Many in the UK and beyond are wondering who owns Target. It’s no secret that Target is one of the biggest retailers in the United States. In fact, it’s the second-largest discount store in the country, behind only Walmart.
The biggest owner of Target is BlackRock, an asset management firm. As of March 2021, BlackRock owned more than 133 million shares of Target, representing a 9.6% stake in the company. Other major owners of Target include SSG Advisors, The Vanguard Group, and JPMorgan Chase. Together, these three firms own more than 20% of the company.
While Target is publicly traded, it’s clear that a small group of firms wields a lot of power when it comes to the company. This article talks about Target’s ownership, the number of investors behind this giant retail store, and Target’s motives. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
What Is Target?
Target is an American retailing company in the United States. The firm has been operating for over 50 years and operates over 1,800 stores across the country. In 2019, Target had sales of $76.4 billion and employed 350,000 people.
Who Owns Target?
Institutional investors, like mutual fund companies and hedge funds, own the majority of Target’s shares. However, a small portion of the company’s shares is taken over by individual investors.
The largest institutional shareholder of Target is Vanguard Group, which owns 5.8% of the company’s shares. Other major institutional shareholders include BlackRock (5.7%), State Street Global Advisors (4.5%), and Fidelity Investments (2.2%).
As of December 2019, the largest individual shareholder of Target is William Ackman, CEO of hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management. Ackman holds approximately 4% of Target’s shares.
Other major individual shareholders include investment guru Warren Buffett and his holding company Berkshire Hathaway (1.9%). And hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb and his firm Third Point LLC (1.5%).
Being a publicly-traded company, every investor has an opportunity to buy shares. However, the vast majority of Target’s shares are owned by institutional investors. Therefore, it can be difficult for individual investors to have a significant impact on the business.
The best part about Target is that they care for the people around and far away. In fact, the company was founded by George Dayton, a man who believed in the importance of giving back to the community. Dayton contributed to a variety of causes, such as education, disaster, and hunger relief.
Conclusion
Target is an American retail giant that ranks as the second-largest discount store in the States. And the chain has a long history of being a family-friendly company and continues to support a variety of causes.
While Target is a publicly-traded company, it can be difficult for individual investors to have a significant impact on the company.