Goal Retains Rising at Rivals’ Expense

Comparable gross sales, these from shops and digital channels working for at the least 12 months, rose practically 21% within the fiscal quarter ended Jan. 30, boosted by robust demand for on-line companies, together with same-day order pickup and supply. For the total fiscal 12 months, income hit $93.6 billion, a 20% improve.

“Following years of funding to construct a sturdy, scalable and sustainable enterprise mannequin, we noticed document progress in 2020,” stated Chief Govt Brian Cornell.

Lately Goal has ramped up investments in on-line companies. As a substitute of spending closely to ascertain an enormous community of on-line achievement warehouses, Goal has used shops as hubs to ship on-line orders or enable customers to select up their orders from retailer parking tons.

Over the previous fiscal 12 months round 95% of gross sales got here from retailer achievement, which incorporates merchandise purchased in shops in addition to on-line orders fulfilled from shops, the corporate stated. Digital comparable gross sales—orders positioned on-line or via the Goal app—greater than doubled in the latest quarter.

That mannequin, in addition to promoting merchandise in excessive demand throughout the pandemic reminiscent of dwelling décor, meals and bathroom paper, helped Goal seize market share over the previous 12 months. Goal, together with many big-box retailers, remained open within the early days of the pandemic whereas shops and attire retailers needed to near in-store customers. Goal stated Tuesday that it estimates it gained round $9 billion in gross sales from rivals.

Goal’s revenue surged final 12 months regardless of a bounce in Covid-19 associated bills that stay elevated, executives stated. As gross sales grew rapidly, “our gross margin price additionally elevated and we noticed a jaw-dropping quantity of leverage” on bills, stated firm finance chief Michael Fiddelke on a name with analysts. That progress “greater than offset investments in group and visitor security,” he stated.

In the latest quarter web earnings hit $1.38 billion, up 66% from the year-earlier interval. Earnings per share have been $2.67, in contrast with $1.69 a 12 months earlier.

Goal stated it plans to ramp up retailer remodels and different investments this 12 months after having paused a few of these actions early within the pandemic. It stated it will spend round $four billion yearly within the subsequent few years. Its plans embody transforming 150 shops earlier than the vacations this 12 months and 200 a 12 months within the coming years, in addition to constructing round 35 new small-format shops annually, largely in city areas and school campuses.

Goal’s retailer manufacturers grew rapidly final 12 months, stated executives, accounting for a couple of third of income and the next proportion of gross margin.

Like different retailers which have fared nicely within the pandemic, Goal turned extra e-commerce-dependent due to the disruption. For the total fiscal 12 months, 18% of gross sales got here from digital channels, up from 8.8% a 12 months earlier. Final week Finest Purchase Co. stated its on-line gross sales rose virtually 90% to $6.7 billion in the latest quarter and made up 43% of whole U.S. gross sales, practically double the share a 12 months earlier.

Retailers have reported blended outcomes over the previous 12 months. Final week Dwelling Depot Inc. stated income rose 20% in its newest fiscal 12 months as People spent closely to repair up houses. Annual gross sales at Macy’s Inc. fell practically 30% amid weak demand for outside-the-home attire.

Some retailers say pandemic-induced shopping for developments will persist long term, whereas different trade executives say customers will return to prior patterns later this 12 months, as extra individuals are vaccinated and resume spending on eating out or journey.

Goal executives stated they count on some client demand to rebound, reminiscent of shopping for clothes to put on outdoors the house or baggage for journey. However sensitivity to germs and choice for social distancing could stick round long term, Mr. Cornell stated on a name with reporters.

Goal stated Tuesday it wouldn’t share monetary steering for the present 12 months, citing “the extremely fluid and unsure outlook for client procuring patterns and the influence of Covid-19.” Many firms stopped issuing monetary steering final 12 months, citing pandemic-related uncertainty.

Write to Sarah Nassauer at sarah.nassauer@wsj.com