Target (WBO:TGTC) Operating Margin %: 4.46% (As of Apr. 2026) — 21% Below Median


WBO:TGTC Target Corp WBO:TGTC
72 GF Score
Price €122.60
GF Value €112.26
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 9 Warning Signs
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What is Target Operating Margin %?

Target WBO:TGTC +3.72% 72 Operating Margin % is 4.46% as of Apr. 2026, which is 21% below its 10-year median of 5.63. GuruFocus rates WBO:TGTC with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of €112.26 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 9 warning signs investors should review. Among 310 Retail - Defensive companies, Target ranks better than 64.52% on this metric.

Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Target's Operating Income for the three months ended in Apr. 2026 was €970 Mil. Target's Revenue for the three months ended in Apr. 2026 was €21,754 Mil. Therefore, Target's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 4.46%.

Warning Sign:

Target Corp operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -7.8%.

The historical rank and industry rank for Target's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:

WBO:TGTC' s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 3.53   Med: 5.63   Max: 8.44
Current: 4.49


WBO:TGTC's Operating Margin % is ranked better than
64.52% of 310 companies
in the Retail - Defensive industry
Industry Median: 3.275 vs WBO:TGTC: 4.49

Target's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was -7.80% per year.

Target's Operating Income for the three months ended in Apr. 2026 was €970 Mil. Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Apr. 2026 was €4,088 Mil.


Target  (WBO:TGTC) Operating Margin % Explanation

Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.


Be Aware

Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).

If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.

For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokia’s Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).

Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.


Target Operating Margin % Related Terms


Target Operating Margin % Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Target's Operating Margin % can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Target Operating Margin % Chart

Target Annual Data
Trend Jan17 Jan18 Jan19 Jan20 Jan21 Jan22 Jan23 Jan24 Jan25 Jan26
Operating Margin %
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 8.44 3.53 5.31 5.22 4.88

Target Quarterly Data
Jul21 Oct21 Jan22 Apr22 Jul22 Oct22 Jan23 Apr23 Jul23 Oct23 Jan24 Apr24 Jul24 Oct24 Jan25 Apr25 Jul25 Oct25 Jan26 Apr26
Operating Margin % Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 6.17 5.22 3.75 4.53 4.46

WBO:TGTC vs DG, DLTR, BJ: Operating Margin % Comparison

For the Discount Stores subindustry, Target's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Target Operating Margin % vs Retail - Defensive Industry

For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Target's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Target's Operating Margin % falls into.


WBO:TGTC
72GF Score
Target Corp WBO:TGTC
Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Target Operating Margin % Calculation

Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.

Target's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jan. 2026 is calculated as

Operating Margin %=Operating Income (A: Jan. 2026 ) / Revenue (A: Jan. 2026 )
=4354.567 / 89167.78
=4.88 %

Target's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 is calculated as

Operating Margin %=Operating Income (Q: Apr. 2026 ) / Revenue (Q: Apr. 2026 )
=970.425 / 21753.765
=4.46 %

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Operating Margin % →
What does a Operating Margin % of 4.46% mean?
Target (WBO:TGTC) has a Operating Margin % of 4.46% as of Apr. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Target and its competitors. This is 21% below median its historical median of 5.63. Over the past decade, Target's Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.53 to 8.44. According to the industry distribution chart, Target ranks #110 out of 310 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, placing it in the top 35.5%.
Is Target's Operating Margin % too high?
Target's current Operating Margin % of 4.46% is 21% below median its 10-year median of 5.63. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.53 to a high of 8.44. The Retail - Defensive industry median Operating Margin % is 3.28. Target's value of 4.46% is 36.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Target ranks #110 out of 310 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Target has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Target's Operating Margin % compare to DG and DLTR?
According to the Retail - Defensive industry distribution chart, Target ranks #110 out of 310 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Target in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.28. Target's value of 4.46% is 36.2% above this benchmark. Historically, Target's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.53 to 8.44 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 5.63 vs. the industry median of 3.28, Target has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Retail - Defensive company?
The median Operating Margin % among Retail - Defensive companies is 3.28, based on 310 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Target's current Operating Margin % of 4.46% is 36.2% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Target and its competitors. For the Retail - Defensive industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.28 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Target's current Operating Margin % is 4.46%, which is 21% below median its own 10-year median of 5.63. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Target stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Target (WBO:TGTC) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €112.26, compared to a current price of €122.60 — trading 9.2% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 4.46%, which is 21% below median its 10-year median of 5.63 and 36.2% above the Retail - Defensive industry median of 3.28. Target's overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 9 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Target (WBO:TGTC), the current Operating Margin % is 4.46% as of Apr. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Target (WBO:TGTC) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Target stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of €122.60 is trading 9.2% above its estimated GF Value™ of €112.26. GuruFocus considers Target to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for WBO:TGTC:

  • Operating Margin %: 4.46% (21% below median its 10-year median of 5.63)
  • GF Value™: €112.26 vs. price of €122.60 (9.2% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 72/100 with 9 warning signs
  • Industry Position: 36.2% above the Retail - Defensive median (#110 of 310)

No single metric tells the full story. See the WBO:TGTC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Target Business Description

Address 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 55403
Target's start dates back to 1962, but now it is one of the largest discount retailers in the United States (where it derives all of its sales), operating just under 2,000 stores and generating over $104 billion in fiscal 2025 sales. The company offers a broad assortment of merchandise across categories including apparel and accessories (16% of fiscal 2025 revenue), beauty and household essentials (30%), food and beverage (24%), hardlines (15%), as well as home furnishings (15%). Target's model is anchored in its physical store base, which fulfills more than 97% of sales. Around 30% of sales are derived from its own private-label brands.
72GF Score

Get the complete analysis for WBO:TGTC

Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€122.60
Price
€112.26
GF Value