Readers Miss Target on Target: Poll

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Target's(TGT Quote) same-store sales results were expected to augur a strong holiday season, according to TheStreet.com's readers. But when all of last month's receipts were tallied, those results -- and our users -- proved to be decidedly off target.

About 47.8% of voters in the past week's weekly retail poll chose Target as the company whose results would have the most upside, but the retailer actually saw its monthly comparable sales slip by 0.1%, lower than the flat expectation from Wall Street.

The company revealed that while shoppers picked up lower-priced goods like food and beauty products, it's still seeing weakness with big-ticket items like electronics and sporting goods.

Earlier today, Target announced it is following rival Wal-Mart Stores'(WMT Quote) lead and further reducing prices on toys. It is also slashing prices on DVDs and books.

Nonetheless, shares of the company ended the week up 2.6% to $49.70.

More users got it right with TJX(TJX Quote), with 24.7% picking the off-pricer as a company that would see strength in October. TJX posted a 10% surge in same-store sales.