Target Corporation (TGT) announced its fourth quarter and full-year earnings report on Tuesday, March 3. Despite the retailer reporting lower-than-expected revenue, the company’s shares rose by over 7% following the earnings release.

Target reported quarterly revenue of $30.45 billion. This was down from revenue of $30.92 billion in the same quarter last year and it missed analysts’ expectations of $30.48 billion. For the full year, revenue totaled $104.78 billion.

“I am incredibly proud of how our team navigated through a challenging year in 2025, as they focused on serving our guests while positioning our business for profitable growth in 2026 and beyond,” said Target CEO, Michael Fiddelke. “Our team is firmly focused on writing Target's next chapter of growth, rooted in strengthening our merchandising authority, delivering an elevated and differentiated shopping experience, advancing our use of technology, and continuing to serve and invest in our team and communities.”

The company reported net income of $1.05 billion for the quarter or $2.30 per adjusted share. This was a decrease from net income of $1.10 billion or $2.41 per adjusted share reported in the same quarter last year. For the full year, Target reported net income of $3.71 billion. 

Target’s total comparable sales decreased 2.5% in the quarter, resulting from a decline in comparable store sales of 3.9%, partially offset by comparable digital sales growth of 1.9%. Target’s gross margin rate slightly increased to 26.6% compared to 26.2% in the fourth quarter of last year. The decline was partly attributed to lower inventory, lower supply chain and digital fulfillment costs. Target issued its full-year sales outlook and expects to earn between $7.50 to $8.50 per adjusted share in fiscal year 2026.

Target Corporation (TGT) shares ended the week at $120.79, up 8% for the week.

Best Buy Releases Earnings Report

Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) posted its fourth quarter and full-year earnings report on Tuesday, March 3. The company’s shares were up about 7% after reporting earnings that beat analysts’ expectations.

The company’s quarterly revenue came in at $13.81 billion, down from $13.95 billion during the same quarter last year. This was below analysts’ expected revenue of $13.88 billion. For the full year, the company reported revenue of $41.69 billion.

“We are pleased to report better-than-expected profitability for the fourth quarter,” said Best Buy CEO, Corie Barry. “For the year, we returned to positive comparable sales and expanded our operating income rate. I am incredibly grateful for the hard work, dedication and resourcefulness of more than 80,000 employees to achieve these results.”

For the quarter, Best Buy reported net earnings of $541 million or $2.56 per diluted share. This was up from $117 million or $0.54 per diluted share reported last year at this time. For the full year, Best Buy reported net earnings of $1.07 billion.

The electronics retailer’s domestic sales decreased year-over-year though its international sales posted a slight gain. In the Domestic segment, revenue dropped by 1.1% and came in at $12.58 billion, a decrease attributable to a comparable sales decline of 0.8%. International revenue edged up by 0.5% reaching $1.24 billion stemming from the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. For fiscal year 2027, Best Buy expects revenue of $41.2 billion to $42.1 billion with decline in comparable sales of 1% to an increase of 1%. The company announced it has authorized payment of a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.96 per common share payable on April 14, 2026, to shareholders of record on March 24, 2026.

Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) shares ended the week at $66.68, up 10% for the week.

AutoZone Posts Second Quarter Results

AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) released its second quarter earnings report on Tuesday, March 3. While the auto parts company reported increased sales, its shares dipped by about 4% following the release of the report.

The company reported net sales of $4.27 billion during the quarter, slightly below analysts’ expectations of $4.31 billion. This was up 8.1% from $3.95 billion in sales during the same quarter last year.

“I want to thank our AutoZoners across the company for delivering solid financial results this past quarter,” said AutoZone CEO, Phil Daniele. “We continue to be pleased with our strategies to grow sales. As we remain focused on gaining market share across our highly fragmented industry, we remain committed to a disciplined approach of increasing earnings and cash flows to drive shareholder value.”

AutoZone reported net income of $468.86 million for the quarter or $27.63 per adjusted share. This was down from $487.92 million or $28.29 per adjusted share in the same quarter last year.

The Tennessee-based company experienced a 3.4% increase in its domestic same-store sales and a 17.1% increase in international same-store sales for the quarter. The company reported a decrease of 137 basis points to 52.5% in gross profits as a percentage of sales for the quarter. The company’s inventory increased 13.1% over the same period last year, driven primarily by growth initiatives. During the quarter, AutoZone opened 43 stores in the U.S., 18 in Mexico and three in Brazil. At the end of the quarter, the company had a combined total of 7,774 stores globally.

AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) shares ended the week at $3,641.29, down 3% for the week.

The Dow started the week of 3/2 at 48,794 and closed at 47,502 on 3/6. The S&P 500 started the week at 6,824 and ended at 6,740. The NASDAQ started the week at 22,322 and finished at 22,388.

Treasury yields varied throughout the week as investors reacted to new economic data for the service industry and awaited February’s monthly jobs report. Yields edged higher at the end of the week as the latest employment data showed signs of a weakening labor market.

On Wednesday, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released its purchasing manager’s index (PMI) for February, indicating growth in the service industry. The PMI measures the change in economic activity in the services sector and is used as an indicator of U.S. economic activity. The PMI for February was 56.1%, up from 53.8% in January and above analysts’ forecast of 52.3%.

“The services sector is heating up, with the Business Activity, New Orders, and New Export Orders indexes at their highest levels since 2024, and the Backlog of Orders Index with its best reading since July 2022 (58.3%),” said chair of the ISM survey, Steve Miller. “Although there were several comments on tariff uncertainty regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision, there was no alarm regarding supply chain performance, suggesting that services companies have developed capabilities to routinely address shifts in tariff policies.”

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield opened the week of March 2 at 3.95% and traded as high as 4.15% on Thursday. The 30-year Treasury bond opened the week at 4.62% and traded as high as 4.77% on Thursday.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that initial claims for unemployment remained unchanged at 213,000 for the week ending February 28, below economists’ expectations of 215,000. Continuing claims increased by 46,000 to 1.87 million. On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly jobs report for February which indicated the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4% in February from 4.3% in January. The report also noted a decrease of 92,000 jobs in February, compared to economists’ forecasts of an increase of 50,000.

“Recent labor market data had been pointing to resilience, but today’s sharply weaker reading raises the risk that a different picture could be in play,” said the chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management, Seema Shah. “Markets are being tugged in opposing directions, and this jobs report adds yet another layer of uncertainty to an already noisy backdrop.”

The 10-year Treasury note yield finished the week of March 2 at 4.13% while the 30-year Treasury note yield finished the week at 4.77%.

Freddie Mac released its latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey on Thursday, March 5. The survey showed the 30-year mortgage edging up but still hovering at 6%. 

This week, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 6.00%, up from last week’s average of 5.98%. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 6.63%.

The 15-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.43% this week, down slightly from last week’s 5.44%. During the same week last year, the 15-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.79%.

“Mortgage rates held steady at 6% this week, hovering near their lowest level since 2022,” said chief economist at Freddie Mac, Sam Khater. “In fact, rates are down nearly a full percentage point from this time in 2024, spurring activity from buyers, sellers and owners. As a result, refinance activity is up, and purchase applications are ahead of last year’s pace.”

Based on published national averages, the savings rate was 0.39% as of 2/17. The one-year CD averaged 1.55%.

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