Targets 1.87 Rally Climbs 650M Volume to 131st Rank Amid Retail Sector Turmoil

On August 18, 2025, Target Corporation (TGT) closed at $104.95, rising 1.87% with a trading volume of $650 million, ranking 131st on the day’s volume list. The stock’s performance coincided with heightened retail sector scrutiny as key players like Walmart and Home Depot prepared to report earnings. Analysts highlighted Target’s position amid shifting consumer trends and macroeconomic uncertainties.

Recent developments suggest mixed expectations for Target’s upcoming earnings. Zacks noted that while Walmart has outperformed the S&P 500 and peers this year, Target has lagged, with shares down 22.8% year-to-date. The retailer faces challenges in maintaining market share, particularly as consumers prioritize essentials amid inflationary pressures. Target’s reliance on discretionary spending contrasts with Walmart’s defensive grocery-centric model, which has shielded it from sharper declines.

Analysts also emphasized the impact of tariffs and e-commerce dynamics. Walmart’s growing digital operations and third-party fulfillment capabilities have bolstered its profitability, whereas Target’s e-commerce segment remains less mature. Zacks projected a -3.03% same-store sales decline for Target in its August 20 report, contrasting with Walmart’s expected 4.17% growth. These diverging trends underscore the sector’s uneven recovery and Target’s need to adapt to evolving retail landscapes.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day yielded a total profit of $2,340 from 2022 to the present. The cumulative return reached 23.4%, but the approach faced a maximum drawdown of -15.2%, illustrating its sensitivity to short-term market volatility.