to operating income to reflect the hypothetical interest expense we would incur if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as capital leases, using eight times our trailing twelve months rent expense and an estimated interest rate of six percent.
(b) See the following Reconciliation of Capitalized Operating Leases table for the adjustments to our GAAP total rent expense to obtain the hypothetical capitalization of operating leases and related operating lease interest.
(c) Calculated using the effective tax rate for continuing operations, which was 32.9 percent and 31.5 percent for the trailing twelve months ended July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016, respectively. For the trailing twelve months ended July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016, includes tax effect of $1,546 million and $1,767 million, respectively, related to EBIT and $25 million and $24 million, respectively, related to operating lease interest.
(d) Calculated as eight times our trailing twelve months rent expense.
(e) Average based on the invested capital at the end of the current period and the invested capital at the end of the comparable prior period.
(f) Excluding the net gain on the Pharmacy Transaction, ROIC was 13.7 percent for the trailing twelve months ended July 30, 2016.

Capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The most comparable GAAP measure is total rent expense. Capitalized operating lease obligations and operating lease interest should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.


17




Reconciliation of Capitalized Operating Leases
 
Trailing Twelve Months
(dollars in millions) 
 
July 29,
2017

 
July 30,
2016

 
August 1,
2015

Total rent expense
 
$
157

 
$
159

 
$
187

Capitalized operating lease obligations (total rent expense x 8)
 
1,257

 
1,274

 
1,497

Operating lease interest (capitalized operating lease obligations x 6%)
 
76

 
77

 
n/a


Analysis of Financial Condition
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our cash and cash equivalents balance was $2,291 million at July 29, 2017, compared with $1,480 million for the same period in 2016. As of July 29, 2017, $1,387 million of cash and cash equivalents were held at entities located outside the United States and may be subject to taxation if repatriated. Our investment policy is designed to preserve principal and liquidity of our short-term investments. This policy allows investments in large money market funds or in highly rated direct short-term instruments that mature in 60 days or less. We also place certain dollar limits on our investments in individual funds or instruments.
 
Capital Allocation

We follow a disciplined and balanced approach to capital allocation, based on the following priorities, ranked in order of importance: first, we fully invest in opportunities to grow our business profitably, create sustainable long-term value, and maintain our current operations and assets; second, we maintain a competitive quarterly dividend and seek to grow it annually; and finally, we return excess cash to shareholders by repurchasing shares within the limits of our credit rating goals.

Cash Flows
 
Operating cash flow provided by continuing operations was $2,866 million for the six months ended July 29, 2017, compared with $1,396 million for the same period in 2016. The increase is partially due to an increase in accounts payable driven by changes in vendor payment terms during the first half of 2017 and improved inventory turnover, compared to a decrease in accounts payable during the first half of 2016. The operating cash flow increase is also partially due to the payment of approximately $500 million of taxes during the first quarter of 2016, primarily related to the Pharmacy Transaction. These cash flows, combined with our prior year-end cash position, allowed us to invest in the business, retire $598 million of debt, pay dividends, and repurchase shares under our share repurchase program.
 
Share Repurchases
 
We returned $296 million and $601 million to shareholders through share repurchase during the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, respectively, and $1,350 million and $2,243 million during the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively. See Part II, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Note 10 to the Financial Statements for more information.
 
Dividends
 
We paid dividends totaling $331 million ($0.60 per share) and $663 million ($1.20 per share) for the three and six months ended July 29, 2017, respectively, and $330 million ($0.56 per share) and $666 million ($1.12 per share) for the three and six months ended July 30, 2016, respectively, a per share increase of 7.1 percent. We declared dividends totaling $343 million ($0.62 per share) in second quarter 2017, a per share increase of 3.3 percent over the $346 million ($0.60 per share) of declared dividends during the second quarter of 2016. We have paid dividends every quarter since our 1967 initial public offering, and it is our intent to continue to do so in the future.
 

18




Short-term and Long-term Financing
 
Our financing strategy is to ensure liquidity and access to capital markets, to maintain a balanced spectrum of debt maturities, and to manage our net exposure to floating interest rate volatility. Within these parameters, we seek to minimize our borrowing costs. Our ability to access the long-term debt and commercial paper markets has provided us with ample sources of liquidity. Our continued access to these markets depends on multiple factors, including the condition of debt capital markets, our operating performance, and maintaining strong credit ratings. As of July 29, 2017 our credit ratings were as follows:
 
Credit Ratings
Moody’s
Standard and Poor’s
Fitch
Long-term debt
A2
A
A-
Commercial paper
P-1
A-1
F2
 
If our credit ratings were lowered, our ability to access the debt markets, our cost of funds, and other terms for new debt issuances could be adversely impacted. Each of the credit rating agencies reviews its rating periodically and there is no guarantee our current credit ratings will remain the same as described above.
 
We have additional liquidity through a committed $2.5 billion revolving credit facility obtained through a group of banks in October 2016, which expires in October 2021. This unsecured revolving credit facility replaced a $2.25 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that was scheduled to expire in October 2018. No balances were outstanding under either credit facility at any time during 2017 or 2016.
 
Most of our long-term debt obligations contain covenants related to secured debt levels. In addition to a secured debt level covenant, our credit facility also contains a debt leverage covenant. We are, and expect to remain, in compliance with these covenants. Additionally, at July 29, 2017, no notes or debentures contained provisions requiring acceleration of payment upon a credit rating downgrade, except that certain outstanding notes allow the note holders to put the notes to us if within a matter of months of each other we experience both (i) a change in control; and (ii) our long-term debt ratings are either reduced and the resulting rating is noninvestment grade, or our long-term debt ratings are placed on watch for possible reduction and those ratings are subsequently reduced and the resulting rating is noninvestment grade.
 
