Target (TGT) reports second-quarter fiscal 2024 earnings Wednesday morning, with analysts expecting rising sales and profits compared to last year amid an 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网ဣ:encouraging retail sales ▨environment.

Analysts expect a modest sales bump to $25.21 billion from $24.77 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2023, with profits projected to rise to $1.00 billion from $835 million a year ago.

Target has emphasized the importance of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:cutting costs in 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:earnings reports over the last year to improve its sales margins, and the retailer has also 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:worked to lower prices to boost sales.

Key Metric: Full-Year Outlook

The midpoint of Target's projections for its full-year adjusted 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:earnings per share (EPS) came in below expectations earlier this year, and JPMorgan analysts noted earlier this month that the retailer could be poised to "narrow down the top half of the range for both [comparable sales] and EPS." Expecting a downward revision to pressure Target shares in the near-term, the analysts lowered their price target to $153 from $165.

The JPMorgan analysts said they also expect Target's second-half margins to be harmed by more frequent promotions to help boost sales.

However, Baird analysts provided a more optimistic picture Monday compared to a "skeptical" market, writing that Target has "enough levers" to control its spending and affirm its $8.60 to $9.60 full-year adjusted EPS projection.

Business Spotlight: Encouraging Retail Backdrop

Positive retail sales numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:better sales than expected from rival Walmart (WMT), each released Thursday, provided an encouraging environment for Target's earnings. The positive retail news lifted Target shares Thursday along with those of Macy's (M) and TJX Companies (TJX), both of whom will also report earning꧙s on Aug. 21.

However, despite both posting earnings beats in the first quarter, Walmart and Target had 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:diverging outco🅘mes for their stocks following their reports. Both retailers highlighted how inflation was affecting customers' habits, with spending focused on necessities amid a pullback on discretionary items. However, those trends appeared to benefit Walmart more than Target.

Target shares rose 4.4% Thursday to $141.67♐, less than 1% below where they started the🍨 year.