By Siddharth Cavale (Reuters) -Target on Wednesday reported lower-than-expected quarterly earnings and its forecast for the current quarter was also largely below Wall Street expectations after shoppers cut back on non-essential spending and the retailer said it expects consumer caution to persist. Earnings per share of $2.03 were 3 cents below analyst estimates, according to LSEG data.
Shares were down 8% in premarket trading and, if losses hold, will be down nearly 47% from their November 2021 record high. Its disappointing earnings and outlook stood in contrast to larger peer Walmart, which last week reported better-than-expected results and raised its annual outlook as shoppers prioritized food and essentials like toilet paper and detergent. Companies ranging from McDonald's to PepsiCo have flagged weeks the strain that Americans are under due to sticky food inflation and the rising costs of eating out, rents and mortgages.
"We remain cautious in our near-term growth outlook and we expect consumer discretionary trends to remain pressured in the short term," Christina Hennington, Target's chief growth officer, said on a media call. Shoppers remain "concerned" due to higher interest rates, economic uncertainty and higher credit card balances, she added, noting that consumer confidence took a meaningful dip in April. Shoppers are delaying their purchases until closer to holidays and seasonal events like Valentine's Day and Easter to take advantage of deals, while also spendi.
