Target, Inc.

Although Walmart International has completed three acquisitions during the past 12 months, it is actually the least preferred method of growth, according to international division CFO Cathy Smith. Just imagine if acquisitions were the top priority.

Smith’s comments about acquisitions came earlier this week at a Raymond James and Associates investor conference where she appeared with treasurer Jeff Davis and detailed four dimensions of Walmart’s international growth strategy.

It seems like forever ago that Walmart stopped reporting monthly sales and providing regular guidance updates, which is why one comment by Walmart CFO Charles Holley stood out above all the others he made this week at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer & Retail Conference.

Fortune is out with its list of the “50 Most Admired Companies,” and Walmart landed at number 24, which is only a big deal if you buy into the notion espoused by those who compiled the list that it is the definitive report card on corporate reputations.

It is not, at least as far as retailers are concerned for the simple reason the methodology doesn’t take into account the views of shoppers whose perceptions of retail companies matter far more than the folks Fortune surveyed to arrive at their most admired ranking.

New York -- Target Corp. will complete remodels at more than 100 general merchandise Target stores by March 25. The locations will be the first of three cycles of remodels for Target this year. In total, the chain expects to remodel 230 general merchandise Target stores to incorporate the expanded fresh food layout in 2012.

The most exciting news coming to Target stores this year isn’t some new designer exclusive or enhancement to REDcard Rewards, but rather a return to operational normalcy as the PFresh remodeling program winds down. This phenomenon won’t generate the same publicity as a Jason Wu pop-up store, but the impact on shoppers and sales promises to be greater.

Target has some ambitious growth plans for the next five years, and to help suppliers participate in that growth Retailing Today has partnered with the consulting firm Sales Is Not Simple to host a unique event on April 26 in downtown Minneapolis.

Incoming Target CFO John Mulligan and outgoing CFO Doug Scovanner participated in a Target sponsored meeting last Friday at the New York stock exchange. The event gave Wall Street analysts an opportunity to get to know Mulligan, and the consensus is the guy is a strong replacement for longtime CFO Scovanner whose tenure ends March 30.

Minneapolis — Target has donated $37,500 in monetary support and product to assist with tornado relief efforts underway in the central United States. The donation includes $25,000 cash for the American Red Cross to aid their efforts and an additional $12,500 that can be used either as cash or product donations to local organizations in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri.