Dollar General posts Q1 EPS beat and boosts guidance, though revenue misses slightly

Dollar General reported mixed first-quarter results, pairing an earnings beat and a boosted full-year profit forecast with a slight revenue miss.

Key numbers:

• EPS of $2 (compared to analyst estimates of $1.90).

• Revenue of $10.79 billion (estimate: $10.83 billion).

• Same-store sales growth of 2% year over year.

Shares of the company fell 2.1% in early trading, reversing the gains they had made premarket.

Buoyed by the bottom-line strength, Dollar General also raised its fiscal 2026 profit outlook, now forecasting full-year earnings per share to land between $7.20 and $7.45, up from its previous guidance of $7.10 to $7.35. Meanwhile, management reiterated its full-year same-store sales growth target of 2.2% to 2.7%.

Management noted that the retailer’s increase in profit was boosted by contributions from new stores and growth in same-store sales, partially offset by the impact of store closures.

Heightened economic uncertainty, ongoing US import tariffs, and rising gas prices tied to the Iran war could also be weighing on everyday households’ purchasing decisions, causing them to pull back on spending in general or trade down to more affordable basic essentials.

“Our topline results were highlighted by positive customer traffic and balanced category growth,” Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO, said in the press release. “Looking ahead, we believe the essential nature of our offering and our expansive footprint position us well to navigate the current macroeconomic environment.”

Shares of Dollar General are down more than 20% year to date.