Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways TGT is expanding AI and analytics to improve merchandising, planning and retail execution across channels.TGT's digital comparable sales rose 8.9%, with same-day delivery up more than 27% in the first quarter.Target improved inventory visibility and guest satisfaction. Target Plus GMV grew nearly 60% in Q1. Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) is advancing its digital transformation through investments in artificial intelligence (AI), advanced analytics and technology. The company is expanding the use of AI-enabled tools to support merchandising decisions, improve operational planning and enhance the shopping experience. Management views these investments as a key part of its refreshed strategy to strengthen retail execution across stores and digital channels.

AI-enabled tools are helping Target's merchandising teams make faster, more informed decisions. The company is leveraging advanced analytics to refine assortment planning, optimize merchandising execution and respond more effectively to changing consumer preferences. These capabilities are streamlining workflows and supporting the company's focus on delivering compelling assortments across its priority merchandise categories.

Technology investments are also strengthening Target's supply chain and store operations. The retailer is enhancing data connectivity across its distribution network to improve inventory visibility and product availability. During the fiscal first quarter of 2026, these efforts contributed to stronger in-stock performance despite higher-than-expected sales, while strengthening coordination across merchandising, distribution and store operations.

Target continues to expand its digital and omnichannel ecosystem, with stores serving as the foundation of its fulfillment network. In the fiscal first quarter, digitally originated comparable sales increased 8.9%, while same-day delivery grew more than 27%, driven by Target Circle 360. Digital represented 20.3% of merchandise sales, up from 19.8% a year ago and stores fulfilled 97.6% of total merchandise sales. Management also highlighted nearly 60% growth in first-quarter gross merchandise value ("GMV") at Target Plus, reflecting strong marketplace momentum and expanding revenue opportunities.

The company's technology investments are also enhancing the in-store experience. During the fiscal first quarter, several guest satisfaction metrics reached three-year highs, including wait times, product availability, store cleanliness and team interactions. As Target continues investing in AI-enabled tools, digital capabilities and operational improvements, it is building a more connected retail platform that supports efficient execution and a seamless omnichannel shopping experience.

Target’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesTGT stock has gained 30.6% over the past six months compared with the industry’s 2% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Target’s forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 16.09 reflects a lower valuation than the industry’s average of 30.81. TGT has a Value Score of A.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TGT’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 10.3%, while the same for fiscal 2027 indicates growth of 6.4%. Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have increased by 5 cents each, respectively, over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Other Key PicksSome other top-ranked stocks in the retail space are Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) , Ross Stores Inc. (ROST - Free Report) and The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX - Free Report) .

Dollar Tree is an operator of discount variety stores offering a broad assortment of everyday consumables and discretionary merchandise. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 6.5% and 21.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. DLTR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.1%, on average.

Ross Stores operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home accessories. It presently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales implies growth of 17.1% and 10.1%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ROST delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.2%.

TJX Companies is a leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions. It also has a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TJX Companies’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales implies growth of 9.3% and 5.9%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. TJX delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 8.8%.

State-Funded Program with the Colorado Water Conservation Board Targets Snowpack and Rain Year-Round in the Yampa River Basin's Flat Tops Range

NAPLES, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2026 / Rain Enhancement Technologies Holdco, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAIN), a leading provider of ionization rain and snowfall enhancement technology, today announced that the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), the Colorado River District, and the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District have publicly supported RET's pending application for a paid weather enhancement pilot project, with installation targeted by October 2026. The project is designed to provide more year-round snow and water to Northwest Colorado's Yampa River Basin. The program is expected to be funded through a grant from CWCB, with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District serving as the fiscal agent.

The pilot is being coordinated with the Colorado River District and the CWCB and is designed to increase snowfall and rain in the Flat Tops Mountain range of the Rockies. This area feeds Stagecoach and Yamcolo Reservoirs, two of the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District's primary water supply facilities.

"This is exactly the kind of program we set out to build: a complementary year-round solution that integrates seamlessly into existing water management strategies," said Randy Seidl, CEO of Rain Enhancement Technologies. "Western US water managers are under real pressure to have more water, and our ionization technology gives them a chemical-free way to do that."

"We think this is an excellent opportunity to bring a new tool to bear on rain and snow that feeds our storage," said Andy Rossi, General Manager of the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District. "Targeting the Flat Tops area gets right at the water supply that fills Stagecoach and Yamcolo, and we're glad to help bring this pilot to Northwest Colorado."

RET's WETA platform uses a ground-based ionization process rather than traditional chemical-based cloud seeding, operates autonomously without aircraft or chemical dispersal, and functions year-round rather than being limited to sub-freezing conditions. In a comparable, independently monitored installation in Utah's La Sal Mountains this past winter, RET measured a 20% snow water equivalent (SWE) increase, equivalent to roughly 8,750 acre-feet. This was over the winter operating season only, with warm rain enhancement operations now underway to provide further increases. Applied to the Flat Tops coverage area, expected to span approximately 120 square miles, RET estimates the pilot could generate over 10,000 additional acre-feet of water in an average precipitation year.

RET offers flexible lease-to-own and purchase options for the WETA platform that is available to Upper Yampa upon completion of the pilot program.

About Rain Enhancement Technologies, Inc.

Rain Enhancement Technologies was founded to provide the world with reliable access to water, one of life's most important resources. To achieve this mission, RET develops, manufactures, and commercializes ionization precipitation generation technology that enhances rainfall and snowpack to address water scarcity challenges. The Company is also developing applications for fog mitigation to expand its weather modification capabilities. RET's chemical-free, solar-powered technology seeks to transform water resource management for businesses, society, and the planet. To learn more, go to www.investor.rainenhancement.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The disclosure herein includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "project," "forecast," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (1) statements regarding the execution of an agreement for the funding and award of the pilot, (2) statements regarding expected installation of the Company's technology; (3) references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the Company's WETA platform and technology; (4) references to the market opportunity for rain enhancement technologies and products; (5) the projected technological developments of RET; and (6) current and future potential commercial and customer relationships. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of RET's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of RET. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, as set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2025, as amended from time to time, and on Form 10-Q for the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2026, as amended from time to time. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties above are not exhaustive, and there may be additional risks that Rain Enhancement Technologies, Inc. ("RETI") and RET do not presently know or that RETI and RET currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect RETI and RET's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. RETI and RET anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause RETI and RET's assessments to change. However, while RETI and RET Holdco may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, RETI and RET specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing RETI and RET's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Media Contacts
Neal Stein
Technology PR Solutions
321-473-7407
[email protected]

Linda Maynard
Rain Enhancement Technologies
(617) 869-4832
[email protected]

SOURCE: Rain Enhancement Technologies

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 16, 2026) - Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) (OTCQX: DRYGF) (FSE: X7W) ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the exploration permit for its Mud Lake target. The permit allows Dryden Gold to drill test extension targets identified through its 2025 drill program and geological mapping. Surface samples collected on a high-grade shear zone similar to Elora, where a significant fold in the mineralized structure occurs, assayed 93.00 g/t gold (Figure 1). This target is north of the previously permitted area and indicates a repetition that demonstrates the potential to extend the known mineralized system providing the foundation for a much larger gold-bearing district (Figure 2). This type of structural periodicity is typical of many high-performing gold camps in Northwest Ontario, including Red Lake.

Trey Wasser, CEO of Dryden Gold stated, "Based on the data and strong geological similarities, our team believes that Mud Lake has the potential to emerge as a significant extension within the Gold Rock Camp. We are increasingly encouraged by the prospect that the Manitou Dinorwic deformation zone ("MDdz") could host multiple gold deposits along strike. Securing this drill permit is an important step toward testing the discovery potential at Mud Lake to prove periodicity, at the deposit scale. With our strong treasury providing a robust 2026 field program, our exploration teams will continue mapping and prospecting at several additional high-priority targets across the Gold Rock Camp."

Recent geological mapping at the Mud Lake target has identified a mineralized structural corridor that shares several key characteristics with Big Master and Elora at Gold Rock. The 2026 mapping program also identified an en-echelon structural trend, where high-grade gold mineralization was discovered, further strengthening the Company's geological interpretation of the target. The approved drill permit also includes the Wamsley target; another high-priority area identified during the 2025 mapping campaign (Figure 2).

