UBS Has Very Positive Views on Big Retail (COST, TGT, WMT)

Photo of Jon C. Ogg
By Jon C. Ogg Updated Published
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

UBS has initiated new analyst coverage of the large retailers this morning, and we have focused on the big three retailers: Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST), Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT).

UBS frequently does not offer price targets, so we have included the consensus price targets from Thomson Reuters versus Monday’s closing price. In this particular report, the firm did offer price targets, and we would note that the targets are above-consensus in all three cases.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) was started as Buy with a street-high $121 price target. Shares closed at $104.21 on Monday and the consensus target price is $108.05. Costco’s common dividend is only 1% at the current level.

Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) was given only a Neutral rating and $75 price target. Shares are at $68.48, and the consensus price target is $71.89. Target pays a 2.1% dividend yield. Be advised that Target reported earnings this morning and shares are down just over 1% as guidance is apparently a tad short of estimates.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) also was started with a Buy rating and with an $89 price target. Be advised that this is a street-high price target, as the prior high is listed as $88 on the retail giant. Shares are at $78.47, the consensus price target is only $79.11, and the dividend is higher than the others at 2.4%.

Photo of Jon C. Ogg
About the Author Jon C. Ogg →

Jon Ogg has been a financial news analyst since 1997. Mr. Ogg set up one of the first audio squawk box services for traders called TTN, which he sold in 2003. He has previously worked as a licensed broker to some of the top U.S. and E.U. financial institutions, managed capital, and has raised private capital at the seed and venture stage. He has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as New York and Chicago, and he now lives in Houston, Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at University of Houston in 1992. a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

CBOE Vol: 1,568,143
PSKY Vol: 12,285,993
STX Vol: 7,378,346
ORCL Vol: 26,317,675
DDOG Vol: 6,247,779

Top Losing Stocks

LKQ
LKQ Vol: 4,367,433
CLX Vol: 13,260,523
SYK Vol: 4,519,455
MHK Vol: 1,859,865
AMGN Vol: 3,818,618