Target Lifts 2026 Sales Growth Forecast to 4% After 5.6% Q1 Comparable Sales Jump
Updated
Updated · Target Corporate · May 20
Target Lifts 2026 Sales Growth Forecast to 4% After 5.6% Q1 Comparable Sales Jump
8 articles · Updated · Target Corporate · May 20
Target said first-quarter results beat expectations, with net sales rising across all six core merchandise categories and comparable sales up 5.6%—its strongest gain since late 2021.
Traffic rose 4.4% and digital sales increased 8.9%, including more than 27% growth in same-day delivery, while non-merchandise businesses such as Roundel, Target Circle 360 and Target Plus grew nearly 25%.
The retailer now expects full-year net sales growth of about 4% and earnings near the high end of its prior $7.50-to-$8.50 per-share range, while still keeping a cautious outlook for coming quarters.
Target is backing that plan with expansion and store investment—opening seven stores in Q1 including its 2,000th, training more than 300,000 workers, and pushing major food, beauty and home assortment resets later this year.
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Will Target's new in-house Beauty Studio successfully replace the massive draw of its expiring Ulta partnership?