Target's CEO, Michael Fiddelke, defended his insider expertise during a Q&A session with financial analysts and top executives, defending his ability to get the company growing again. The retailer, which started to see sales decline in 2024, had been seeing a decline since 2024, but Fidelke was tapped by the board of directors last summer to head a recovery effort. Some investors had suggested that the board should have hired someone from outside the firm instead. Fiddeke, who has spent his entire career at Target, argued that incumbency is a real advantage and that he is proud to bring that to the company. The company's annual Financial Community Meeting was held at its headquarters in Minneapolis. Despite the recent sales decline, Target's stock price dropped in August and continued to decline after eliminating 800 jobs in October. The firm's financial performance has improved, with a healthy Q4 growth in February and a strong Q4 period of around $120 per month.