At Gold Rock, exploration drilling continues to advance several high-priority targets, including a newly interpreted central mineralized corridor located between the Elora and Big Master systems. A second drill is now operating and is testing the depth extensions of the known high-grade gold zones while the other drill is expanding the structural footprint at Gold Rock. One rig will be deployed to drill Mud Lake in early August.

Figure 1. Detailed map of the Mud Lake target highlighting key 2025 results 

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9776/305379_0309969564d53a30_001full.jpg

Figure 2. Geology map Gold Rock Camp (left side), detailed map of Gold Rock and
Mud Lake drill targets (right side)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9776/305379_0309969564d53a30_002full.jpg

Qualified Person
The technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maura Kolb, M.Sc., P. Geo., President of Dryden Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

Analytical Laboratory and QA/QC Procedures
The Company is drilling NQ size core. Samples are cut in half, with half going to the lab for analysis and half kept as a record. True thickness/widths of the mineralization is unknown, result intervals are reported as the drilled core lengths unless otherwise stated. All sampling completed by Dryden Gold Corp. within its exploration programs is subject to a Company standard of internal quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) programs which include the insertion of certified reference materials, blank materials, and a level of duplicate analysis. Drill samples from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 programs were sent to Activation Laboratories, with sample preparation and analysis in Dryden, where they were processed for gold analysis by 50-gram fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and over limits determined by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish. Select samples were analyzed using metallic screens. Activation Laboratories systems conform to requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17025 guidelines and meets assay requirements outlined for NI 43-101.

ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP.
Dryden Gold is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX-V ("DRY") and traded on the OTCQX ("DRYGF") and FSE ("X7W"). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers and acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls 100% interest in mining claims in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys collaborative relationships with First Nations communities and benefits from proximity to an experienced mining workforce. Dryden Gold is committed to building respectful, collaborative relationships with Indigenous Nations and communities throughout our area of operations. We recognize the importance of ongoing dialogue, mutual understanding, and meaningful engagement as we advance our exploration activities.

For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: receipt of corporate and regulatory approvals, issuance of common shares; future development plans; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable which include the number of metres of drilling the company may complete in 2026 and the timing of certain exploration programs during the coming year. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval for the offering; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305379

Source: Dryden Gold Corp.

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Target Corp (NYSE:TGT) is seeing encouraging signs that its merchandising overhaul is helping attract shoppers, prompting Jefferies to modestly raise its second-quarter forecasts ahead of the retailer's earnings.

Jefferies wrote that Target's expanded product assortment, category refreshes and exclusive partnerships are increasingly becoming meaningful traffic drivers. The firm raised its second-quarter comparable sales estimate to 1.6% from 1.5% and increased its earnings per share forecast to $2.18.

The analysts pointed to a broad merchandising reset that has included a 30% expansion of Target's wellness section, the introduction of 3,000 beauty products and 60 new brands, a refresh of 75% of home decorative accessories, new food and beverage offerings, and a back-to-school assortment that is more than 50% new.

"In our view, this represents one of the broadest assortment refreshes TGT has undertaken in years," Jefferies wrote.

The firm believes these initiatives, along with collaborations and exclusive partnerships, are helping increase store traffic. Target reported first-quarter traffic growth of 4.4%, which Jefferies described as an early indication that the refreshed assortment is resonating with shoppers.

Looking ahead, the analysts acknowledged that Target faces a tougher year-over-year comparison in the second quarter as it laps the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. However, they wrote that recent foot traffic trends, combined with continued product launches, category resets and collaborations, suggest the company's merchandising strategy remains effective.

Jefferies also highlighted data from location analytics firm Placer.ai, noting a strong historical correlation between Target's foot traffic and comparable sales. Based on those trends, the firm now expects second-quarter comparable sales growth of 1.6%, compared with its Placer-based estimate of 1.7% and Wall Street's consensus forecast of 1.9%.

The analysts added that they expect Target to continue emphasizing merchandising through the second half of the year, supported by additional collaborations, new back-to-school products and the rollout of its Beauty Studio initiative.

Jefferies continues to view Target as one of its top investment ideas for 2026 following a recent meeting with the company's management team, where executives discussed early traction from the retailer's strategic reset and merchandising-led initiatives.

Shares of Target traded up 3% at about $138 on Wednesday afternoon, having added almost 41% so far this year.

Highlights

Hole 26MN-090 returned, along the Zanzibar Trend:0.91 g/t gold over 20.63 metres ("m") from 74.38 m and 16.47 g/t gold over 2.35 m from 143.41 m within the Gold Hill Formation.Hole 26MN-099 returned, along the Zanzibar Trend:0.88 g/t gold over 18.59 m from 98.76 m at the Zanzibar-Gold Hill Formation stratigraphic contact, including 1.28 g/t gold over 9.45 m from 101.19 m.2.10 g/t gold over 16.15 m from 126.95 m within Gold Hill Formation fault breccia, including 2.91 g/t gold over 10.27 m from 128.32 m.Hole 26MN-101 returned, at Goldwedge:1.60 g/t gold over 33.53 m from 6.70 m within the Zanzibar Formation, including 7.11 g/t gold over 5.18 m from 33.83 m.Hole 26MN-104 returned, along the Zanzibar Trend:35.23 g/t gold over 1.01 m from 139.26 m within the Gold Hill Formation.Hole 26MN-110 returned, at Goldwedge:2.05 g/t gold over 97.99 m from 64.16 m within the Gold Hill Formation, including; 18.19 g/t gold over 3.17 m from 85.95 m, 11.41 g/t gold over 4.57 m from 127.1 m, and 8.98 g/t gold over 7.32 m from 144.01 m. Also, within the Gold Hill Formation, 1.75 g/t gold over 14.63 m from 180.44 m.Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 14, 2026) - Scorpio Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGN) (OTCQB: SRCRF) (FSE: RY9) ("Scorpio Gold", or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from eighteen step-out holes of the Phase Two drill program at the Manhattan District Project ("Manhattan"), Nevada, USA: 26MN-087, 26MN-090, 26MN-093 through 26MN-095, 26MN-097 through 26MN-108, and 26MN-110, see Figure 1. The results are tabulated in Table 1 and discussed below. Scorpio Gold has drilled 102 drill holes to date from its Phase Two diamond drilling program, 25MN-011 through 25MN-045, 26MN-046 through 26MN-112, for a grand total of 28,939 m. With the results herein, Scorpio Gold has reported assays on 99 of these (25MN-011 through 25MN-045, 26MN-046 through 26MN-108, and 26MN-110, totalling 27,793 m, and assays are pending from 3 holes (26MN-109, 26MN-111 and 26MN-112), totalling 1,146 m. The pending results will be reported as they become available.

In addition to the Phase Two drill program, the Company is reviewing historic core that is available at Manhattan and analyzing any historic core and pulps for silver. This new silver data from historic materials is supplementary to silver data that has been collecting since 2024 on new core drilled by the Company. Silver, or a gold equivalent, has not been used or included in any results to date. Results from drill hole GWUG-11-11 are also included in Table 1 and discussed below. Any new significant results from historic core or pulps will be reported as they become available.

"Manhattan continues to deliver high-grade gold with remarkable consistency, and these results deepen our understanding of why. The 97.99 metre intercept grading 2.05 g/t gold in hole 26MN-110 demonstrates that Goldwedge hosts broad, continuous zones of mineralization punctuated by high-grade intervals. The combination of structural and stratigraphic intersection at Goldwedge is providing the kind of grade-and-thickness combination that drives meaningful resource growth at Manhattan.

Along the Zanzibar Trend, mineralization is also proving to be strongly controlled by stratigraphy and structure, with high-grade gold recurring at the Zanzibar-Gold Hill contact and within fault breccias hosting multiple generations of epithermal veining — hallmarks of a large, long-lived gold system. Importantly, these step-outs tested within and beyond the boundaries of our maiden resource, so every new intercept is either adding new mineralization or upgrading material outside the current block model. We have also begun analyzing multi-element ICP data received to date, which include silver values. Silver was historically produced alongside gold in the Manhattan District, and we see the potential for silver to be incorporated into future resource estimates — adding a byproduct dimension that our maiden resource did not capture. With 99 of 102 Phase Two holes now reported and the system open in multiple directions, Manhattan keeps reinforcing its district-scale potential," said Harrison Pokrandt, VP Exploration for Scorpio Gold.

