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Target bets billions on store upgrades to win back shoppers

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Target bets billions on store upgrades to win back shoppers

Target’s new CEO says shoppers will soon see cleaner shelves, shorter checkout lines and revamped home and apparel sections as the retailer rolls out a $5 billion overhaul aimed at reviving sales.

“If I were to step back and draw a heat map of the entire store, highlighting where we’re making changes this year, you’d see more change to what we sell and how we sell it than you’ve seen in a decade,” CEO Michael Fiddelke told investors during a Wednesday earnings call. 

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The company plans to spend more than $2 billion this year, including $1 billion for new stores and remodels and another $1 billion to improve the in-store experience. An additional $1 billion is earmarked for 2026 for remodels and upgrades to same-day delivery and order pickup.

target shoppers in Chicago

The company plans to spend more than $2 billion this year, including $1 billion for new stores and remodels and another $1 billion to improve the in-store experience. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Executives are overhauling 75% of decorative accessories, relaunching the Threshold home brand, speeding up trendy apparel cycles and adding Target Beauty Studios in 600 stores. Fiddelke said the retailer is also investing more in payroll and training to fix reliability issues.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REBOUNDS IN FEBRUARY AS AMERICANS GROW LESS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT JOBS

“There’s real work for us to do here,” he said. “Delight is our standard. That means getting the basics right – sharp pricing, strong in-stocks, wicked fast same-day delivery.”

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Michael Fiddelke, Target

New CEO Michael Fiddelke said Target is “not an everything store.” (Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)

Target is sharpening its merchandising focus as discretionary categories like apparel and home goods – nearly a third of sales – remain under pressure. 

“Target is not an everything store. That’s not what guests want from us,” Fiddelke said, adding shoppers are looking for “a strong trend-forward assortment that they can trust to deliver quality and value.”

Fiddelke succeeded Brian Cornell as chief executive in early February, and outlined some of his first priorities in a memo to staff, including sharpening Target’s merchandise mix, improving stores and its website to make shopping easier and more appealing, and using technology to streamline operations and personalize the customer experience.

The company also plans to invest more in employees and strengthen ties to the communities where it operates, Fiddelke said in the memo.

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target shopping carts

A worker moves shopping carts outside a Target store in Emeryville, California, on Feb. 26, 2026. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“Priority 1 through 10 is accelerating Target’s growth,” Fiddelke said in an emailed statement to FOX Business at the time, adding that the company is “moving with urgency and focus.” 

Comparable sales fell 2.5% in the fourth quarter, though beauty sales rose 1.1% and food and beverage increased 1.8%. Target projects 2026 sales growth of 2%, above Wall Street expectations, and forecasts full-year earnings of $7.50 to $8.50 per share.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
TGT TARGET CORP. 120.80 +7.63 +6.74%

Loyalty remains central to the strategy.

“Members of our loyalty program, Target Circle, spend 3x more on average. And those enrolled in Target Circle 360 with unlimited same-day delivery spend 7x more,” Fiddelke said.

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Target shares are up about 25% so far this year. Analysts say the turnaround will depend on whether the investments can consistently drive more traffic, particularly as Walmart continues to compete aggressively on price and delivery.

Reuters contributed to this report. 

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How small businesses could save thousands on fuel as gas prices rise: expert

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How small businesses could save thousands on fuel as gas prices rise: expert

High gas prices continue to squeeze small businesses across the U.S., but cutting one costly habit could help owners save significantly.

New data from Ford Pro, the commercial vehicle division of Ford Motor Company, shows that unnecessary idling — leaving a car running while parked — can cost fleet operators thousands of dollars each year, cutting directly into margins at a time when fuel prices remain high.

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According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average fleet vehicle idles between one and two hours per day, burning up to two gallons of fuel daily per vehicle. With gas prices rising, those costs can add up quickly.

As of Sunday, the national average price for unleaded gas stood at $4.04, up from $3.88 just a month ago, according to AAA.

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2019 Ford Motor Co. F-150 pickup trucks are displayed at a car dealership in Orland Park, Illinois, U.S., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. Auto sales in the U.S. probably took a big step back in September, setting the stage for hefty incentive spending by carmakers struggling to clear old models from dealers' inventory

Ford Motor Co. F-150 pickup trucks are displayed at a car dealership in Orland Park, Illinois, on Sept. 27, 2019.  (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“You can burn up one to two gallons of gas just doing that,” Matt Krukin, who leads software and digital growth for Ford Pro, told FOX Business. “So if that happens per day… that’s $8 a day that’s idling.”

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For businesses operating multiple vehicles, the impact can be substantial. A 20-vehicle fleet idling for two hours a day could waste more than $160 in fuel every day, according to Ford Pro.

Excessive idling is particularly common in North America, where about 29% of fleet vehicles idle unnecessarily, compared to just 10% in Europe, Krukin noted.

To help address the issue, Ford Pro is investing in software and data-driven tools.

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A person pumps gas into a car. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Its newly launched artificial intelligence (AI) assistant allows fleet managers to monitor vehicle behavior in real time, identify inefficiencies and coach drivers to adopt more fuel-efficient habits. 

Ford Pro says customers using these tools have seen measurable improvements, including a 52% reduction in idling.

While reducing idling is one of the simplest ways to cut costs, other driving behaviors — such as aggressive acceleration, rapid braking, and speeding — can also increase fuel consumption and wear on vehicles, according to Krukin.

The system can even limit acceleration, while in-cab alerts provide real-time feedback.

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Cars driving on the highway

Cars are seen driving on the highway. (Jonas Walzberg/picture alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“It’s like the fleet manager’s right next to them to coach them along the way,” Krukin said.

Users have also seen a 25% drop in speeding, a 16% decrease in hard braking and an 11% reduction in harsh acceleration, according to Ford Pro.

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“We’re not just recommending solutions for the heck of it,” Krukin said. “… At the end of the day, it’s really about bringing it all together, so that these fleets actually get a pleasurable experience with the tools and technology coming together.”

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