Target (TGT +2.34%) released its second-quarter earnings this morning, and while profits were slightly above expectations, earnings overall were weighed down by the cost of expanding into Canada. Target's earnings are the latest in a string of disappointments from one-stop-shopping retailers such as Wal-Mart (WMT +0.90%) and department stores such as Macy's (M 0.05%). In this video, Motley Fool analyst Matt Argersinger discusses why consumers may not be as "frugal" as Target claims, and why it may just be a shift in the way people shop that is causing the problem.
Target's Lackluster Earnings
By Matthew Argersinger – Aug 21, 2013 at 3:40PM
NYSE: TGT
Target
Market Cap
$41B
Today's Change
(2.34%) $2.09
Current Price
$91.24
Price as of November 7, 2025 at 3:58 PM ET
Target is the latest in a string of big retailers to report disappointing earnings. Are frugal consumers really the problem here?
About the Author
Matt is the Lead Investor on Dividend Investor, Real Estate Winners, and Mogul. He joined The Motley Fool in 2008 and has spent most of his Foolish career as an analyst or portfolio manager on a number of the Fool's investing services, including Stock Advisor, Rule Breakers, and Supernova. Matt has published hundreds of investing articles that have been featured on Fool.com, AOL and MSN Money, made appearances on CNBC and CNBC Asia, and is a regular on the Motley Fool Money podcast and its weekly nationally syndicated radio show. He and his wife, Jean, own and manage several income properties in Washington, DC. Matt is a graduate of Brandeis University.