Target Corporation's Financial Growth From 2006-2012

Target Corporation experienced steady financial growth from 2006 through 2012. Its total revenues increased sharply by opening 118 new stores, including 33 Super Target stores. In 2008, Target reported a 41 percent decrease in fourth-quarter profits, ending this slide by January 2009. It attributed the loss to a drop in retail sales and an increase in credit card delinquency. Target’s 2010 Retail Segment sales increased 3.7 percent over 2009 due to a 2.1 percent comparable-store increase combined with the contribution from new stores. Figures 1 and 2 further illustrate Target’s financial performance over this period of time.

Figure 1: Target Corp. Financial Graphs 2006-2010
•

Figure 2: Target Corp. Sales Change – 2007-2011

In 2011, Target was ranked number 33 for Fortune 500 companies and number 2 for general merchandisers. In the same year, Target was ranked number 22 in both the “World’s Most Admired Companies” and “Best Employers for a Healthy Lifestyles” by the National Business Group on Health. Target employed over 350,000 people in the U.S. and paid its employees far better than most other retailers. Target also offered numerous employee benefits and incentives, including health care, 401(k) plan and tuition reimbursement for approved work related

Customers could choose their children’s elementary school, the neighborhood middle school or any other eligible K–12 school.
• Pharmacy – When customers filled at least five prescriptions at a Target pharmacy, they received an extra 5% discount for one day of Target shopping, in addition to the regular 5% discount.
Environmental responsibility has been a priority for Target since the 1960’s, through giving to clean river and waterway efforts. Target was a sponsor of the first Earth Day celebration in 1970 and continued to hand out pine trees to customers on subsequent Earth Days. It started their first recycling program in the 1970’s (Target, 2012). Target heavily integrated environmental responsibility in its business practices as seen in Table 1 below.
Headquarters
Recycled mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, aluminum, glass and plastic as well as used inkjet printer cartridges (refurbished and resold) All computers were automatically put on standby mode after business hours Target managers monitored waste management practices A Resource Recovery team sold, donated, recycled, or reused equipment being replaced
Government Affairs