Figure 1. Surface Plan Map of drill holes. Map Inset areas shown in Figures 2 and 3.

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/305095_5e645079f465d834_002full.jpg

Zanzibar Trend: Drill holes 26MN-087, 26MN-090, 26MN-093, 26MN-094, 26MN-097, 26MN-099, and 26MN-104 are all approximately 50 m step-outs along the Zanzibar Trend. Hole 90 had two substantial zones, 0.91g/t over 20.6m and 16.47 g/t over 2.35m. These add to the significant mineralization recently encountered along the Zanzibar Trend, including:

3.14 g/t gold over 49.62 m from 59.95 m (25MN-044)0.66 g/t gold over 57.64 m from 29.59 m (25MN-045)2.10 g/t gold over 22.25 m from 34.14 m (26MN-063)2.74 g/t gold over 16.49 m from 45.45 m (26MN-066)10.40 g/t gold over 5.67 m from 34.29 m (26MN-067)1.94 g/t gold over 17.07 m from 55.47 m (26MN-067)12.78 g/t gold over 5.91 m from 134.51 m (26MN-067)0.69 g/t gold over 23.23 m from 4.05 m (26MN-070)2.68 g/t gold over 11.34 m from 0.76 m (26MN-071)2.77 g/t gold over 12.68 m from 58.64 m (26MN-080)5.19 g/t gold over 6.55 m from 62.03 m (26MN-080)Goldwedge: Drill holes 26MN-095, 26MN-098, 26MN-100, 26MN-101, 26MN-103, 26MN-105, 26MN-106, 26MN-107, 26MN-108, and 26MN-110 are all approximately 50 m step-outs, both laterally and at depth, at Goldwedge. Recent drilling at Goldwedge, including the results within, has demonstrated consistently strong mineralization:

0.59 g/t gold over 49.23 m from 31.69 m (26MN-048)11.84 g/t gold over 8.39 m from 106.21 m (26MN-075)1.27 g/t gold over 45.23 m from 137.95 m (26MN-086)1.17 g/t gold over 21.58 m from 111.71 m (26MN-089)0.62 g/t gold over 16.28 m from 137.03 m (26MN-089)2.04 g/t gold over 11.83 m from 115.67 m (26MN-091)0.68 g/t gold over 25.02 m from 142.04 m (26MN-091)4.43 g/t gold over 5.18 m from 172.21 m (26MN-091)6.95 g/t gold over 11.98 m from 242.99 m (26MN-091)Black Mammoth: Drill hole 26MN-102 is a 50 m step-out to the east of drill hole 26MN-096. Black Mammoth is a ~200-250 m step-out from Goldwedge. Significant mineralization at Black Mammoth, including the results within, includes:

0.75 g/t gold over 24.69 m from 230.12 m (26MN-053)1.02 g/t gold over 40.23 m from 195.69 m (26MN-057)0.99 g/t gold over 41.45 m from 195.68 m (26MN-057)0.78 g/t gold over 12.92 m from 293.71 m (26MN-057)0.62 g/t gold over 62.21 m from 230.43 m (26MN-069)6.04 g/t gold over 4.86 m from 308.23 m (26MN-072)0.91 g/t gold over 15.79 m from 368.65 m (26MN-072)0.58 g/t gold over 18.04 m from 311.05 m (26MN-078)0.57 g/t gold over 17.98 m from 157.28 m (26MN-092)0.83 g/t gold over 18.01 m from 277.68 m (26MN-092)8.10 g/t gold over 1.52 m from 450.35 m (26MN-092)2.56 g/t gold over 13.38 m from 293.28 m (26MN-096)Further to the 2026 drilling results, historic drill hole GWUG-11-11, was relogged and sampled and returned 8.59 g/t gold over 6.1 m from 9.75 m. This new result addresses gaps found in the Manhattan database compilation. This drill hole was drilled underground at Goldwedge in 2011.

All 2026 drill holes tested within and beyond the Inferred Resource Constraining Pit ("IRCP"), targeting new mineralization outside of the 2025 MRE block model, see Figures 5 and 7. For further details see "Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report, Manhattan Property, Nye County, Nevada" with an effective date of June 4, 2025, on Scorpio Gold's website at https://wp-scorpiogold-2025.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/media/2025/10/SGN_Manhattan_Mineral_Resource_Estimate_-_Amended_43-101.pdf.

Figure 2. Inset Surface Plan Map of Zanzibar Trend Target Area, with drill hole traces projected to surface and result highlights noted.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/305095_5e645079f465d834_004full.jpg

Figure 3. Inset Surface Plan Map of Goldwedge Target Area, with drill hole traces projected to surface and result highlights noted.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/305095_5e645079f465d834_006full.jpg

Drill Hole IDTarget Azimuth / DipFrom (m)To (m)Intercept¹ (m)Gold (g/t)26MN-087Zanzibar Trend30.6341.4510.820.40354 m037° / -45°222.78225.162.381.19

321.48329.377.890.5626MN-090Zanzibar Trend74.3895.0120.630.91330 m026° / -45°143.41145.762.3516.47

156.18168.6812.500.29

288.13297.279.140.8126MN-093Zanzibar Trend67.9785.0717.100.41138 m000° / -60°107.29123.6016.310.3426MN-094
144 mZanzibar Trend
035° / -45°29.6535.175.520.1926MN-095Goldwedge6.4037.6431.240.29107 m004° / -45°40.8552.4311.580.20

64.0673.309.240.3026MN-097
168 mZanzibar Trend
045° / -62°106.16118.1411.980.3626MN-098Goldwedge4.429.755.330.28108 m041° / -80°13.4733.2219.750.19

104.51108.203.690.4726MN-099Zanzibar Trend63.5275.1311.610.77323 m252° / -45°89.3195.716.400.40

98.76117.3518.590.88
including101.19110.649.451.28

126.95143.1016.152.10
including128.32138.5910.272.91

228.78242.8614.080.1826MN-100
65 mGoldwedge
060° / -45°3.6635.0831.420.2126MN-101Goldwedge6.7040.2333.531.60116 m050° / -45°

including33.8339.015.187.11

46.9454.327.381.82
including51.6754.322.653.89

61.2770.299.020.65
including63.2264.010.793.76

85.0489.894.851.72
including85.0488.613.572.2326MN-102
512 mBlack Mammoth
205° / -45°398.83402.583.750.4426MN-103Goldwedge19.8228.358.530.4181 m043° / -73°33.1444.8111.670.2226MN-104Zanzibar Trend99.97102.292.322.04385 m150° / -45°110.95115.464.511.75

139.26140.271.0135.23

294.59295.901.311.3526MN-105Goldwedge12.6539.3226.670.2368 m080° / -45°

including25.7639.3213.560.3126MN-106
68 mGoldwedge
130° / -45°13.4117.373.960.2326MN-107Goldwedge49.3870.4121.030.31429 m031° / -49°77.5781.844.270.32

146.61162.9216.310.4426MN-108Goldwedge22.5543.8921.340.1582 m145° / -80°54.5360.055.520.34

65.0778.3013.230.5226MN-110Goldwedge12.8024.9912.190.20330 m020° / -52°64.16162.1597.992.05
including85.9589.123.1718.19
including127.10131.674.5711.41
including144.01151.337.328.98

180.44195.0714.631.75including192.63195.072.446.80GWUG-11-11Goldwedge9.7515.856.108.5983 m229° / -56°

including12.8114.331.5233.13¹ Intervals contain no more than 3 continuous metres grading less than 0.1 g/t gold.

Table 1. Results from the current batch of drill holes. Note: There is insufficient geological information to estimate a true width for the drill intercepts reported.