We believe our sources of liquidity will continue to be adequate to maintain operations, finance anticipated expansion and strategic initiatives, fund debt maturities, pay dividends, and execute purchases under our share repurchase program for the foreseeable future. We continue to anticipate ample access to commercial paper and long-term financing.
 
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
 
As of the date of this report, there were no material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments outside the ordinary course of business since January 28, 2017 as reported in our 2016 Form 10-K.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2, Note 9, and Note 11 of the Financial Statements for a description of new accounting pronouncements related to revenues, leases, and pension benefits, respectively. We do not expect any other recently issued accounting pronouncements will have a material effect on our financial statements.

Forward-Looking Statements
 
This report contains forward-looking statements, which are based on our current assumptions and expectations. These statements are typically accompanied by the words “expect,” “may,” “could,” “believe,” “would,” “might,” “anticipates,” or words of similar import. The principal forward-looking statements in this report include: our financial performance, statements regarding the adequacy of and costs associated with our sources of liquidity, the funding of debt maturities, the continued execution of our share repurchase program, our expected capital expenditures, the expected compliance with debt covenants, the expected impact of new accounting pronouncements, our intentions regarding future dividends, the expected return on plan assets, the expected outcome of, and adequacy of our reserves for, claims and litigation, and changes in our assumptions and expectations.
 
All such forward-looking statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Although we believe there is a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements, our actual results could be materially different. The most important factors which could cause our

19




actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are set forth on our description of risk factors in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017, which should be read in conjunction with the forward-looking statements in this report. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
There have been no material changes in our primary risk exposures or management of market risks from those disclosed in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the second quarter of 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, we conducted an evaluation, under supervision and with the participation of management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level. Disclosure controls and procedures are defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
The following update to a previously reported proceeding is being reported pursuant to Item 103 of Regulation S-K:

On July 31, 2017, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota issued a combined order dismissing the Federal Securities Law Class Actions and the ERISA Class Actions relating to certain prior disclosures by Target about its expansion of retail operations into Canada. Both the Federal Securities Law Class Actions and ERISA Class Actions were previously described in Target’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
On September 20, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a new $5 billion share repurchase program. We began repurchasing shares under this new authorization during the fourth quarter of 2016. There is no stated expiration for the share repurchase program. Under the program, we have repurchased 14.4 million shares of common stock through July 29, 2017, at an average price of $60.28, for a total investment of $0.9 billion. The table below presents information with respect to Target common stock purchases made during the three months ended July 29, 2017, by Target or any "affiliated purchaser" of Target, as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act.

Period
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased

 
Average
Price
Paid per
Share

 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly Announced Programs

 
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under Publicly Announced Programs

April 30, 2017 through May 27, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Open market and privately negotiated purchases

 
$

 

 
$
4,430,328,641

May 28, 2017 through July 1, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Open market and privately negotiated purchases
5,458,026

 
52.47

 
5,458,026

 
4,143,941,970

July 2, 2017 through July 29, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Open market and privately negotiated purchases
190,310

 
52.00

 
190,310

 
4,134,046,448

Total
5,648,336

 
$
52.45

 
5,648,336

 
$
4,134,046,448


Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 5. Other Information
 
Not applicable.


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Item 6.  Exhibits
(3)A
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (as amended through June 9, 2010)(1)
 
 
 
(3)B
 
Bylaws (as amended through November 11, 2015)(2)
 
 
 
(10)C
 
Amended and Restated Target Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective September 1, 2017)
 
 
 
(10)L
 
Target Corporation Officer Income Continuance Policy Statement (as amended and restated effective September 1, 2017)
 
 
 
(10)KK
 
Target Corporation Executive Officer Cash Incentive Plan(3)
 
 
 
(12)
 
Statements of Computations of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
 
 
(31)A
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
(31)B
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
(32)A
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer As Adopted Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
(32)B
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer As Adopted Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
 

(1)         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)A to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Report filed June 10, 2010.
 
(2)         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)A to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Report filed November 12, 2015.

(3)         Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10)KK to the Registrant’s Form 8-K Report filed June 15, 2017.


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SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
TARGET CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
Dated: August 21, 2017
By:
 /s/ Cathy R. Smith
 
 
Cathy R. Smith
 
 
Executive Vice President and
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Duly Authorized Officer and
 
 
Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Robert M. Harrison
 
 
 
Robert M. Harrison
 
 
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
 
and Controller
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
 
Description
 
Manner of Filing
 
 
 
 
 
(3)A
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (as amended through June 9, 2010)
 
Incorporated by Reference
 
 
 
 
 
(3)B
 
Bylaws (as amended through November 11, 2015)
 
Incorporated by Reference
 
 
 
 
 
(10)C
 
Amended and Restated Target Corporation 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective September 1, 2017)
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
(10)L
 
Target Corporation Officer Income Continuance Policy Statement (as amended and restated effective September 1, 2017)
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
(10)KK
 
Target Corporation Executive Officer Cash Incentive Plan
 
Incorporated by Reference
 
 
 
 
 
(12)
 
Statements of Computations of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
(31)A
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
(31)B
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
(32)A
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer As Adopted Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
(32)B
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer As Adopted Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
 
Filed Electronically
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
 
Filed Electronically

24