Target draws more customers, but profits miss mark

NEW YORK — Target proved itself one of the few retailers that saw more customers both at its stores and online, though its investment in updating the stores hurt first-quarter profit.

The discounter cited a combination of store remodeling, new brands and expanded delivery options as helping customer traffic rise 3.7 percent in the quarter, including stores and online. Target’s CEO also acknowledged the tail winds of a strong economy.

It’s Target’s strongest performance in at least a decade and put it alongside chains like Costco that have posted robust increases.

“The consumer is very healthy, and they are spending more time shopping at Target,” Target CEO Brian Cornell said Wednesday. “Traffic is such an important measure. It shows that the guests are voting with their wallet.”

Minneapolis-based Target also saw a solid 3 percent increase in sales at established stores. Cornell said strong sales growth in its home, essentials and food and beverage categories offset the impact of delayed sales in weather-sensitive categories like clothing. Online sales rose 28 percent in the quarter.

While Cornell called customer visits the “true indicator for the health of the business,” investors focused on profits, and its shares fell more than 5 percent.

The quarterly profit missed Wall Street estimates as Target’s price cuts and its investments in stores and online operations weighed on the bottom line. It’s an issue for many chains including Walmart that are plowing more money into the online delivery options shoppers want, but that also squeeze profits.

It’s a tricky balancing act. Stores need to expand their online product offerings and services, but they have to do so without hurting store traffic. Target said it doesn’t break down traffic by stores and online.