New England Research & Management boosted its stake in shares of Target Co. (NYSE:TGT) by 6.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,750 shares of the retailer’s stock after buying an additional 350 shares during the period. New England Research & Management’s holdings in Target were worth $418,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of TGT. Meag Munich Ergo Kapitalanlagegesellschaft increased its stake in Target by 100.0% in the third quarter. Meag Munich Ergo Kapitalanlagegesellschaft now owns 2,000 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $157,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Bath Savings Trust Company increased its stake in Target by 10.7% in the fourth quarter. Bath Savings Trust Company now owns 2,905 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $211,000 after buying an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Hollencrest Securities increased its stake in Target by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Hollencrest Securities now owns 3,498 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $254,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Community Bank & Trust of Waco, Texas purchased a new stake in Target during the fourth quarter valued at $277,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management Company increased its stake in Target by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management Company now owns 6,317 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $480,000 after buying an additional 224 shares during the last quarter.

Shares of Target Co. (NYSE:TGT) traded up 1.57% on Friday, hitting $69.72. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,740,831 shares. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $72.27 and its 200-day moving average is $76.53. The company’s market cap is $42.95 billion. Target Co. has a 52 week low of $66.46 and a 52 week high of $85.81.

Target (NYSE:TGT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 18th. The retailer reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.86. The business had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.57 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.54 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Target Co. will post $4.71 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.56 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 12th. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.21%.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Zacks Investment Research downgraded Target from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, November 16th. Vetr cut Target from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $78.61 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, October 27th. Citigroup Inc. assumed coverage on Target in a research report on Monday, November 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $88.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Target in a research report on Wednesday, December 2nd. Finally, Piper Jaffray restated a “buy” rating and issued a $88.00 price target on shares of Target in a research report on Tuesday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Target currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $78.42.

In other news, Director Roxanne S. Austin sold 3,706 shares of Target stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.03, for a total transaction of $278,061.18. Following the sale, the director now owns 29,627 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,222,913.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Robert L. Edwards purchased 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 20th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $71.10 per share, for a total transaction of $711,000.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 1,560 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $110,916. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here.

Target Corporation is engaged in providing everyday essentials and fashionable, and differentiated merchandise at discounted prices. The Company offers its products through stores, online or through mobile devices. The Company sells an assortment of general merchandise and food through its store and digital channels. Its general merchandise stores offer an edited food assortment, including perishables, dry grocery, dairy and frozen items. Its urban format stores, CityTarget and TargetExpress, offer edited general merchandise and food assortments. Its digital channels include an assortment of general merchandise, including various items found in its stores, along with a complementary assortment, such as additional sizes and colors sold online. The Company’s brands include Archer Farms, Simply Balanced, Boots & Barkley, Circo, Embark, Gilligan & O’Malley, Market Pantry, Merona, Room Essentials, Smith & Hawken, Spritz and Sutton & Dodge.

12 Month Chart for NYSE:TGT

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