Target Corporation — Key Facts
| Founded | 1902 (as Dayton Dry Goods) |
| Target Brand Launch | 1962 |
| Stock Ticker | NYSE: TGT |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| CEO | Brian Cornell |
| Annual Revenue | ~$110 billion (FY2023) |
| Stores | ~2,000 stores (USA only) |
Target Corporation is one of the largest retail chains in the United States, known for its wide assortment of groceries, apparel, electronics, home goods, and beauty products at competitive prices. With nearly 2,000 stores across the US and a strong digital commerce presence, Target is the country’s seventh-largest retailer by revenue and a direct competitor to Walmart, Costco, and Amazon in the general merchandise space.
Who Owns Target Corporation?
Target Corporation is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TGT). The company is owned by its shareholders — no individual, family, or private entity holds a controlling stake. The founding Dayton family, which originally owned and built the company, has not held a significant ownership position for decades. The largest current shareholders are institutional investors including Vanguard Group (~8.2%), BlackRock (~6%), and State Street Global Advisors (~4%). CEO Brian Cornell holds a small stake as part of his compensation package.
History and Background
Target’s roots go back to 1902 when George Draper Dayton founded the Dayton Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The first Target store opened in Roseville, Minnesota, in 1962 — the same year as Walmart’s founding — as a discount retail concept positioned between luxury department stores and low-end discount shops. The Dayton’s company renamed itself Target Corporation in 2000. Over the following decades, Target expanded rapidly, attempted a Canadian expansion that ultimately failed and was fully exited in 2015, and invested heavily in its digital and same-day delivery capabilities.
Target’s Business Strategy
Target differentiates itself through its store design, private label brands (Good & Gather for food, Up&Up for essentials, Universal Thread for apparel, and more than 45 owned brands in total), and a curated shopping experience. Target has invested heavily in same-day fulfillment through Drive Up (curbside pickup), Order Pickup (in-store), and Shipt (same-day delivery). Its Circle loyalty program has over 100 million members. Target operates exclusively in the United States, unlike Walmart which has international operations.
