Walgreens was just purchased by Sycamore. I just read a news article that says Target is also being looked at by private equity firms as well! Are all retail stores pretty much doomed at this point. Wow.
Factors influencing the buyout speculation:
Potential for an attractive acquisition price: Target's stock has been trading near a six-year low, which could make it an attractive and affordable target for a private equity firm.
Change in CEO: The recent announcement that CEO Brian Cornell would be replaced by company insider Michael Fiddelke is thought to have added to the speculation.
Mixed financial results: Despite reporting "better-than-feared" second-quarter earnings, the company's recent results failed to produce a sufficient recovery in its share price.
Previous buyout rumors: News outlets reported on buyout speculation back in late 2024, following disappointing earnings results.
Mini-tender offer: In September 2025, Target received an unsolicited mini-tender offer from TRC Capital Corp., though this offer was for a small portion of the company and not a full buyout.