1. Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statement disclosures contained in the 2011 Form 10-K for Target Corporation (Target or the Corporation). The same accounting policies are followed in preparing quarterly financial data as are followed in preparing annual data. See the notes in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012, for those policies. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of quarterly operating results are reflected herein and are of a normal, recurring nature.

Due to the seasonal nature of our business, quarterly revenues, expenses, earnings and cash flows are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

2. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) is calculated as net earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the potentially dilutive impact of share-based awards outstanding at period end, consisting of the incremental shares assumed to be issued upon the exercise of stock options and the incremental shares assumed to be issued under performance share and restricted stock unit arrangements.

(a) Excludes 0.6 million and 6.0 million share-based awards for the three and nine months ended October 27, 2012, respectively, and 13.9 million and 15.6 million share-based awards for the three and nine months ended October 29, 2011, respectively, because their effects were antidilutive.

3. Credit Card Receivables Transaction

On October 22, 2012, we reached an agreement to sell our entire consumer credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group (TD) for cash consideration equal to the gross (par) value of the outstanding receivables at the time of closing. The sale, which is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the first half of 2013. Following close, TD will underwrite, fund and own Target Credit Card and Target Visa receivables in the U.S. TD will control risk management policies and regulatory compliance, and we will perform account servicing and primary marketing functions. We will earn a substantial portion of the profits generated by the Target Credit Card and Target Visa portfolios.

Historically, our credit card receivables were recorded at par value less an allowance for doubtful accounts. With this agreement, our receivables are now classified as held for sale and recorded at the lower of cost (par) or fair value. As a result of this change, we recorded a gain of $156 million in the third quarter of 2012. At closing, this transaction is expected to be accounted for as a sale, and the receivables will no longer be reported on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

4. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements are categorized into one of three levels based on the lowest level of significant input used: Level 1 (unadjusted quoted prices in active markets); Level 2 (observable market inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1); and Level 3 (unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data).

(a) There was one interest rate swap designated as an accounting hedge in all periods presented. See Note 8 for additional information on interest rate swaps.

(b) Company-owned life insurance investments consist of equity index funds and fixed income assets. Amounts are presented net of nonrecourse loans that are secured by some of these policies. These loan amounts were $807 million at October 27, 2012, $669 million at January 28, 2012 and $665 million at October 29, 2011.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments not measured at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The fair value of marketable securities is determined using available market prices at the reporting date and would be classified as Level 1. The fair value of debt is generally measured using a discounted cash flow analysis based on current market interest rates for similar types of financial instruments and would be classified as Level 2.

(a)  Held-to-maturity investments that are held to satisfy the regulatory requirements of Target Bank and Target National Bank.

(b) Represents the sum of nonrecourse debt collateralized by credit card receivables and unsecured debt and other borrowings, excluding unamortized swap valuation adjustments and capital lease obligations.

As of October 27, 2012, our consumer credit card receivables are recorded at the lower of cost (par) or fair value because they are classified as held for sale. We estimated the fair value of our consumer credit card portfolio to be approximately $6.0 billion using a cash flow-based, economic-profit model using Level 3 inputs, including the forecasted performance of the portfolio and a market-based discount rate. We used internal data to forecast expected payment patterns and write-offs, revenue, and operating expenses (credit EBIT yield) related to the credit card portfolio. Changes in macroeconomic conditions in the United States could affect the estimated fair value used in our lower of cost (par) or fair value assessment, which could cause gains or losses on our receivables held for sale. A one percentage point change in the forecasted credit EBIT yield would impact our fair value estimate by approximately $33 million. A one percentage point change in the forecasted discount rate would impact our fair value estimate by approximately $7 million. Refer to Note 3 for more information on our credit card receivables transaction. As of January 28, 2012 and October 29, 2011, we estimated that the fair value of our credit card receivables approximated par value.

The carrying amounts of accounts payable and certain accrued and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

5. Credit Card Receivables

Historically, our credit card receivables were recorded at par value less an allowance for doubtful accounts. Effective October 27, 2012, our consumer credit card receivables are recorded at the lower of cost (par) or fair value because they are classified as held for sale. Lower of cost (par) or fair value was determined on a segmented basis using the delinquency and credit-quality segmentation we have historically used to help determine the allowance for doubtful accounts.  Many nondelinquent balances are recorded at cost (par) because fair value exceeds cost.  Delinquent balances are generally recorded at fair value, which reflects our expectation of losses on these receivables.  Refer to Note 3 for more information on our credit card receivables transaction.

Credit card receivables are our only significant class of financing receivables. Substantially all past-due accounts accrue finance charges until they are written off. Accounts are written off when they become 180 days past due.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Historically, we recognized an allowance for doubtful accounts in an amount equal to the anticipated future write-offs of existing receivables and uncollectible finance charges and other credit-related fees. We estimated future write-offs on the entire credit card portfolio collectively based on historical experience of delinquencies, risk scores, aging trends and industry risk trends. We continue to recognize an allowance for doubtful accounts and bad debt expense within our Credit Card Segment, which allows us to evaluate the performance of the portfolio. The allowance for doubtful accounts is eliminated in consolidation to present the receivables at the lower of cost (par) or fair value.