Zanzibar Trend Results:
26MN-087: This drill hole contains three significant intervals hosted within Cambrian Gold Hill Formation brecciated fine grained clastic meta-sediments. The first interval of 0.40 g/t gold over 10.82 m from 30.63 m is oxidized and brecciated. The second interval of 1.19 g/t gold over 2.38 m from 222.78 m is comprised of a re-lithified breccia. The last interval of 0.56 g/t gold over 7.89 m from 321.48 m is a breccia with obvious evidence of faulting. The later interval ends in Oligocene Round Rock Formation ("Manhattan Caldera") ash and lapilli tuff volcanic units, from 328.54 m to 329.37 m. The different breccias suggest multiple mineralization events.

26MN-090: This drill hole contains four significant intervals hosted within Cambrian Gold Hill Formation fine grained carbonate and clastic meta-sediments, including breccia and marble. The first interval of 0.91 g/t gold over 20.63 m from 74.38 m sits directly below a large, oxidized fault (~73 m) and is largely oxidized and broken muds and limestones. The second interval of 16.47 g/t gold over 2.35 m from 143.41 m contains a near-parallel to core axis quartz-calcite vein and is constrained to a limestone bed with strong alteration above the interval. The third and fourth intervals of 0.29 g/t gold over 12.5 m from 156.18 m and 0.81 g/t gold over 9.14 m from 288.13 m are within brecciated meta-mud and siltstones. See cross-section A to A' (Figure 5).

26MN-093: This drill hole contains two significant intervals hosted within Ordovician Zanzibar Formation limestones and carbonaceous muds. The first interval of 0.41 g/t gold over 17.1 m from 67.97 m is within re-lithified brecciated muddy limestone. The last interval of 0.34 g/t gold over 16.31 m from 107.29 m is within broken, vein filled, brecciated and oxidized limestone. This interval sits directly above sheared carbonaceous mudstone (starting at 123.60 m), which sits above Manhattan Caldera volcanics (at 131.98 m). The different breccias suggest multiple mineralization events.

26MN-094: This drill hole contains one significant interval within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. The interval of 0.19 g/t gold over 5.52 m from 29.65 m is within bedded, vein filled limestone. This interval sits directly above a massive sheared carbonaceous mudstone (starting at 35.17 m).

26MN-097: This drill hole contains one significant interval that extends through the stratigraphic contact between the Ordovician Zanzibar and Cambrian Gold Hill Formations. The interval of 0.36 g/t gold over 11.98 m from 106.16 m is within Zanzibar Formation limestone and continues into Gold Hill Formation meta-mudstones at 112.68 m. The start of this interval is strongly oxidized and veined.

26MN-099: This drill hole contains two intervals within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. The first sits directly below the Manhattan Caldera volcanics contact, 0.77 g/t gold over 11.61 m from 63.52, within limestone and carbonaceous mudstones. The second Zanzibar Formation interval of 0.40 g/t gold over 6.4 m from 89.31 m is hosted withing strongly epithermal veined, bedded, limestone. One significant interval extends through the stratigraphic contact (at 103.33 m) between the Ordovician Zanzibar and Cambrian Gold Hill Formations, of 0.88 g/t gold over 18.59 m from 98.76 m, including 1.28 g/t gold over 9.45 m from 101.19 m. Two significant intervals are hosted entirely within the Cambrian Gold Hill Formation. The first interval of 2.10 g/t gold over 16.15 m from 126.95 m, including 2.91 g/t gold over 10.27 m from 128.32 m (see Figure 4), is hosted within a re-lithified breccia of fine-grained clastic meta-sediments, and sits directly above a marble bed. The last interval of 0.18 g/t gold over 14.08 m from 228.78 m sits directly above the Brougher Fault, and a marble bed, within fine grained clastic meta-sediments. See cross-section A to A' (Figure 5).

26MN-104: This drill hole contains four intervals within Cambrian Gold Hill Formation fine grained clastic meta-sediments. The first interval of 2.04 g/t gold over 2.32 m from 99.97 m sits directly above a marble bed with a gouge fault contact. The final three intervals of 1.75 g/t gold over 4.51 m from 110.95 m, 35.23 g/t gold over 1.01 m from 139.26 m, and 1.35 g/t gold over 1.31 m from 294.59 m contain strong epithermal vein textures throughout.

Figure 4. Drill hole 26MN-099, interval 131.67 m to 136.55 m, displaying Cambrian Gold Hill Formation re-lithified brecciated meta-silt and mudstones with quartz-calcite epithermal veins.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/305095_5e645079f465d834_008full.jpg

Figure 5. Cross-section A-A', showing gold grades with reported intervals highlighted.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/305095_5e645079f465d834_010full.jpg

Goldwedge Results:
26MN-095: This drill hole contains three intervals within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. The first and second intervals of 0.29 g/t gold over 31.24 m from 6.40 m and 0.20 g/t gold over 11.58 m from 40.85 m, are within faulted and brecciated oxidized limestone and the bottom of each interval is a carbonaceous mudstone. The last interval of 0.30 g/t gold over 9.24 m from 64.06 m is similar to the first two intervals, but sits directly above Manhattan Caldera volcanics ("Volcanics") at 73.30 m.

26MN-098: This drill hole contains two intervals within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. Both intervals of 0.28 g/t gold over 5.33 m from 4.42 m and 0.19 g/t gold over 19.75 m from 13.47 m, are within faulted and brecciated oxidized limestone. One interval is within the Volcanics. The interval of 0.47 g/t gold over 3.69 m from 104.51 m is brecciated with veins throughout.

26MN-100: This drill hole contains one interval within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. The interval of 0.21 g/t gold over 31.42 m from 3.66 m is within faulted and brecciated oxidized limestone with veins throughout, and is directly above the Volcanics at 35.08 m.

26MN-101: This drill hole contains four intervals within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. The intervals are hosted within brecciated and faulted limestones and carbonaceous mudstones. The intervals are 1.60 g/t gold over 33.53 m from 6.70 m, including 7.11 g/t gold over 5.18 m from 33.83 m; 1.82 g/t gold over 7.38 m from 46.94 m, including 3.89 g/t gold over 2.65 m from 51.67 m; 0.65 g/t gold over 9.02 m from 61.27 m, including 3.76 g/t gold over 0.79 m from 63.22 m; and 1.72 g/t gold over 4.85 m from 85.04 m, including 2.23 g/t gold over 3.57 m from 85.04 m.

26MN-103: This drill hole contains two intervals within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. The intervals are hosted within brecciated and faulted limestones and carbonaceous mudstones. The intervals are 0.41 g/t gold over 8.53 m from 19.82 m and 0.22 g/t gold over 11.67 m from 33.14 m. The later interval is above the Volcanics contact at 54.07 m.

26MN-105: This drill hole contains one interval within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation, directly above the Volcanics contact at 26.67 m. The interval of 0.23 g/t gold over 26.67 m from 12.65 m, including 0.31 g/t gold over 13.56 m from 25.76 m, is hosted within brecciated and faulted limestone and carbonaceous mudstone.

26MN-106: This drill hole contains one interval within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation, directly above the Volcanics contact at 17.37 m. The interval of 0.23 g/t gold over 3.96 m from 13.41 m is hosted within brecciated and faulted limestone and carbonaceous mudstone.

26MN-107: This drill hole contains three intervals within the Cambrian Gold Hill Formation. The intervals are hosted within fine grained clastic meta-sediments and marble units. The intervals are 0.31 g/t gold over 21.03 m from 49.38 m, 0.32 g/t gold over 4.27 m from 77.57 m, and 0.44 g/t gold over 16.31 m from 146.61 m. All three intervals are controlled by faults and/or lithologic boundaries above or below the interval.

26MN-108: This drill hole contains three intervals within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation. The intervals are hosted within brecciated and faulted limestone and carbonaceous mudstone units. The intervals are 0.15 g/t gold over 21.34 m from 22.55 m, 0.34 g/t gold over 5.52 m from 54.53 m, and 0.52 g/t gold over 13.23 m from 65.07 m. The later interval sits directly above the Volcanics at 78.30 m.

