By Yashaswini Swamynathan
(Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped Tuesday afternoon as a disappointing profit outlook from Target (N:TGT) dragged down retailers and as investors braced for President Donald Trump's address to Congress.
The Dow was very slightly lower, putting it on track to break a 12-day string of record high closes.
Trump's promises of tax reform, infrastructure spending and simpler regulations have sparked a post-election rally that has propelled the main U.S. market indexes to record highs.
His address, at 9:00 p.m. ET, is expected to touch on infrastructure spending, and could also include plans for tax reforms, defense spending and an overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system.
"The real question becomes how much patience does the market have," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) in Newark, New Jersey.
Investors have been encouraged by Trump's agenda, but "at some point the market is going to demand more clarification. If you're basing your projection on pro-growth and pro-business, it's based on the tax reform. So what the market wants to hear is that this still is a top priority and that the process is moving ahead."
Target (N:TGT) slumped 12.5 percent after the retailer's full-year profit forecast missed estimates and the company said it would take a $1 billion hit to its operating profit. The S&P retail index <.SPXRT> was down 0.9 percent and the discretionary index (SPLRCD) was down 0.7 percent.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was down 31.19 points, or 0.15 percent, to 20,806.25, the S&P 500 (SPX) had lost 7.73 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,362.02 and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) had dropped 39.10 points, or 0.67 percent, to 5,822.80.
Also weighing on sentiment was data that showed U.S. economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter.
Charles Schwab (N:SCHW) was the top drag on the financial sector (SPSY) after the company said it would cut its ETF trade and online equity fees, following similar cuts by Fidelity Investments. TD Ameritrade (O:AMTD) dropped 10.5 percent.
Priceline (O:PCLN) rose 5.9 percent, offsetting Target's impact on the S&P, following quarterly revenue that blew past estimates.
Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 2.03-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 3.34-to-1 ratio favored decliners.
The S&P 500 posted 47 new 52-week highs and 4 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 102 new highs and 48 new lows.