DG vs. TGT: Dollar General vs. Target Stock Comparison

September 7, 2026

How do Dollar General (DG) and Target (TGT) 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 Target (TGT) are both classified in the Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail sub-industry within the broader Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Dollar General (DG) and Target (TGT)
Profile Item	DG	TGT
Name	Dollar General Corp.	Target Corp.
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	Consumer Staples Merchandise Retail
Market Capitalization	29.39 billion USD	74.70 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 13, 2009	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

TGT

GSPC

Dollar General (DG) vs. Target (TGT), 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 Target (TGT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
Total Return (1Y)	25.34%	84.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	2.94%	13.50%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-8.22%	-4.69%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

TGT

GSPC

Dollar General (DG) vs. Target (TGT), 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 Target (TGT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	37.14%	30.41%
Beta (5Y)	0.22	0.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-72.61%	-64.40%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.62M	4.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DG and TGT 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 Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.57	2.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.88	4.18

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Target (TGT) at 26.41% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Dollar General (DG) at 19.69% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for TGT.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

19.69%

Max: 35.20%
Q3: 22.31%
DG: 19.69%
Median: 15.25%
Q1: 7.33%
Min: -2.30%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

26.41%

Max: 35.20%
TGT: 26.41%
Q3: 22.31%
Median: 15.25%
Q1: 7.33%
Min: -2.30%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Dollar General (DG) at 3.90% and Target (TGT) at 4.08% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.90%

Max: 5.59%
DG: 3.90%
Q3: 3.41%
Median: 2.44%
Q1: 1.67%
Min: -0.12%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.08%

Max: 5.59%
TGT: 4.08%
Q3: 3.41%
Median: 2.44%
Q1: 1.67%
Min: -0.12%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Dollar General (DG) at 6.81% and Target (TGT) at 6.04% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.81%

Max: 7.49%
DG: 6.81%
Q3: 5.70%
Median: 3.97%
Q1: 1.89%
Min: 1.10%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

6.04%

Max: 7.49%
TGT: 6.04%
Q3: 5.70%
Median: 3.97%
Q1: 1.89%
Min: 1.10%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
ROE (TTM)	19.69%	26.41%
ROA (TTM)	4.89%	5.69%
Net Margin (TTM)	3.90%	4.08%
Operating Margin (TTM)	6.81%	6.04%
Gross Margin (TTM)	31.16%	28.38%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Dollar General (DG) at 5.20% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Target (TGT) at -1.68% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Dollar General (DG) vs. Target (TGT): 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 Target (TGT) at -8.24% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for DG.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.20%	-1.68%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.13%	-1.34%
EPS Growth (YoY)	34.05%	-8.24%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-13.76%	10.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Dollar General (DG) at 1.21 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Target (TGT) at 0.99 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for TGT.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.21

Max: 2.03
Q3: 1.45
DG: 1.21
Median: 1.19
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.68

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.99

Max: 2.03
Q3: 1.45
Median: 1.19
Q1: 1.00
TGT: 0.99
Min: 0.68

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Dollar General (DG) at 1.70 and Target (TGT) at 1.08 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.70

Max: 3.73
Q3: 1.90
DG: 1.70
Median: 1.26
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.01

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.08

Max: 3.73
Q3: 1.90
Median: 1.26
TGT: 1.08
Q1: 0.68
Min: 0.01

Dollar General (DG) vs. Target (TGT): 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 Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.21	0.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.70	1.08
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.96	1.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Dollar General (DG) at 1.80% and Target (TGT) at 2.78% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

1.80%

Max: 2.78%
DG: 1.80%
Q3: 1.80%
Median: 0.44%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

2.78%

TGT: 2.78%
Max: 2.78%
Q3: 1.80%
Median: 0.44%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Dollar General (DG) at 30.65% and Target (TGT) at 47.30% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

30.65%

Max: 59.29%
DG: 30.65%
Q3: 29.94%
Median: 11.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

47.30%

Max: 59.29%
TGT: 47.30%
Q3: 29.94%
Median: 11.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Dollar General (DG) and Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.80%	2.78%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	30.65%	47.30%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Dollar General (DG) at 17.30 and Target (TGT) at 17.06 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

17.30

Max: 54.46
Q3: 37.68
Median: 21.21
DG: 17.30
Q1: 16.34
Min: 11.82

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

17.06

Max: 54.46
Q3: 37.68
Median: 21.21
TGT: 17.06
Q1: 16.34
Min: 11.82

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Dollar General (DG) at 0.67 and Target (TGT) at 0.69 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.67

Max: 1.59
Q3: 0.92
DG: 0.67
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.25
Min: 0.03

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

0.69

Max: 1.59
Q3: 0.92
TGT: 0.69
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.25
Min: 0.03

Dollar General (DG) vs. Target (TGT): 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 3.16 and Target (TGT) at 4.19 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

DG

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

3.16

Max: 9.04
Q3: 7.06
Median: 4.19
DG: 3.16
Q1: 2.31
Min: 0.94

TGT

Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry group

4.19

Max: 9.04
Q3: 7.06
TGT: 4.19
Median: 4.19
Q1: 2.31
Min: 0.94

Dollar General (DG) vs. Target (TGT): 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 Target (TGT)
Metric	DG	TGT
P/E Ratio (TTM)	17.30	17.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.67	0.69
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.16	4.19
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.91%	4.60%