26MN-110: This drill hole contains three intervals within the Cambrian Gold Hill Formation. The intervals are hosted within fine grained clastic meta-sediments, marble units, and broken and re-lithified fault breccias. The intervals are 0.20 g/t gold over 12.19 m from 12.80 m; the headline interval of 2.05 g/t gold over 97.99 m from 64.16 m, including 18.19 g/t gold over 3.17 m from 85.95 m, 11.41 g/t gold over 4.57 m from 127.10 m, and 8.98 g/t gold over 7.32 m from 144.01 m (see Figure 6); and 1.75 g/t gold over 14.63 m from 180.44 m, including 6.80 g/t gold over 2.44 m from 192.63 m. The later interval sits directly above the Volcanics at 195.07 m.

GWUG-11-11: Apart of our relogging and sampling efforts of historic core, this drill hole contains one significant interval within the Ordovician Zanzibar Formation that was not previously available to the Manhattan database. The interval of 8.59 g/t gold over 6.1 m from 9.75 m, including 33.13 g/t gold over 1.52 m from 12.81 m, is hosted within faulted and brecciated limestones with strong epithermal vein textures.

Figure 6. Drill hole 26MN-110, interval 147.07 m to 154.54 m, displaying oxidized Cambrian Gold Hill Formation brecciated marbles with quartz-calcite epithermal veins.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/305095_5e645079f465d834_012full.jpg

Figure 7. Cross-section B-B', showing gold grades with reported intervals highlighted.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9779/305095_5e645079f465d834_014full.jpg

Black Mammoth Results:
26MN-102: This drill hole contains one interval within the Cambrian Gold Hill Formation. The interval of 0.44 g/t gold over 3.75 m from 398.83 m is hosted within fine grained clastic meta-sediments.

QA/QC

HQ sized diamond drill core samples were cut in halves, then bagged and secured with security tags to ensure integrity during transportation to the Reno, NV, Paragon Geochemical facility or the Elko, NV, MSALABS facility for preparation. For quality assurance ("QA"), unmarked coarse blanks, unmarked certified reference materials, and requested laboratory duplicates were inserted into the sampling sequence. QA samples were systematically inserted into each batch of samples, amounting to approximately 10% of the run of samples. Samples were analyzed for gold using a two-cycle PhotonAssayTM analysis method (~500 g) of crushed material (70% passing 2 mm). All Paragon Geochemical and MSALABS facilities comply with ISO 17025:2017.

About the Manhattan District

Manhattan, located in the Walker Lane Trend of Nevada, USA, is road accessible and lies approximately 20 kilometers south of the operating Round Mountain Gold Mine (https://www.kinross.com/operations/default.aspx#americas-roundmountain), which has produced more than 15 million ounces of gold. For the first time, the Company has consolidated Manhattan's past-producing mines under a single entity that holds valuable permitting and water rights. Historically, Manhattan has produced approximately 700,000 ounces of gold from high-grade placer and lode operations dating from the late 1890s through to the mid-2000s.¹ The maiden mineral resource estimate (the "Maiden MRE") covering the Goldwedge and Manhattan Pit areas of Manhattan is comprised of 18,343,000 tonnes grading 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 740,000 oz contained gold in the inferred category.²

A historical mineral resource estimate (the "Historical MRE") covers the Black Mammoth, April Fool, Hooligan, Keystone, and Jumbo areas of Manhattan and comprises 1,652,325 tonnes grading 5.89 g/t gold for a total of 303,949 oz contained gold.³ The deposit is interpreted as a low-sulfidation, epithermal, gold-rich system situated adjacent to the Tertiary-aged Manhattan caldera in the Southern Toquima Range of Nevada. A "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") has not done sufficient work to make the Historical MRE current, and the Company is not treating the Historical MRE as current.

Notes

Adjacent Properties: The Company has no interest in, or rights to, any of the adjacent properties mentioned, including the Round Mountain Gold Mine, and exploration results on adjacent properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's properties. Any references to exploration results on adjacent properties are provided for information only and do not imply any certainty of achieving similar results on the Company's properties.

Historical Data: This news release includes historical information that has been reviewed by the Company's qualified person. The Company's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this presentation. The Company encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these data and/or results.

Third-Party Mineral Projects: These deposits are cited solely for geological context. The Company cautions that these properties are not necessarily adjacent to, nor does the Company or have any interest in or control over them. Although certain geological features may be similar, there is no assurance that mineralization comparable to these deposits will be discovered on any of the Company's properties. Information regarding the aforementioned deposits is taken from publicly available sources and technical reports believed to be reliable but has not been independently verified by the Company. The Company encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these data and/or results.

Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE): All scientific and technical information relating to Manhattan pertaining to Maiden MRE contained in this news release is derived from the Technical Report dated April 23, 2026 (with an effective date of June 4, 2025) titled "Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report" (the "Technical Report") prepared by Matthew R. Dumala, P.Eng (BC) of Archer Cathro Geological (US) Ltd., Patrick Loury, M.Sc., CPG (AIPG) of Daniel Kunz & Associates, Annaliese Miller, LG (WA) of Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. and Art Ibrado, PhD, PE (AZ) of Fort Lowell Consulting PPLC. The information contained herein in respect of the Maiden MRE is subject to all of the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in the Technical Report and reference should be made to the full text of the Technical Report, a copy of which has been filed with the applicable securities regulators and is available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

Historical MRE: A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to make the Historical MRE current, and the Company is not treating the Historical MRE as current.The Company considers the Historical MRE relevant as it demonstrates the presence of significant gold mineralization across multiple zones within Manhattan; however, its reliability is uncertain because it was prepared prior to the adoption of the current CIM Definition Standards and current QA/QC practices. The Historical MRE provides limited disclosure of assumptions, parameters, estimation methods, cutoff grades, and QA/QC protocols, and therefore these cannot be fully verified by the Company. The categories used in the historical estimate predate, and are not directly comparable to, current CIM Definition Standards, and the Company is not treating the Historical MRE as a current Mineral Resource Estimate. To upgrade and verify the Historical MRE in order to make it a current Mineral Resource Estimate, the Company would be required to undertake confirmatory drilling, modern QA/QC sampling, validation and digitization of historical datasets and updated geological modeling followed by the preparation of a new Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101. The Company encourages readers to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating the Historical MRE.

All scientific and technical information relating to Manhattan pertaining to the Historical MRE contained in this news release is derived from the Technical Report dated May 1997 titled "Exploration and Pre-Production Mine Development, Manhattan District Project, Nye County" (the "Historical Technical Report") prepared by New Concept Mining, Inc. The information contained herein in respect of the Historical MRE is subject to all the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in the Historical Technical Report and reference should be made to the full text of the Historical Technical Report.

References: (1) Strachan, D. G., and Master, T. D., 2005: Update and Revision of the Gold Wedge Project Development, Nye County. Report prepared for Nevada; Royal Standard Minerals, Inc. and dated March 31, 2005; (2) Dumala, M. R., and Lowry, P., 2025: Mineral Resource Estimate and NI 43-101 Technical Report, Manhattan Property, Nye County, Nevada. Report prepared for Scorpio Gold Corporation and dated October 23, 2025 (with an effective date of June 4, 2025); and (3) Berry, A., and Willard, P., 1997: "Exploration and Pre-Production Mine Development, Manhattan District Project, Nye County". Report prepared for New Concept Mining, Inc. and dated May 1997.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Thomas Poitras, P. Geo., Chief Geologist of Scorpio Gold, a "Qualified Person", as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Verification included review of laboratory certificates, review of field logs and chain-of-custody records, inspection of blank/standard/duplicate performance, and review of collar and down-hole survey data. No limitations or failures to verify were identified.

About Scorpio Gold Corp.

