http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/business/target-lowes-staples-q3-earnings.html 2014-11-19 15:37:01 Target’s Results Signal a Corner Turned, as Profit and Sales Rise The retailer appeared to be recovering from the effects of last year’s breach, in which the personal data of tens of millions was stolen. === Target On Wednesday, Target said it expected full-year earnings per share of $3.15 to $3.25, tightened from earlier estimates of $3.10 to $3.30. In the third quarter, adjusted earnings per share dropped 3 percent to 54 cents, and sales rose 2.8 percent to $17.7 billion. “We’re pleased with our third-quarter financial results, which were driven by better-than-expected performance in our U.S. segment,” Brian Cornell, Target’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. Mr. Cornell, a former executive of PepsiCo who “In Canada, we’ve made improvements to our operations, pricing and assortment in time for the holiday season, and we’re eager to measure how our guests respond,” Mr. Cornell said. Target’s results came after a mix of retailers reported lackluster results in the third quarter, hurt by slow sales growth, warmer weather and the persistent uptick of online shopping. This holiday season is expected to be especially competitive, as brick-and-mortar stores compete with their web rivals for fewer dollars. Staples met Wall Street expectations on Wednesday, On Thursday,