DG vs. KO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at DG and KO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | DG | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Dollar General Corporation | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail | Beverages |
| Market Capitalization | 25.48 billion USD | 303.24 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 13, 2009 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of DG and KO by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | DG | KO |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 0.14% | 0.04% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 29.39% | 1.34% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 59.47% | 11.21% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -1.54% | 3.36% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 10.38% | 3.79% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 52.72% | 13.17% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 3.05M | 12.40M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 3.64M | 16.10M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 42.03% | 15.15% |
| Beta | 0.32 | 0.44 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
DG
15.53%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 34.20%
- Q3
- 21.61%
- Median
- 13.70%
- Q1
- 5.18%
- Min
- -9.87%
DG’s Return on Equity of 15.53% is on par with the norm for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
KO
45.90%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 49.46%
- Q3
- 24.91%
- Median
- 11.13%
- Q1
- 5.27%
- Min
- -5.93%
In the upper quartile for the Beverages industry, KO’s Return on Equity of 45.90% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
DG
2.81%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 7.16%
- Q3
- 3.87%
- Median
- 2.44%
- Q1
- 1.65%
- Min
- -0.70%
DG’s Net Profit Margin of 2.81% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
KO
25.89%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 21.86%
- Q3
- 12.24%
- Median
- 8.70%
- Q1
- 5.33%
- Min
- -4.40%
KO’s Net Profit Margin of 25.89% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Beverages industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
DG
4.24%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 9.42%
- Q3
- 5.29%
- Median
- 4.03%
- Q1
- 2.22%
- Min
- -1.85%
DG’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.24% is around the midpoint for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
KO
29.32%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 29.32%
- Q3
- 18.25%
- Median
- 13.42%
- Q1
- 10.58%
- Min
- 0.71%
An Operating Profit Margin of 29.32% places KO in the upper quartile for the Beverages industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | DG | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 15.53% | 45.90% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.68% | 11.80% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 2.81% | 25.89% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 4.24% | 29.32% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 29.80% | 61.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
DG
1.23
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 1.80
- Q3
- 1.25
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.52
DG’s Current Ratio of 1.23 aligns with the median group of the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
KO
1.21
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 3.38
- Q3
- 1.97
- Median
- 1.21
- Q1
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.53
KO’s Current Ratio of 1.21 aligns with the median group of the Beverages industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
DG
0.75
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 3.44
- Q3
- 1.56
- Median
- 1.00
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
DG’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.75 is typical for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
KO
1.73
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 2.11
- Q3
- 1.23
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.32
- Min
- 0.00
KO’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Beverages industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.73. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
DG
6.25
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 24.36
- Q3
- 14.71
- Median
- 6.25
- Q1
- 3.16
- Min
- -10.70
DG’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 6.25 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
KO
67.13
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 78.96
- Q3
- 40.67
- Median
- 9.62
- Q1
- 3.59
- Min
- 0.81
KO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 67.13 is in the upper quartile for the Beverages industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | DG | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.23 | 1.21 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.14 | 0.84 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.75 | 1.73 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 6.25 | 67.13 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
DG
2.08%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 6.63%
- Q3
- 3.17%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
DG’s Dividend Yield of 2.08% is consistent with its peers in the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
KO
2.79%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 6.93%
- Q3
- 4.51%
- Median
- 3.09%
- Q1
- 2.03%
- Min
- 0.00%
KO’s Dividend Yield of 2.79% is consistent with its peers in the Beverages industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
DG
44.99%
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 163.46%
- Q3
- 90.34%
- Median
- 52.13%
- Q1
- 20.46%
- Min
- 0.00%
DG’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 44.99% is within the typical range for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
KO
69.42%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 143.36%
- Q3
- 99.22%
- Median
- 67.03%
- Q1
- 40.31%
- Min
- 0.00%
KO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 69.42% is within the typical range for the Beverages industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | DG | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.08% | 2.79% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 44.99% | 69.42% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
DG
21.63
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 49.92
- Q3
- 31.34
- Median
- 23.38
- Q1
- 17.55
- Min
- 6.19
DG’s P/E Ratio of 21.63 is within the middle range for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
KO
24.86
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 41.48
- Q3
- 28.35
- Median
- 19.09
- Q1
- 15.36
- Min
- 3.14
KO’s P/E Ratio of 24.86 is within the middle range for the Beverages industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
DG
0.61
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.55
- Q1
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.06
DG’s P/S Ratio of 0.61 aligns with the market consensus for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
KO
6.44
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 3.90
- Q3
- 2.38
- Median
- 1.54
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.41
With a P/S Ratio of 6.44, KO trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Beverages industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
DG
2.58
Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail Industry
- Max
- 9.74
- Q3
- 4.99
- Median
- 2.88
- Q1
- 1.77
- Min
- 0.46
DG’s P/B Ratio of 2.58 is within the conventional range for the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
KO
10.59
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.58
- Median
- 2.19
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- 0.91
At 10.59, KO’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Beverages industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | DG | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 21.63 | 24.86 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.61 | 6.44 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.58 | 10.59 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 12.99 | 46.48 |