Scorpio Gold holds a 100% interest in the Manhattan District located in the Walker Lane Trend of Nevada, USA. Scorpio Gold's Manhattan District is ~4,780-hectares and comprises the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge Mine, with a 400 ton per day maximum capacity gravity mill, and four past-producing pits that were acquired from Kinross in 2021 (see news release dated March 25, 2021 https://scorpiogold.com/news/scorpio-gold-closes-purchase-of-kinross-manhattan-property-nye-county-nevada/). The consolidated Manhattan District presents an exciting late-stage exploration opportunity, with over 140,000 metres of historical drilling, significant resource potential, and valuable permitting and water rights.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Connect with Scorpio Gold:
Email | Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | X | YouTube
To register for investor updates please visit: scorpiogold.com 
(TSXV: SGN) (OTCQB: SRCRF) (FSE: RY9)

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: the timing, scope and interpretation of assay results; potential for resource growth and discovery; the potential continuity, extent, grade and characteristics of mineralization along the Reliance Trend, Black Mammoth, Gap Zone, Zanzibar Trend and Mustang Hill; the intended follow-up exploration activities and timing thereof; the Company's exploration plans and objectives; expected future drilling programmes; anticipated timing of future disclosures and announcements; and other statements that are not historical facts. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including: that the Company will be able to obtain sufficient financing to complete planned exploration activities; that the Company will be able to obtain necessary permits and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; that exploration results will be consistent with management's expectations; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; that equipment and qualified personnel will be available when required; and that the Company's interpretations of geological data are accurate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations, which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions; the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties, including uncertainties related to the interpretation of drill results and other geological data; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with extensive government regulation and changes in domestic and foreign laws and regulations that could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; uncertainties related to obtaining necessary permits and regulatory approvals; risks related to the Company's ability to retain key personnel; environmental risks and hazards; title matters and surface rights issues; competition in the mining industry; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's public filings.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305095

Source: Scorpio Gold Corp

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Key Takeaways Target's Roundel retail media business helped support profitability in the first quarter.Advertising revenues rose to $246 million from $163 million, driven by advertiser demand.Target's gross margin improved 80 basis points to 29%, aided by advertising revenue growth. Target Corporation’s (TGT - Free Report) first-quarter fiscal 2026 performance highlighted an increasingly important contributor that extends beyond merchandise sales. The company's Roundel retail media business continued to gain momentum, reinforcing the value of its growing portfolio of higher-margin revenue streams. While comparable sales, digital growth and traffic drew most of the attention, Roundel quietly played a meaningful role in supporting profitability during the quarter.

Non-merchandise revenues increased nearly 25% in the first quarter, driven by strong growth in Roundel advertising revenues, Target Circle 360 membership revenues and the Target+ marketplace. Advertising revenues alone climbed to $246 million from $163 million in the prior-year period, reflecting continued advertiser demand for Target's retail media platform. The company also noted that Roundel advertising services are recognized either as net sales or as offsets to operating costs, depending on the advertising arrangement, allowing the business to support earnings in multiple ways.

The profitability impact was evident in the quarter's margin performance. Target reported an 80-basis-point improvement in gross margin to 29%, citing growth in advertising and other non-merchandise revenues alongside supply-chain productivity and lower markdowns.

During the first-quarter earnings call, management also identified Roundel as one of the company's high-margin revenue streams that contributed to the stronger gross margin performance, underscoring that retail media is becoming more than an ancillary business. As advertisers increasingly seek direct access to Target's shoppers, Roundel appears to be evolving into an important earnings lever that complements the retailer's core merchandising operations rather than depending solely on additional product sales.

Walmart and Kroger Are Scaling Retail Media Like TargetWalmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) continues to strengthen its retail media platform as a high-margin growth driver. Walmart highlighted that Walmart Connect delivered another quarter of strong advertising growth, supported by expanding advertiser demand, richer first-party customer data and deeper omnichannel capabilities. Walmart also continues to integrate advertising with its marketplace and e-commerce ecosystem, reinforcing the role of retail media in driving profitability beyond traditional merchandise sales. These initiatives indicate that Walmart is increasingly leveraging its digital ecosystem to generate faster-growing, higher-margin revenue streams alongside its core retail business.

The Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) is pursuing a similar strategy through Kroger Precision Marketing. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Kroger reported that Kroger Precision Marketing profit increased more than 20%, driven by stronger on-site customer traffic and higher advertiser commitments. Kroger also said its e-commerce business, including media, reached profitability for the first time, underscoring the growing contribution of advertising to earnings. Kroger plans to expand AI-powered advertising capabilities and deepen partnerships with platforms such as Google and TikTok, positioning itself to further scale its high-margin retail media business.

What the Latest Metrics Say About TargetTarget has seen its shares rally 20.9% over the past six months compared with the industry’s rise of 2.1%. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Target's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 14.86, lower than the industry’s ratio of 30.28. However, TGT is trading above its 12-month median level of 13.52.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 2.9% rise in sales and 6.4% growth in earnings.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

In recent years, three major retailers have soared. Walmart, Amazon, and Costco have climbed -- Walmart in the triple-digits and the other two in the double-digits -- as customers rushed to them for deals on their everyday needs as well as discretionary purchases. One big name, however -- another company selling the same product categories – has been missing from that list.

And that was Target (TGT 2.44%). Though Target saw revenue soar in early pandemic days, the company struggled to grow in the years to follow. This happened amid a variety of challenges, from theft in its stores to inventory problems. All of this impacted the stock price, leaving Target down 40% over the past five years.

But this year may mark an important turning point. Longtime Target executive Michael Fiddelke took over the role of chief executive officer and put into place a plan to spark long-term growth. Investors seem to like the progress so far as the stock has soared more than 40% this year -- that's compared to gains of 10% and 3% for Costco and Walmart. And Amazon stock has advanced less than 1%.

How long can Target stock continue to crush its retail peers? Let's find out.

Image source: Getty Images.

Target's tough times As mentioned, Target offered investors a bumpy ride over the past few years. Shoppers complained about long wait times at the register and a lack of certain items in the stores. Theft in some stores also weighed on earnings. Meanwhile, during times of increasing inflation, shoppers more easily turned to value-focused options such as Walmart.

It's important to remember a few very positive points, though. Target grew revenue by more than $20 billion from 2020 through 2022 -- and while it's failed to increase revenue further, it's been able to maintain the gains, with annual revenue of a little over $100 billion.

TGT Revenue (Annual) data by YCharts

Target also made impressive gains in its digital business and in in-store fulfillment -- the company generally relies on its stores to fulfill orders rather than shipping from a warehouse. Finally, Target has built out a solid array of about 40 owned brands -- they bring in more than $30 billion in annual revenue. These are important as owned brands are higher-margin for a retailer than national brands.

All of these points are a great starting point for a turnaround -- and that is what might be taking place right now. Fiddelke's plan involves overhauling in-store displays, strengthening the assortment of products, training employees to deliver a better guest experience, and making more use of technology like AI to improve the overall Target experience.

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Target's recent successes In the first quarter, Target reported several successes. Product innovation helped drive revenue growth, generating a 6.7% increase to more than $25 billion. And the retailer saw growth in both physical stores and digital sales -- and growth across all six merchandise categories. The company also reported improvements in product availability in stores.

Based on these results, Target increased its full-year revenue forecast by two percentage points, with expectations for a gain of about 4%. And Target forecasts earnings per share at the high end of its earlier $7.50 to $8.50 range.

The company has noted that the second quarter's comparison period will be more difficult than the "year-earlier" period for the first quarter. And Target also is monitoring consumer sentiment as it remains close to a record low. These elements could prove to be headwinds in the second quarter. Meanwhile, it's important to note that Target is very early in its recovery story, so we could see ups and downs in the months to come -- and it may take a few quarters for Target to deliver significant results.

So, now, let's get back to our question: How long can Target stock continue crushing Amazon, Walmart, and Costco? Target's recovery has a lot farther to go, meaning it's not too late for investors to get in on the stock and ideally accompany Target as it announces progress and earnings growth in the quarters to come.

Meanwhile, Target is considerably cheaper than its retail peers.

TGT PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

All of this supports the idea of buying Target stock right now and holding on as the company's recovery unfolds. And that means Target could easily continue outperforming its fellow retail giants at least in the months to come.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 30, 2026) - Rokmaster Resources Corp. (TSXV: RKR) (OTCQB: RKMSF) (FSE: 1RR1) ("Rokmaster" or "the Company") is pleased to announce results from diamond drilling on the Hanson Property completed in April 2026.

The Hanson Property is a part of the Company's Nechako Project, which totals 28,238 hectares (282 km2) across four properties located in west-central British Columbia. The Nechako Project features multiple exploration targets for significant porphyry Cu-(Mo±Au) mineralization and high-grade Au-Ag vein systems in the southern portion of the productive Stikine terrane (Figure 1).

