DG vs. KR: Dollar General vs. Kroger Stock Comparison

July 23, 2026

How do Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR) both belong to the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, though DG is classified under Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail while KR falls under Food Retail.

Company profile comparison for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Profile Item	DG	KR
Name	Dollar General Corporation	Kroger Co.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail	Food Retail
Market Capitalization	27.18 billion USD	35.40 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 13, 2009	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GSPC

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Kroger (KR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
Total Return (1Y)	16.82%	-18.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-7.69%	8.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-9.79%	9.89%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GSPC

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Kroger (KR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.18%	28.07%
Beta (5Y)	0.23	0.43
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-72.61%	-31.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.40M	7.41M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DG and KR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.35	-0.79
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.54	-1.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Dollar General (DG) at 18.91% and Kroger (KR) at 13.78% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

18.91%

Max: 37.28%
Q3: 22.55%
DG: 18.91%
Median: 14.81%
Q1: 8.71%
Min: -2.30%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

13.78%

Max: 37.28%
Q3: 22.55%
Median: 14.81%
KR: 13.78%
Q1: 8.71%
Min: -2.30%

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 3.63% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while Kroger (KR) at 0.71% keeps a bottom-quartile share.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.63%

Max: 6.51%
DG: 3.63%
Q3: 3.43%
Median: 2.27%
Q1: 1.36%
Min: -0.12%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.71%

Max: 6.51%
Q3: 3.43%
Median: 2.27%
Q1: 1.36%
KR: 0.71%
Min: -0.12%

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 5.92% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Kroger (KR) at 3.22%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

5.92%

Max: 9.24%
DG: 5.92%
Q3: 5.36%
Median: 3.67%
Q1: 1.28%
Min: -0.11%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.22%

Max: 9.24%
Q3: 5.36%
Median: 3.67%
KR: 3.22%
Q1: 1.28%
Min: -0.11%

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
ROE (TTM)	18.91%	13.78%
ROA (TTM)	4.63%	5.77%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.63%	0.71%
Operating Margin (TTM)	5.92%	3.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)	30.83%	23.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Dollar General (DG) at 5.20% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Kroger (KR) at 0.35% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Dollar General (DG) at 34.05% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Kroger (KR) at -58.04% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.20%	0.35%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.13%	-0.14%
EPS Growth (YoY)	34.05%	-58.04%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-13.76%	-20.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Dollar General (DG) at 1.17 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Kroger (KR) at 0.79 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KR.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.17

Max: 1.52
Q3: 1.35
DG: 1.17
Median: 1.17
Q1: 0.97
Min: 0.60

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.79

Max: 1.52
Q3: 1.35
Median: 1.17
Q1: 0.97
KR: 0.79
Min: 0.60

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Dollar General (DG) at 1.79 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Kroger (KR) at 3.73 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.79

Max: 3.40
Q3: 1.88
DG: 1.79
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.00

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.73

KR: 3.73
Max: 3.40
Q3: 1.88
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.00

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.17	0.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.79	3.73
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.26	2.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Dollar General (DG) at 1.89% and Kroger (KR) at 1.80% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.89%

Max: 4.01%
DG: 1.89%
Q3: 1.73%
Median: 0.26%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.80%

Max: 4.01%
KR: 1.80%
Q3: 1.73%
Median: 0.26%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and KR more so: Dollar General (DG) at 33.38% sits above the band, while Kroger (KR) at 80.12% exceeds every peer in its group.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

33.38%

Max: 60.00%
DG: 33.38%
Q3: 30.32%
Median: 12.02%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

80.12%

KR: 80.12%
Max: 60.00%
Q3: 30.32%
Median: 12.02%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.89%	1.80%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	33.38%	80.12%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Dollar General (DG) at 17.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Kroger (KR) at 34.19 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for DG, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

17.63

Max: 52.05
Q3: 36.20
Median: 21.57
Q1: 18.03
DG: 17.63
Min: 12.01

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

34.19

Max: 52.05
Q3: 36.20
KR: 34.19
Median: 21.57
Q1: 18.03
Min: 12.01

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Kroger (KR) at 0.24 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Dollar General (DG) at 0.63 prices around its industry’s middle — KR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.63

Max: 1.81
Q3: 0.88
DG: 0.63
Median: 0.50
Q1: 0.25
Min: 0.02

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.24

Max: 1.81
Q3: 0.88
Median: 0.50
Q1: 0.25
KR: 0.24
Min: 0.02

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Dollar General (DG) at 3.07 and Kroger (KR) at 6.25 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.07

Max: 9.32
Q3: 6.34
Median: 4.11
DG: 3.07
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.65

KR

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.25

Max: 9.32
Q3: 6.34
KR: 6.25
Median: 4.11
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.65

Dollar General (DG) vs. Kroger (KR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Kroger (KR)
Metric	DG	KR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	17.63	34.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.63	0.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.07	6.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	6.93%	8.46%