Dollar General Corp (DG)
:DG

Dollar General (DG) AI Stock Analysis

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DG

Dollar General

(NYSE:DG)

65Neutral
Dollar General's stock score reflects steady financial performance with strong cash flow and reasonable valuation. Despite positive technical indicators, the company faces challenges with declining profit margins and operational hurdles highlighted in the earnings call. The mixed sentiment from the earnings call tempers the outlook, but the stock's valuation and dividend yield provide some buffer.
Positive Factors
Customer Trade-In
Dollar General is expected to benefit from increased customer trade-ins, which should support comparable sales and offset customer volatility.
Gross Margin Expansion
Strategic initiatives are projected to support Gross Margin expansion, with significant contributions expected from the DG Media Network and non-consumables initiatives.
Store Remodels
Accelerated store remodels are expected to reduce shrink, lower damages and maintenance costs, and minimize disruptions across the store base.
Negative Factors
EPS Guidance
The initial FY25 EPS guidance is set below market expectations, indicating potential challenges in meeting financial targets.
Impairment Charges
Impairment charges from the optimization of 51 pOpshelf stores led to a bottom-line miss.
Labor Expenses
The company anticipates significant pressure on earnings in the first half of the year due to additional labor expenses and costs associated with store closures.

Dollar General (DG) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Dollar General Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionDollar General Corporation, a discount retailer, provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, Midwestern, and eastern United States. It offers consumable products, including paper and cleaning products, such as paper towels, bath tissues, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, disinfectants, and laundry products; packaged food comprising cereals, pasta, canned soups, fruits and vegetables, condiments, spices, sugar, and flour; and perishables that include milk, eggs, bread, refrigerated and frozen food, beer, and wine. The company's consumable products also comprise snacks, such as candies, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; health and beauty products, including over-the-counter medicines and personal care products, such as soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and dental hygiene and foot care products; pet supplies and pet food; and tobacco products. In addition, it offers seasonal products comprising holiday items, toys, batteries, small electronics, greeting cards, stationery, prepaid phones and accessories, gardening supplies, hardware, and automotive and home office supplies; and home products that include kitchen supplies, cookware, small appliances, light bulbs, storage containers, frames, candles, craft supplies and kitchen, and bed and bath soft goods. Further, the company provides apparel, which comprise casual everyday apparel for infants, toddlers, girls, boys, women, and men, as well as socks, underwear, disposable diapers, shoes, and accessories. As of February 25, 2022, it operated 18,190 stores in 47 states in the United States. The company was formerly known as J.L. Turner & Son, Inc. and changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968. Dollar General Corporation was founded in 1939 and is based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
How the Company Makes MoneyDollar General makes money primarily through the sale of a wide range of merchandise at its retail locations. Its revenue model is built on a high-volume, low-margin strategy, where the company leverages its expansive network of stores to sell goods at competitive prices. The company’s key revenue streams include consumables such as food and beverages, cleaning supplies, paper products, and personal care items, which account for the largest portion of its sales. Additionally, Dollar General generates earnings from the sale of seasonal products, home goods, and clothing. The company frequently benefits from strategic partnerships with suppliers and companies that provide branded products sold in its stores. Furthermore, Dollar General's private label brands contribute to its profitability by offering higher margins compared to national brands. The company's ability to maintain low operational costs, efficient supply chain management, and strategic store locations also significantly enhance its profitability.

Dollar General Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Dollar General shows steady revenue growth and strong cash flow, indicating sustainability. However, declining profit margins and high leverage present risks. Focus on cost management and debt reduction could enhance financial stability.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Dollar General's income statement shows moderate performance with a gross profit margin of approximately 29.6% and a net profit margin of 2.8% for the latest year. The revenue growth rate from 2024 to 2025 is about 5%, indicating steady growth, though margins have slightly decreased due to rising costs impacting profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have also contracted, reflecting operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet indicates a relatively high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36, suggesting significant leverage, which poses financial risk. However, the equity ratio is 23.8%, showing that a reasonable portion of assets is financed by equity. Return on equity has decreased over recent years to 15.2%, reflecting reduced profitability relative to equity.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
The cash flow statement reveals robust operating cash flow relative to net income, with an operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.66. Free cash flow grew substantially by 143.9% from the previous year, indicating strong cash generation capability and efficient capital expenditure management.
Breakdown
Mar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income StatementTotal Revenue
40.61B38.69B37.84B34.22B33.75B
Gross Profit
12.02B11.72B11.82B10.81B10.72B
EBIT
1.71B2.45B3.33B3.22B3.55B
EBITDA
2.69B3.30B4.05B3.86B4.13B
Net Income Common Stockholders
1.13B1.66B2.42B2.40B2.66B
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
932.58M537.28M381.58M344.83M1.38B
Total Assets
31.13B30.80B29.08B26.33B25.86B
Total Debt
17.46B18.09B17.66B14.25B13.59B
Net Debt
16.53B17.55B17.28B13.90B12.21B
Total Liabilities
23.72B24.05B23.54B20.07B19.20B
Stockholders Equity
7.41B6.75B5.54B6.26B6.66B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
1.69B691.58M423.97M1.80B2.85B
Operating Cash Flow
3.00B2.39B1.98B2.87B3.88B
Investing Cash Flow
-1.31B-1.69B-1.56B-1.07B-1.02B
Financing Cash Flow
-1.29B-542.07M-392.46M-2.83B-1.71B

Dollar General Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price92.62
Price Trends
50DMA
78.06
Positive
100DMA
76.48
Positive
200DMA
89.15
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.04
Negative
RSI
65.69
Neutral
STOCH
83.66
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DG, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 92.62 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 84.05, above the 50-day MA of 78.06, and above the 200-day MA of 89.15, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.69 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 83.66 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for DG.