A small inaugural drill program, totalling 393.0 m in two drillholes, tested the Wilson Target within the Hanson Property. This program represents essentially the first drill test of a strong and broad soil molybdenum anomaly and coincident IP anomaly initially detected by Endako Mines in 1973. Endako Mines did complete two shallow drillholes in 1978 after a five-year hiatus in exploration. Drillholes H9 and H10 were completed to depths of only 62.5 m and 37.8 m, respectively, and were directed away from the central high resistivity anomaly. (Figure 2).

Field work completed in 2025 found that the Stern Creek granodiorite underlying the Wilson Zone hosts potassic secondary biotite alteration related to narrow mm-scale vein-hosted molybdenite mineralization on surface. An outcrop was found near the center of the Wilson Zone geochemical and geophysical anomaly, with brecciated clasts of Stern Creek granodiorite and porphyritic quartz monzonite, the primary target for this drill program.

Drillhole H26-02 intersected intrusive breccia with meter-scale intervals of foliated granodiorite and non-foliated porphyritic quartz monzonite from top of the hole until a larger stock of quartz monzonite was encountered between 30.6 and 44.0 m. Below the lower contact of that unit, the remainder of the drillhole consisted of foliated granodiorite with varying degrees of chlorite alteration, persistent potassic alteration, and molybdenite mineralization hosted in quartz B-veins down to the end of the drillhole.

Notable molybdenite mineralization in dense cm-scale quartz veins was intersected in drillhole H26-02 with an assay of 0.518% Mo (0.864% MoS2(1)) over 1.20 m (59.0-60.2 m). The surrounding interval near the lower contact of the quartz monzonite also hosted cm-scale quartz-molybdenite veins and elevated assays with a weighted average of 0.051% Mo (0.085% MoS2) over 18.2 m (42.0-60.2 m).

For comparison, the average grade in the 2025 mineral resource estimate(2) on the currently inactive Endako Mine (Canada's largest Mo Mine), located 23 km south of the Hanson Property, is 0.072% MoS2 for 335.6 Mt in the measured and indicated category. This estimate used a cut-off grade of 0.040% MoS2 and a price of USD$22.50/lb Mo. Rokmaster also intersected a larger interval of 0.023% Mo (0.038% MoS2) over 71.0 m (42.0-113.0 m) cored in drillhole H26-02. This interval is close to the projected restart cut-off grade used in the Endako Mine PEA.

Drillhole H26-01 was collared approximately 900 m west of drillhole H26-02 and intersected Hanson Phase porphyritic tonalite hosting ~5% disseminated pyrite mineralization. This drillhole tested a circular magnetic low feature, elevated gold in surface samples, and the less exposed western portion of high chargeability anomaly. Drillhole H26-01 returned elevated copper results of 500-1,600 ppm Cu over meter-scale intervals throughout the hole, further confirming the pyrite halo around the core of the Wilson Zone.

There is potential for porphyry-style mineralization on the Hanson Property, at the Wilson Zone and at the Cyr Zone 2.5 km to the north. The Cyr Zone has similar geology with strongly sericite-altered and pyritic Stern Creek granodiorite hosting elevated gold, silver, copper, and zinc as indicated in historical sampling and drilling, which may indicate a less eroded porphyry system. The Buckley Zone, approximately 4.0 km west of the Wilson Zone, is defined by a large, strong molybdenum anomaly in soil samples taken over the Hanson Phase tonalite.

A new 1,534 hectare mineral claim called the Chaplin Property was recently approved 8 km south of the Hanson Property. The Chaplin Property is bisected by the mainline Trout Road and characterized by moderate overburden cover over mapped Stern Creek granodiorite. A 1969 induced polarization survey identified a strong IP anomaly(3) that is coincident with a magnetic low that remains undrilled (Figure 3).

John Mirko, President and CEO, comments:

"This first-pass, low-cost drill program at the Wilson Zone has added good value to the Hanson Property by intersecting notable porphyry-style molybdenite mineralization. The high-grade interval of 0.518% Mo over 1.20 m in drillhole H26-02 demonstrates that the system's ability to locally concentrate mineralization in higher-grade vein corridors within a broader envelope of lower-grade mineralization is similar to what has been described at the Endako Mine. The location of the 18.2 m interval returning 0.051% Mo, which exceeds the average grade at the Endako Mine, also supports further exploration potential in the geological context of the Wilson Zone. With extensive road access and nearby infrastructure we can continue advancing the Wilson Zone and the other underexplored Hanson Property targets efficiently. We thank all our contractors, including Hy-Tech Drilling, for safely and efficiently completing this small drill program. Intersecting this porphyry-style mineralization in the Wilson Zone is an excellent start and we look forward to additional drilling on prospective porphyry targets on the Nechako Project later this year."

Footnote 1: Conversion of (% Mo) to (% MoS2) uses a factor of 1.668

Footnote 2: National Instrument NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Endako Mine Restart. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). November 21, 2025. Completed by A-Z Mining Professionals Limited for Moon River Moly Ltd. Sourced from SEDAR filings.

Footnote 3: Chaplin. R. E. 1969. Geophysical Assessment Report on the TAT mineral claims. ARIS Report #2283

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Eric Titley, P.Geo., who is independent of Rokmaster and who acts as Rokmaster's Qualified Person.

For more information please contact

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

Rokmaster Resources Corp.

John Mirko,
President & Chief Executive Officer.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term in defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," 'projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: receipt of regulatory approval with respect to the Hanson Property transaction; risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from Rokmaster's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303435

Source: Rokmaster Resources Corp.

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Most of the Street holds more moderate views SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK | SNDK Price Prediction), with the consensus 12-month target sitting at $1,912.04. Then Citi’s Asiya Merchant raised her target to $2,500 from $2,025 on June 25, 2026, maintaining a Buy landed and reset the ceiling. Consensus implies roughly flat from here. Citi sees $500 more to go per SNDK share.

But can SNDK realistically reach $2,500 by the end of 2026? The setup is unusual: a memory company posting hyperscaler-grade growth, zero long-term debt after retiring $650 million in obligations, and a freshly authorized buyback running alongside Q4 guidance that implies sequential acceleration.

For long-term investors and retirement accounts, the question is whether the structural NAND cycle has truly changed, or whether this is another cyclical peak dressed up as secular growth.

Asiya Merchant’s $2,500 SNDK prediction Citi analyst Asiya Merchant’s call hinges on Micron’s blowout quarter signaling the NAND market stays tight through 2027. The fundamentals back it. SanDisk just posted revenue of $5.95 billion, a 25.68% beat, with datacenter revenue up 645% YoY and 233% sequentially. Gross margin expanded from 22.5% to 78.4% YoY. That is the mechanic Citi is pricing. Datacenter revenue surged 645% year-over-year to $1.47 billion, Edge climbed 295% to $3.66B, and even the Consumer segment grew 44% to $820 million. This is broad-based strength that distinguishes this cycle from prior NAND upturns driven by a single end market.

Furthermore, CEO David Goeckeler framed the quarter as “a fundamental inflection point for Sandisk — where our technology leadership is enabling a deliberate shift in our mix toward the highest-value end markets, led by Datacenter.” He also flagged the company’s “new business model built on multi-year customer engagements backed by firm financial commitments,” which he said is “driving structurally higher and more durable earnings power.” Five such New Business Model agreements have already been signed: three in Q3 and two in Q4. This gave Citi rare multi-year visibility into a name that historically traded on spot-pricing whims.

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Key drivers of SNDK stock performance Structural NAND shortage. Supply tightness is expected to persist through 2028. That tightness acts as a moat that protects pricing across the multi-year window retirement accounts depend on. Industry watchers expect the imbalance to persist through 2028, supported by disciplined capex from SanDisk, Kioxia, and the rest of the NAND oligopoly. AI datacenter demand. Hyperscaler capex plus KV-cache offload to SSDs put NAND at the center of inference infrastructure. Five multi-year customer agreements signed give rare earnings visibility for a memory name. The ramp of BiCS8 NAND and the rollout of High Bandwidth Flash (HBF) for AI inference further expand the addressable market beyond traditional storage. Cash generation. $2.99 billion of free cash flow last quarter, zero long-term debt, and a fresh buyback authorization fund the next phase without dilution. With zero long-term debt and a newly authorized share repurchase program, management has optionality on capital returns that few memory peers can match. What will it take for SNDK to reach $2,500? SanDisk’s implied market capitalization would be roughly 25% more than the current $300 billion market cap. For that to clear, three conditions matter.

