Target's Financial Report

1. American retailing company, Target Corporation, is the second largest discount retailer in the United States. Established in 1902 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Target strives to satisfy customers by offering upscale products at affordable prices (CITATION). Target’s annual report uses these three strategies to persuade investors: charts and statistics illustrating number of stores and square footage showing growth domestically and globally; data comparing sales to serve as a connection between the direct relationship between employee work ethic and stock price; photos and information regarding their corporate social responsibility depicting their active membership in various communities.
2. Target’s report uses charts and statistics

Additionally, Target uses data to compare sales from 2008-2012 as reinforcement to employees who are responsible for the success of their company to show that the work ethic of Target employees has a direct affect on the company’s stock value. Target is very employee oriented. “Our team members (employees) are our most important competitive advantage” (CITATION). As of 2012, there are 361,000 team members employed at Target stores around the country. On page eight Target states that “we are proud that these efforts have contributed to outstanding honors,” referring to the hard work of their employees. The data provided on page two shows Target’s growth in sales. Sales went from $64,948 in 2008 to $73,301 in 2012, resulting in a growth rate of 4.9 percent. Not only are the employees of Target an asset to the company, some of them own stock in the company, making them shareholders as well. The data that compares sales from previous years serves as a reminder of the impact that employee work ethic has on the value of Target’s

Finally, Target’s report displays photos along with information regarding their corporate social responsibility in different communities to show hard work and favorability in the communities they are in. “Strong communities equal strong business” (CITATION). Target gives five percent, specifically four million a week, of its profit towards the communities they are involved in. Pages 10 and 11 show the accomplishments and goals Target strives for such as committing to giving one billion dollars towards education by the end of 2015, promoting safer neighborhoods by helping communities prepare for disasters, along with operating efficiently to help the sustainability of the environment. The photos and information provided shows investors that Target’s favorability in the communities that it is in coincides with their