Dollar General Risk Analysis

Dollar General disclosed 22 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Dollar General reported the most risks in the “Production” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Dollar General Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (59)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$6.94B35.0412.47%8.04%10.75%
BJBJ
75
Outperform
$15.60B28.8532.33%2.67%2.72%
WMWMT
73
Outperform
$699.55B36.2822.23%1.03%5.07%25.86%
DGDG
65
Neutral
$20.37B18.1115.89%2.55%4.96%-32.41%
59
Neutral
$11.22B10.13-1.22%3.96%1.32%-18.57%
57
Neutral
$14.46B18.88%-9.88%-205.57%
TGTGT
54
Neutral
$43.61B10.8129.12%4.66%-0.79%-0.90%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DG
Dollar General
92.62
-61.11
-39.75%
DLTR
Dollar Tree
67.55
-60.67
-47.32%
TGT
Target
95.72
-68.91
-41.86%
WMT
Walmart
83.19
24.08
40.74%
OLLI
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holding
113.29
40.32
55.26%
BJ
Bj's Wholesale Club Holdings
115.41
38.88
50.80%

Dollar General Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Mar 13, 2025 | % Change Since: 23.74% | Next Earnings Date: May 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call indicates a mixed sentiment. While Dollar General achieved record-breaking sales and managed market share growth, it also faced significant challenges such as store closures, impairment charges, and a decline in operating profit and EPS. The economic pressure on core customers adds to the uncertainty. The company is optimistic about its future plans, but current conditions present notable hurdles.
Highlights
Record-Breaking Sales
For the first time in the company's history, Dollar General delivered fiscal year sales of more than $40 billion, indicating the essential role it serves in over 20,000 communities across the U.S.
Net Sales Increase
Net sales increased by 4.5% in Q4 to $10.3 billion, compared to $9.9 billion in the previous year's fourth quarter.
Market Share Growth
Dollar General continued to grow market share in both dollars and units in highly consumable product sales and also grew market share in non-consumable product sales during Q4.
Successful Shrink Mitigation
The shrink mitigation efforts resulted in a year-over-year improvement of 68 basis points in Q4, with expectations for continued benefits throughout 2025.
Cash Flow and Inventory Management
Cash flows from operations increased by 25% to $3 billion in 2024, driven by improved working capital management. Additionally, merchandise inventories decreased by 4% compared to the prior year.
Lowlights
Store Closures and Impairment Charges
Decisions were made to close 96 Dollar General stores and 51 Pop Shelf locations, leading to impairment charges that negatively impacted operating profit by $232 million or $0.81 in EPS.
Decline in Operating Profit and EPS
Operating profit for Q4 decreased by 49% to $294 million, and EPS decreased by 52.5% to $0.87, largely due to charges from the portfolio review.
SG&A Increase
SG&A as a percentage of sales increased by 294 basis points, reflecting higher expenses including retail labor, incentive compensation, and technology-related expenses.
Economic Pressure on Core Customers
The financial situation of Dollar General's core customers has worsened due to ongoing inflation, with many only having enough money for basic essentials.
Challenges in Seasonal and Apparel Categories
Same-store sales growth was driven entirely by consumables, while seasonal and apparel categories saw declines.
Company Guidance
In the Dollar General Corporation's earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2024, the company provided financial guidance for 2025, projecting net sales growth between 3.4% to 4.4% and same-store sales growth ranging from 1.2% to 2.2%. The expected earnings per share (EPS) for the year are between $5.10 and $5.80, with an anticipated effective tax rate of approximately 23.5%. The company plans capital expenditures between $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion to support growth initiatives, including 575 new store openings in the U.S. and up to 15 in Mexico. Additionally, Dollar General intends to execute approximately 4,885 real estate projects, including 2,000 full remodels and 2,250 Project Elevate remodels. The call also highlighted a focus on improving gross margins through shrink mitigation, targeting a 68 basis point improvement, and managing SG&A expenses, despite anticipated wage inflation of 3.5% to 4%. The company is not planning share repurchases in 2025 but remains committed to maintaining investment-grade credit ratings. Over the long term, Dollar General aims for annual EPS growth of at least 10% starting in 2026 and operating margin expansion towards 6% to 7% by 2028.

Dollar General Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingDividendsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Dollar General Amends Credit Agreement for Flexibility
Neutral
Mar 13, 2025

On March 11, 2025, Dollar General Corporation amended its unsecured credit agreement, originally dated September 3, 2024, to adjust financial covenants and restrictions during a Covenant Relief Period lasting until January 30, 2026. The amendment impacts the company’s leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, limits stock repurchases, and reduces the ability to incur additional debt, reflecting a strategic financial maneuver to maintain operational flexibility. Additionally, the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.59 per share, payable on April 22, 2025, indicating a commitment to returning value to shareholders.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.