NAND pricing has to hold into 2027 and beyond, which would validate the structural-shortage thesis. Q4 guidance of $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion in revenue and Non-GAAP EPS of $30 to $33 needs to land at or above the high end, with non-GAAP EPS of $30.00–$33.00 and gross margin of 79.0%–81.0% confirming that pricing power is sticking. The New Business Model contracts must scale toward the $42 billion in committed supply already cited by analysts, locking in multi-year revenue at premium margins. The primary risk is valuation. Trailing P/E sits near 70x, the stock has dropped about 13.6% in a single session during a Korea-led tech selloff, and insider selling has appeared at the highs. Other risks include reliance on the Kioxia strategic relationship, customer concentration among hyperscalers, evolving trade and tariff policy, and cybersecurity exposure inherent to large-scale semiconductor operations.

SanDisk only separated from Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) in February 2025, so the standalone operating track record is short. Therefore, investors are effectively underwriting a thesis based on a handful of quarters.

Still, if the shortage thesis holds and the New Business Model contracts deliver the visibility management has promised, Citi’s $2,500 is defensible. Moreover, the long-term setup remains intact for investors who can stomach the volatility.

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It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Target (TGT - Free Report) . Shares have added about 3.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Target due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Target Beats Q1 Earnings Estimates on Strong Sales, Raises ViewTarget reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year. The company witnessed broad-based momentum across merchandise categories and sales channels, aided by improved traffic trends, solid digital performance and continued strength in high-margin non-merchandise businesses. Management also raised its fiscal 2026 sales outlook following the better-than-expected start to the year.

Target’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics & InsightsTarget reported adjusted earnings of $1.71 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41 by 21.3%. The bottom line also increased 31.5% from adjusted earnings of $1.30 reported in the year-ago period. The big-box retailer generated net sales of $25,443 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24,460 million by 4%. The metric increased 6.7% year over year from $23,846 million.

Merchandise sales rose 6.4% to $24,894 million, while non-merchandise sales surged 24.6%, driven by strong growth in Roundel advertising revenues, Target Circle 360 membership income and the Target+ marketplace. Advertising revenues climbed to $246 million from $163 million in the prior-year quarter.

Meanwhile, comparable sales increased 5.6% against a decline of 3.8% in the year-ago quarter. The improvement reflected a 4.4% rise in traffic and a 1.1% increase in average transaction amount. Comparable store sales rose 4.7%, while comparable digital sales jumped 8.9%, led by more than 27% growth in same-day delivery powered by Target Circle 360.

All six core merchandising categories registered year-over-year sales growth in the quarter. Food & Beverage, Beauty and Household Essentials remained key growth drivers, while Hardlines, Apparel and Home categories also posted gains amid improving consumer demand trends.

TGT’s Margin PerformanceGross margin expanded 80 basis points to 29% from 28.2% last year. The improvement was driven by lower markdown rates, supply-chain productivity gains, and growth in advertising and other high-margin revenues, partially offset by higher product costs.

SG&A expense rate increased to 21.9% from the prior-year GAAP rate of 19.3%. Excluding interchange fee settlement gains in the year-ago quarter, adjusted SG&A expense rate increased modestly from 21.7%. The increase reflected higher compensation costs, additional field training hours, higher incentive compensation, increased marketing expenses and planned investments in capital projects.

Adjusted operating income increased 29.1% year over year to $1,135 million, while adjusted operating margin expanded to 4.5% from 3.7% in the prior-year quarter.

Target’s Financial Health SnapshotTarget ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $3,534 million compared with $5,488 million at fiscal 2025-end. Inventory remained well controlled at $12,317 million versus $13,048 million in the prior-year quarter. Long-term debt and other borrowings stood at $14,282 million, while shareholders’ investment totaled $16,395 million.

Capital expenditures increased 31% year over year to $1 billion, primarily driven by investments in new stores and remodel activity.

The company paid dividends of $516 million in the quarter. It did not repurchase shares in the fourth quarter and has approximately $8.3 billion remaining under its August 2021 authorization.

For the trailing 12 months, after-tax return on invested capital was 12.4%, down from 15.1% in the prior-year period.

A Sneak Peek Into TGT’s FY26 OutlookThe company raised its fiscal 2026 net sales outlook following stronger-than-expected first-quarter performance. Target now expects net sales growth of around 4% for the current fiscal year compared with its earlier expectation of about 2% growth. The company also continues to anticipate net sales growth in every quarter of the year.

Management expects the fiscal 2026 operating income margin rate to improve by more than 20 basis points from the adjusted operating margin rate of 4.6% reported in fiscal 2025. The company expects GAAP and adjusted earnings per share near the high end of the previously guided range of $7.50-$8.50.

Management emphasized that it remains focused on disciplined investments in store operations, technology capabilities, fulfillment services and merchandising initiatives while maintaining flexibility in an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Target has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a score of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Target has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Key Takeaways Target plans about $5B in 2026 capex for new stores, remodels, supply-chain facilities and tech upgrades.Target opened its 2,000th store, advanced 100 remodels and plans more than 30 new stores this year.Target's Q1 gross margin rose 80 basis points to 29%, while inventory turns improved more than 10%. Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) kicked off fiscal 2026 with an aggressive capital expenditure of $1 billion during the first quarter. This represents a substantial 31% increase compared to the prior year, fueled by heightened investments in new stores and comprehensive store remodels. The retail giant plans to maintain this momentum by deploying approximately $5 billion for the full year, with funds directed toward new stores, remodels, supply-chain facilities and technology upgrades.

The early financial indicators provide positive signals regarding asset productivity and operational execution. Target achieved a notable milestone by opening its 2,000th store while advancing more than 100 remodel projects. The company plans to open more than 30 stores this year and intends to add about 300 new stores by 2035. Management highlighted that remodel investments are being prioritized in food and other frequency-driven categories where returns have been strongest.

The supply chain is another major recipient of capital. Target recently opened a food distribution center in Colorado and a receiving facility in Houston that is expected to process roughly 25 million cartons annually. These investments are designed to improve inventory availability, increase network capacity and reduce operational inefficiencies. These improvements are particularly important because Target fulfills more than 95% of sales through its stores.

Early indicators suggest these investments are already supporting performance. First-quarter gross margin expanded 80 basis points to 29%, aided in part by supply-chain productivity improvements. Inventory productivity also improved, with inventory turns rising more than 10% year over year.

Still, the ultimate measure of success will be whether these projects generate returns above Target’s current capital efficiency levels. For the trailing 12 months through the first quarter, after-tax return on invested capital fell to 12.4% from 15.1% a year ago. Management remains confident that driving sustainable top-line growth through enhanced physical and digital capabilities will ultimately fuel margin expansion and optimize long-term capital efficiency.

How Dollar General and Costco Compare to TargetDollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) is investing heavily to drive long-term returns through store enhancements, technology and expansion initiatives. In first-quarter fiscal 2026, Dollar General spent $352 million on capital projects, including store remodels, relocations, new store openings and technology upgrades. The company completed 659 Project Renovate remodels and 711 Project Elevate remodels during the quarter while reaffirming plans for roughly 4,730 real-estate projects in fiscal 2026. DG envisions capital expenditures between $1.4 and $1.5 billion for fiscal 2026.

Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) continues to invest aggressively in warehouse expansion, digital capabilities and member experience. Costco expects capital expenditures of roughly $6.5 billion this year to support new warehouses, remodel existing locations and enhance its digital platform. The company is targeting more than 30 net new warehouse openings annually in the coming years, reflecting confidence in the long-term returns from these investments. Strong membership growth and nearly 90% renewal rates further support Costco’s investment strategy.

What the Latest Metrics Say About TargetTarget has seen its shares jump 13.7% over the past three months compared with the industry’s rise of 2.1%. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Target's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 15.27, lower than the industry’s ratio of 31.26. However, TGT is trading above its 12-month median level of 13.41. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively. The consensus mark for earnings has risen 13 cents to $8.35 per share over the past 30 days.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.