Target’s Holiday Push: Extended Hours and Deep Discounts Aim to Boost Sales

In a decisive move to capture last-minute holiday spending, Target Corporation has launched an aggressive end-of-year strategy centered on unprecedented store access and a rolling schedule of promotions. The retailer's comprehensive plan, unfolding in the crucial final days before Christmas, seeks to drive revenue and potentially influence market sentiment around its stock.

Central to the campaign is a significant expansion of operating hours. The vast majority of Target stores will remain open daily from 7 a.m. until midnight through December 23rd. On Christmas Eve itself, locations will close at 8 p.m.

To accommodate late shoppers, the company has also outlined clear deadlines for its various fulfillment services:
- Drive Up and Order Pickup orders can be placed until 6 p.m. and collected until 8 p.m. on December 24th.
- Same-day delivery, offered at no extra charge through the Target Circle 360 program, will be available for orders placed by 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
- Additionally, Target provides next-day delivery service in 35 major metropolitan areas.

The "Holiday Countdown Sale" Promotion

Running from December 21st through the 24th, the "Holiday Countdown Sale" features a rotating set of deep discounts designed to spur impulse purchases. Advertised deals include:
- Savings of up to 50% on select toys and sporting goods.
- Discounts of up to 40% on headphones, video games, and other electronics.
- A $10 gift card with any $40 purchase in beauty or wellness products.
- 20% off men's and women's sweaters and jeans.
Members of the Target Circle loyalty program receive access to additional exclusive offers.

Beyond straightforward price cuts, Target is supplementing its campaign with limited-edition product releases. These exclusive "drops," which began on December 14th, feature a trading card experience with basketball star Caitlin Clark, tiny vinyl records, the Barbie x Joanna Gaines collection, and a special Dr. Squatch soap.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Target?

Current Stock Performance and Metrics

Target's shares were trading at approximately $97.08 as of December 13th. The company commands a market capitalization of roughly $43.96 billion. While the equity has seen a monthly gain of about 7.1%, it remains down nearly 27.8% for the year, with market capitalization declining approximately 29.1% over the same period.

Key financial data points include:
- Share Price: ~$97.08 (Dec. 13)
- 50-Day Moving Average: $91.03
- 200-Day Moving Average: $95.38
- 52-Week Range: $83.44 – $145.08
- Dividend Yield: 4.7% (annual payout of $4.56 per share)

Notably, the stock continues to trade below its 200-day moving average, a technical indicator often interpreted as signaling a longer-term downward trend, despite the recent monthly recovery. The company's current promotional and operational blitz is squarely aimed at boosting sales during the most critical retail week of the year, which could impact investor perception.

The immediate question of whether these measures can stabilize the share price will likely be answered by preliminary sales data and fulfillment performance metrics in the coming days.

The Final Countdown

The discount initiative concludes on December 24th. The deadlines for Christmas Eve service—3 p.m. for same-day delivery and 6 p.m. for Drive Up/Order Pickup—represent the final opportunity for Target to generate revenue during the core holiday week. The success of this short, intense push is therefore critical for the company's near-term operational assessment.