(a) Write-offs include the principal amount of losses (excluding accrued and unpaid finance charges), and recoveries include current period collections on previously written-off balances. These amounts combined represent net write-offs.

We monitor both the credit quality and the delinquency status of the credit card receivables portfolio. We consider accounts 30 or more days past due as delinquent, and we update delinquency status daily. We also monitor risk in the portfolio by assigning internally generated scores to each account and by obtaining current FICO scores, a nationally recognized credit scoring model, for a statistically representative sample of accounts each month. The credit-quality segmentation presented below is consistent with the approach we use to determine the allowance for doubtful accounts in our Credit Card Segment.

Funding for Credit Card Receivables

As a method of providing funding for our credit card receivables, we sell, on an ongoing basis, all of our consumer credit card receivables to Target Receivables LLC (TR LLC), a wholly owned, bankruptcy remote subsidiary. TR LLC then transfers the receivables to the Target Credit Card Master Trust (the Trust), which from time to time will sell debt securities to third parties, either directly or through a related trust. These debt securities represent undivided interests in the Trust assets. TR LLC uses the proceeds from the sale of debt securities and its share of collections on the receivables to pay the purchase price of the receivables to the Corporation.

We consolidate the receivables within the Trust and any debt securities issued by the Trust, or a related trust, in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The receivables transferred to the Trust are not available to general creditors of the Corporation.

Interests in our credit card receivables issued by the Trust are accounted for as secured borrowings. Interest and principal payments are satisfied provided the cash flows from the Trust assets are sufficient and are nonrecourse to the general assets of the Corporation. If the cash flows are less than the periodic interest, the available amount, if any, is paid with respect to interest. Interest shortfalls will be paid to the extent subsequent cash flows from the assets in the Trust are sufficient. Future principal payments will be made from the third party’s pro rata share of cash flows from the Trust assets.

In March 2012, we amended the 2006/2007 Series Variable Funding Certificate to obtain additional funding of $500 million and to extend the maturity to 2013. Parties who hold the Variable Funding Certificate receive interest at a variable short-term market rate. We will repay this borrowing at par concurrent with the closing of the credit card receivables transaction described in Note 3.

6. Commitments and Contingencies

We are exposed to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, and use various methods to resolve these matters in a manner that we believe serves the best interest of our shareholders and other constituents. We believe the recorded reserves in our consolidated financial statements are adequate in light of the probable and estimable liabilities. We do not believe that any of the currently identified claims or litigation will be material to our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

7. Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt

We obtain short-term financing from time to time under our commercial paper program, a form of notes payable.

In June 2012, we issued $1.5 billion of unsecured fixed rate debt at 4.0% that matures in July 2042. Proceeds from this issuance were used for general corporate purposes.

8. Derivative Financial Instruments

Historically our derivative instruments have primarily consisted of interest rate swaps used to mitigate interest rate risk. We have counterparty credit risk with large global financial institutions resulting from our derivative instruments. We monitor this concentration of counterparty credit risk on an ongoing basis. See Note 4 for a description of the fair value measurement of our derivative instruments and their classification on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

As of October 27, 2012 and October 29, 2011, one swap was designated as a fair value hedge for accounting purposes, and no ineffectiveness was recognized during the three or nine months ended October 27, 2012 or October 29, 2011.

Periodic payments, valuation adjustments and amortization of gains or losses on our derivative contracts had the following effect on our Consolidated Statements of Operations:

The amount remaining on unamortized hedged debt valuation gains from terminated or de-designated interest rate swaps that will be amortized into earnings over the remaining lives of the underlying debt totaled $84 million, $111 million and $122 million, at October 27, 2012, January 28, 2012 and October 29, 2011, respectively.

9. Income Taxes

We file a U.S. federal income tax return and income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for years before 2011 and, with few exceptions, are no longer subject to state and local or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2003.

At October 27, 2012, foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $470 million (resulting in a $125 million deferred tax asset) are available to offset future income. These carryforwards expire in 2032 and are expected to be fully utilized prior to expiration.

It is reasonably possible that the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease during the next twelve months; however, an estimate of the amount or range of the change cannot be made at this time.

10. Share Repurchase

We repurchase shares primarily through open market transactions under a $5 billion share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors in January 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, we completed a $10 billion share repurchase program that was authorized by our Board of Directors in November 2007.

Of the shares repurchased, a portion was delivered upon settlement of prepaid forward contracts as follows:

(a) These contracts are among the investment vehicles used to reduce our economic exposure related to our nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The details of our positions in prepaid forward contracts are provided in Note 11.

(b)  At their respective settlement dates.

11. Pension, Postretirement Health Care and Other Benefits

We have qualified defined benefit pension plans covering team members who meet age and service requirements, including in certain circumstances, date of hire. We also have unfunded nonqualified pension plans for team members with qualified plan compensation restrictions. Eligibility for, and the level of, these benefits varies depending on team members’ date of hire, length of service and/or team member compensation. Upon early retirement and prior to Medicare eligibility, team members also become eligible for certain health care benefits if they meet minimum age and service requirements and agree to contribute a portion of the cost. Effective January 1, 2009, our qualified defined benefit pension plan was closed to new participants, with limited exceptions.