MW Target's beaten-down stock gets a lift after report of 'significant investment' from Toms Capital
By Bill Peters
Shares of Target were rising on Friday, following a roughly 27% drop this year
As shoppers dealing with higher living costs continue to seek out bargains, Target has struggled to compete with Walmart.
Shares of Target Corp. were up on Friday after the Financial Times reported that hedge fund Toms Capital Investment Management has made a "significant investment" in the big-box retailer, whose sales and share price this year have lagged behind some of its more value-oriented rivals.
Target's (TGT) stock rose 1.8% on Friday.
The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, said that Target faced pressure from the fund, which had made a "significant investment" in the chain.
Specific details of the reported investment - in terms of the size of the investment or when or why it was made - were not immediately clear. Toms did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Target spokesperson, when reached, said: "As part of our robust shareholder engagement program, we maintain a regular dialogue with the investment community.
"Target's top priority is getting back to growth, and our strategy to do so is rooted in three strategic priorities: leading with merchandising authority, providing a consistently elevated shopping experience and leveraging technology," that statement continued.
The report arrived after a roughly 27% drop for Target's stock so far this year. As shoppers dealing with higher living costs continue to seek out bargains, Target has struggled to compete with Walmart Inc. on price, analysts have said, and it sells fewer of the basic essentials that people have prioritized over the past few years.
Same-store sales growth at Target has been inconsistent over recent quarters. In August, the company said that Michael Fiddelke would become its new chief executive on Feb. 1. But some analysts were hoping for bolder changes.
Target last month said it would focus on reclaiming its sense of style to revive sales. It also said it would lean on bigger stores and on artificial intelligence. The chain plans to spend around $5 billion next year, or around $1 billion more than this year, as it tries to turn itself around.
Shares of Walmart Inc. $(WMT)$ are up 23.6% so far this year, while Amazon.com Inc.'s stock (AMZN) is up around 6% and Costco Wholesale Corp.'s stock $(COST)$ is down 4.7%.
-Bill Peters
This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 26, 2025 12:19 ET (17:19 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments