Dividend stocks are in the limelight this year as many tech companies have joined the dividend club since the start of 2024. In addition to this, global companies have distributed a record amount in dividends last year. Retail investors are always on the lookout for income stocks. For this reason, we have analyzed the 15 Best Quality Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Reddit in a new article. In this article we are going to take a look at whether Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is the best quality dividend stock to buy according to Reddit.
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is a Minnesota-based retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets and discount department stores. The stock has been grabbing the attention of retail investors as it has various revenue streams that help it maintain a strong balance sheet. Moreover, the company holds a strong record of consistent dividend growth. This raises the question: Is Target the best quality dividend stock according to Reddit?
Analyzing Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)’s Recent Performance
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) reported strong quarterly earnings in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company posted revenue of nearly $32 billion, up 1.67% from the same period last year. Its revenue beat analysts’ estimates by $69.3 million. In fact, the company has surpassed EPS expectations in five straight quarters. It also generated enough cash during the quarter, which was sufficient to fulfill its dividend payments worth $508 million, compared with $497 million in the prior-year period. In FY23, the company’s operating cash flow more than doubled to $8.6 billion, from $4 billion in 2022.
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) Has a Strong History of Dividend Growth
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) can be a good option for income investors due to the company’s dividend growth history. The company has raised its dividends for 52 years straight. Moreover, it has been making regular dividend payments to shareholders since its IPO in 1967. Over the past five years, the company has raised its payouts at an annual average rate of 11.44%. It currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.75%, as of May 18. That said, Target Corporation’s (NYSE:TGT) payout ratio of over 48% is relatively high but reflects a healthy balance between offering dividends and maintaining growth potential.
Reddit’s Take on Target Corporation’s Future Prospects
Retail investors on Reddit maintained a positive outlook on Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) due to the company’s healthy dividend growth and average dividend yield. However, there were concerns about the company’s expectations for its comparable sales to fall by 3% to 5% in the first quarter of 2024, which would impact its revenue and profitability. In addition to this, the company also reported a decline in customer visits and consumer spending, signaling potential challenges ahead.
Is Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) The Best Quality Dividend Stock to Buy According to Reddit?
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) ranked 10th on our list of the 15 best quality dividend stocks to buy according to Reddit because of its dividend growth and strong balance sheet. However, we aren’t as bullish on Target as Reddit readers because retail stocks like Target and Costco (NASDAQ:COST) have benefited from two main tailwinds in the last 12 months that goosed up their margins tremendously. First, the freight costs and raw material stocks have been declining whereas prices charged by Target weren’t. Second, US consumers haven’t slowed down their purchases despite the increase in interest rates but we believe we are at the end of the road. As a result of these twin tailwinds, Target stock is up by 15.15% in the past 12 months, as of the close of May 17. We believe the stock will disappoint investors and you should look for higher ranked alternatives and check out 15 Best Quality Dividend Stocks to Buy or 5 Undervalued Stocks That Just Raised Their Dividends.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.