Dollar General Corporation (DG)
Dollar General is a massive American chain of small-format convenience stores that focuses on providing low-cost household essentials to rural and suburban areas.
Is Dollar General Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Dollar General is a massive American chain of small-format convenience stores that focuses on providing low-cost household essentials to rural and suburban areas.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in rural markets leads to sustained long-term revenue growth.
Long-term shift in shopping habits away from physical stores.
What does Dollar General Corporation do?
Dollar General operates thousands of small, no-frills shops that act as a local lifeline for everyday items like groceries, cleaning supplies, and toiletries. Profits come from keeping stores simple and prices low, attracting shoppers who are looking to save a few pennies on their weekly shop. Because they run on very thin profit margins, their handling of costs and inventory is the part worth following closely.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and income, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.9% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 3% over the year
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 1.8x its equity
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 19%)
- Strong presence in underserved rural communities
- Low-cost business model appeals to budget-conscious shoppers
- Low beta suggests it may be less sensitive to wild market swings
- Rising labour and transport costs could hurt profitability
- Supply chain disruptions affecting stock availability
- Changes in consumer spending power due to economic downturns
What do Dollar General Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Dollar General Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Dollar General Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Dollar General Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 1.9% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Dollar General Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Dollar General Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-27 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-02 | $1.88 | $2.00 | Beat +6% |
| 2026-03-12 | $1.64 | $1.93 | Beat +18% |
| 2025-12-04 | $0.93 | $1.28 | Beat +38% |
| 2025-08-28 | $1.57 | $1.86 | Beat +18% |
| 2025-06-03 | $1.48 | $1.78 | Beat +20% |
| 2025-03-13 | $1.50 | $1.68 | Beat +12% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Dollar General Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Consumer Defensive
Altria Group
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
The Coca-Cola Company
Kenvue Inc.
Philip Morris International Inc.
Monster Beverage Corporation
Target Corporation
PepsiCo, Inc.What are the scenarios for Dollar General Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Dollar General Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong presence in underserved rural communities
- Low-cost business model appeals to budget-conscious shoppers
- Low beta suggests it may be less sensitive to wild market swings
- Very thin profit margins leave little room for error
- Heavy reliance on physical store traffic
- Intense competition from other discount retailers
- Rising labour and transport costs could hurt profitability
- Supply chain disruptions affecting stock availability
- Changes in consumer spending power due to economic downturns
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A significant, sustained drop in revenue growth
- A major shift in the company's ability to maintain its low-price strategy
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.