Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. Sells 3,407 Shares of Target Co. (NYSE:TGT)

Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. lessened its stake in Target Co. (NYSE:TGT) by 48.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,572 shares of the retailer’s stock after selling 3,407 shares during the period. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc.’s holdings in Target were worth $483,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cynosure Group LLC raised its position in Target by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Cynosure Group LLC now owns 1,590 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $248,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp raised its position in Target by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 2,156 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $336,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. raised its position in Target by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. now owns 3,460 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $539,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Target by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,818 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $1,063,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kathmere Capital Management LLC raised its position in Target by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 2,541 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.73% of the company’s stock.

Target Trading Up 0.9 %

Target stock opened at $115.11 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $132.05 and a 200-day moving average of $141.49. Target Co. has a one year low of $112.10 and a one year high of $181.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.25. The company has a market cap of $52.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.18.

Target (NYSE:TGT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 4th. The retailer reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.24 by $0.17. Target had a net margin of 4.06% and a return on equity of 31.11%. The company had revenue of $30.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $30.83 billion. On average, equities analysts expect that Target Co. will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Target Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 12th were paid a dividend of $1.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 12th. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.89%. Target’s dividend payout ratio is 50.56%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on TGT. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Target from $165.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of Target from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. HSBC lowered shares of Target from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $138.00 target price for the company. in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on shares of Target from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Target from $133.00 to $120.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eighteen have issued a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $147.00.

About Target

Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies.