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Dollar General (DG) Stock Analysis

This is a peer-relative look at Dollar General (DG): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Dollar General (DG)
Profile ItemDG
NameDollar General Corporation
Country/RegionUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustryConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization27.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSD
ExchangeNYSE
Listing DateNovember 13, 2009
Security TypeCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DG
GSPC
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Dollar General (DG) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Dollar General (DG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Dollar General (DG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
Total Return (1Y)16.82%12.78%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-7.69%19.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-9.79%13.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DG
GSPC
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Dollar General (DG) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Dollar General (DG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.18%34.86%
Beta (5Y)0.230.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)-72.61%-38.04%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. DG is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.350.29
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.540.47

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) posts ROE of 18.91%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

18.91%

Group distribution
Max
37.28%
Q3
22.55%
DG
18.91%
Median
14.81%
Q1
8.71%
Min
-2.30%
Largest peers
SYY
81.90%
COST
29.15%
WMT
24.13%
TGT
22.02%
CASY
19.15%
DG
18.91%
KR
13.78%
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on ROE within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) keeps 3.63% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.63%

Group distribution
Max
6.51%
DG
3.63%
Q3
3.43%
Median
2.27%
Q1
1.36%
Min
-0.12%
Largest peers
CASY
4.07%
DG
3.63%
TGT
3.24%
WMT
3.14%
COST
3.01%
SYY
2.08%
KR
0.71%
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on net margin within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) turns 5.92% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

5.92%

Group distribution
Max
9.24%
DG
5.92%
Q3
5.36%
Median
3.67%
Q1
1.28%
Min
-0.11%
Largest peers
DG
5.92%
CASY
5.35%
TGT
4.52%
WMT
4.22%
SYY
3.75%
COST
3.67%
KR
3.22%
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on operating margin within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
ROE (TTM)18.91%14.81%
ROA (TTM)4.63%5.63%
Net Margin (TTM)3.63%2.27%
Operating Margin (TTM)5.92%3.67%
Gross Margin (TTM)30.83%24.61%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Dollar General (DG) grew revenue 5.20%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

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Dollar General (DG): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Dollar General (DG) grew earnings per share 34.05%, in the upper peer quartile. Per-share profits are compounding faster than at most industry peers.

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Dollar General (DG): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.20%5.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.13%5.27%
EPS Growth (YoY)34.05%1.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-13.76%12.38%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Dollar General (DG) has current ratio of 1.17, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.17

Group distribution
Max
1.52
Q3
1.35
DG
1.17
Median
1.17
Q1
0.97
Min
0.60
Largest peers
SYY
1.33
DG
1.17
COST
1.07
CASY
1.01
TGT
0.93
KR
0.79
WMT
0.77
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on current ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Dollar General (DG) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.79

Group distribution
Max
3.40
Q3
1.88
DG
1.79
Median
1.35
Q1
0.68
Min
0.00
Largest peers
SYY
6.70
KR
3.73
DG
1.79
TGT
1.18
WMT
0.75
CASY
0.74
COST
0.60
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.171.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.791.35
Net Debt / EBITDA4.262.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) has dividend yield of 1.89%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.89%

Group distribution
Max
4.01%
DG
1.89%
Q3
1.73%
Median
0.26%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
TGT
3.25%
SYY
2.67%
DG
1.89%
KR
1.80%
WMT
0.85%
COST
0.57%
CASY
0.26%
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on dividend yield within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) has payout ratio of 33.38%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

33.38%

Group distribution
Max
60.00%
DG
33.38%
Q3
30.32%
Median
12.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
KR
80.12%
SYY
60.00%
TGT
59.97%
WMT
33.54%
DG
33.38%
COST
27.01%
CASY
11.90%
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on payout ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.89%0.26%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)33.38%12.02%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) trades at P/E ratio of 17.63, in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. Investors are paying less for each dollar of TTM earnings than they usually pay for comparable businesses.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

17.63

Group distribution
Max
52.05
Q3
36.20
Median
21.57
Q1
18.03
DG
17.63
Min
12.01
Largest peers
COST
47.17
CASY
45.24
WMT
39.57
KR
34.19
SYY
22.44
TGT
18.44
DG
17.63
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on P/E ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) trades at 0.63 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.63

Group distribution
Max
1.81
Q3
0.88
DG
0.63
Median
0.50
Q1
0.25
Min
0.02
Largest peers
CASY
1.81
COST
1.40
WMT
1.21
DG
0.63
TGT
0.59
SYY
0.46
KR
0.24
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on P/S ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Dollar General (DG) trades at 3.07 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.07

Group distribution
Max
9.32
Q3
6.34
Median
4.11
DG
3.07
Q1
2.30
Min
0.65
Largest peers
COST
24.93
SYY
16.91
WMT
9.32
CASY
8.02
KR
6.25
TGT
3.84
DG
3.07
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Where Dollar General (DG) stands on P/B ratio within its Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Dollar General (DG) metric values compared with Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: DGIndustry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)17.6321.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.630.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.074.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.93%4.53%