The retailer said it will have to offer bigger discounts to dispose of its inventory
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is down 2.8% to trade at $155.47 this morning, after the retail giant, in a surprise move, slashed its current-quarter profit margin forecast. Target noted it will have to offer bigger discounts to dispose of its inventory, as high inflation impacts consumer demand. The company added it will shift its focus to food and household essentials, cancel orders with suppliers, and speed up its supply chain.
D.A. Davidson was quick to respond to the update, cutting the stock's price target to $171 from $205. The majority of analysts are still optimistic towards TGT, with 13 of the 19 in question calling it a "buy" or better, while the 12-month consensus target price of $205.07 is a 34.1% premium to current levels.
Options traders are chiming in as well, with 26,000 calls and 28,000 palls across the tape so far, which is quadruple the volume that is typically seen at this point. The most popular contract is the weekly 6/10 145-strike put, followed by the 160-strike call in the same series, with positions being opened at both.
It's worth noting the security's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.16 sits higher than 95% of readings from the last 12 months. This suggests short-term options traders have rarely been more put-biased.
These traders are in luck, as TGT's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) ranks at 93 out of 100, indicating the stock has exceeded options traders' volatility expectations over the past year.
Target stock earlier came dangerously close to its May 24, roughly two-year low of $145.54. The shares have consolidated below $170 since a May 17 bear gap stemming from the retailer's aforementioned supply chain issues. Year-to-date, TGT is down 33.6%.