Company Profile and HistoryTarget Corporation is an upscale discount store providing high-quality, on-trend merchandise at attractive prices in a clean, spacious, and guest-friendly store. Target Corporation also operates its own online business at Target.com. According to the company's historical report, Target began as Marshall Field & Co in 1881, then in 1902 George Dayton opened a Goodfellows in downtown Minneapolis. A year later they established their first dry goods store, and in 1911 they became known as the Dayton Company. In 1962 they opened their first Target store selling discounted merchandise. In 1967, the Dayton Company made its first public offering of common stock, and then in 1969 it merged with the J.L. Hudson Company to become the Dayton Hudson Corporation. The seventies brought bigger and better things for the company; in 1975 Target became the number one revenue producer for the Dayton Hudson Corporation. Dayton Hudson Corporation became the seventh largest U.S. retailer in 1978 when it acquired Mervyn's. In the 1980s, Target was able to introduce electronic scanning at checkout to become more efficient in all of its stores by speeding up distribution center delivery processes. The 1990s brought great success for Target as they acquired Marshall Field's and opened their first Target Greatland in 1990. In 1995, with the introduction of their new credit card, they also opened their first SuperTarget in Omaha, Nebraska. The new millennium brought a major change for the company as in 2000 it changed its name from Dayton Hudson Corporation to Target Corporation. In 2004 they sold Marshall Field's and Mervyn's to focus exclusively on Target. ...... middle of paper ...... FO and Executive Vice President. Each department, for example: Financial Services, Human Resources, Retail, Real Estate Development, and Technology, all have their own select executive vice presidents who oversee those operations. Analysis and Rating In our view, we find the annual report to be presented in an investor-friendly manor. Target presents much of the information in the way they sell their product, in a fun, entertaining and modern environment. The annual report was aimed primarily at small investors and then at larger companies. There were more explanations in the financial statements than you normally see. The amount of detail provided in an entertaining manner shows their commitment to the customer and investor as they continue to try to take down the 600 pound gorilla, Wal-Mart..