Macy's, Inc. vs TARGET CORPORATION, two Discount Stores stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Both are broad-line American retailers the market prices cheap, but Macy's is the deeper discount. Macy's runs department stores at a 2.94% net margin and trades at 10.72 times earnings and just 1.46 times book; Target runs the general big-box at 3.24% and trades at 18.54 times earnings and 3.90 times book. Macy's earns less on equity, 13.79% to 21.05%, but throws off a startling 20.14% free cash yield against Target's 4.74%. Target pays the steadier dividend, 3.24% to Macy's 2.81%. Debt is close, 0.50 and 0.87. The rock-bottom book multiple and cash flood on one side, the higher returns and larger footprint on the other.
Comparison updated 2026-07-11.
| Metric | M | TGT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22.65 | $135.10 |
| Market cap | $6.2B | $61.6B |
| Sector | Discount Stores | Discount Stores |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| Implied growth (priced in) | — | +3.5% |
| P/E | 9.4 | 17.9 |
| P/B | 1.28 | 3.76 |
| P/S | 0.27 | 0.58 |
| EV/EBITDA | 3.8 | 9.1 |
| Revenue growth | -0.2% | +0.7% |
| Operating margin | 2.3% | 4.5% |
| Net margin | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| Return on equity | 13.8% | 21.1% |
| Return on assets | 4.1% | 6.0% |
| Return on invested capital | 9.8% | 11.8% |
| FCF yield | 23.1% | 4.9% |
| Dividend yield | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| Debt / equity | 0.50 | 0.87 |
| Current ratio | 1.48 | 0.93 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 7.58 | 8.10 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 7 / 9 | 5 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.