Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Dollar General Corporation (DG) vs Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DG | 5.0% revenue growth vs DLTR's 4.8% |
| Value | DLTR | Lower P/E (22.0x vs 24.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | DG | 3.0% net margin vs DLTR's -15.6% |
| Stability / Safety | DLTR | Lower D/E ratio (196.9% vs 235.6%) |
| Dividends | DG | 1.5% yield; 11-year raise streak; DLTR pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DG | +113.8% vs DLTR's +73.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DG | 4.0% ROA vs DLTR's -21.6%, ROIC 5.3% vs 8.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Dollar General is a discount retailer operating thousands of small-format stores primarily in rural and suburban communities across the United States. It generates revenue primarily from consumable goods — including food, household essentials, and health/beauty products — which represent about 80% of sales, with the remainder from seasonal items and home products. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive rural footprint — often being the only convenient retailer in underserved communities — and its disciplined low-cost operating model that keeps prices consistently below traditional retailers.
Dollar Tree operates a chain of discount variety retail stores that sell most items at fixed low price points — primarily $1.25 at its namesake stores and various low prices at Family Dollar locations. The company generates revenue through two main segments: Dollar Tree stores (fixed-price merchandise) and Family Dollar stores (general merchandise discount retail), with both segments contributing roughly equally to overall sales. Its competitive advantage lies in its extreme value positioning and massive scale — operating over 15,000 stores across North America — which creates significant purchasing power and distribution efficiencies.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
DLTR leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). DG leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DG is the larger business by revenue, generating $42.1B annually — 2.2x DLTR's $19.0B. DG is the more profitable business, keeping 3.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DLTR's -15.6%. On growth, DG holds the edge at +4.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DGDollar General Co… | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $42.1B | $19.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.9B | $1.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.3B | -$3.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.3B | $1.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.4% | +35.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.5% | +7.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | -15.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.6% | +8.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | -37.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +43.8% | +11.1% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, DLTR's 16.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than DG's 19.0x.
| Metric | DGDollar General Co… | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $34.4B | $25.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $50.9B | $32.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 30.58x | -9.00x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.97x | 21.98x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.95x | 16.07x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.85x | 1.44x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.64x | 6.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.38x | 16.25x |
Profitability & Efficiency
DG delivers a 15.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $-85 for DLTR. DLTR carries lower financial leverage with a 1.97x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DG's 2.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DG scores 5/9 vs DLTR's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | DGDollar General Co… | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.6% | -85.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.0% | -21.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.3% | +8.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.1% | +10.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.36x | 1.97x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $16.5B | $6.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $933M | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $17.5B | $7.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.75x | 13.18x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in DLTR five years ago would be worth $12,746 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,669 for DG. Over the past 12 months, DG leads with a +113.8% total return vs DLTR's +73.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DLTR at -4.5% vs DG's -8.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DGDollar General Co… | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.6% | -1.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +113.8% | +73.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -24.5% | -12.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -13.3% | +27.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +133.2% | +57.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -8.9% | -4.5% |
Risk & Volatility
DG is the less volatile stock with a -0.06 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DLTR's 0.65 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DG currently trades 98.8% from its 52-week high vs DLTR's 88.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DGDollar General Co… | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.06x | 0.65x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $158.23 | $142.40 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $70.01 | $61.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.8% | +88.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.3 | 49.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.5M | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DG as "Buy" and DLTR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 0.6% upside for DLTR (target: $127) vs -8.4% for DG (target: $143). DG is the only dividend payer here at 1.51% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | DGDollar General Co… | DLTRDollar Tree, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $143.17 | $127.22 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 50 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 11 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.36 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General Corp… (DG) | 100 | 89.92 | -10.1% |
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 100 | 138.62 | +38.6% |
Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) returned +27% over 5 years vs Dollar General Corp… (DG)'s -13%. A $10,000 investment in DLTR 5 years ago would be worth $12,746 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General Corp… (DG) | $20.4B | $40.6B | +99.4% |
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | $15.5B | $17.6B | +13.4% |
Dollar General Corporation's revenue grew from $20.4B (2015) to $40.6B (2024) — a 8.0% CAGR. Dollar Tree, Inc.'s revenue grew from $15.5B (2015) to $17.6B (2024) — a 1.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General Corp… (DG) | 5.7% | 2.8% | -51.6% |
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 1.8% | -17.2% | -1046.0% |
Dollar General Corporation's net margin went from 6% (2015) to 3% (2024). Dollar Tree, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2015) to -17% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General Corp… (DG) | 16.5 | 14.8 | -10.3% |
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 14.9 | 19.6 | +31.5% |
Dollar General Corporation has traded in a 15x–24x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~31x. Dollar Tree, Inc. has traded in a 15x–27x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-9x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General Corp… (DG) | 3.95 | 5.11 | +29.4% |
| Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) | 1.26 | -14.05 | -1215.1% |
Dollar General Corporation's EPS grew from $3.95 (2015) to $5.11 (2024) — a 3% CAGR. Dollar Tree, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.26 (2015) to $-14.05 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Dollar General Corporation generated $2B FCF in 2024 (-6% vs 2021). Dollar Tree, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2024 (+282% vs 2021).
DG vs DLTR: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DG or DLTR a better buy right now?
Dollar General Corporation (DG) offers the better valuation at 30.6x trailing P/E (24.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Dollar General Corporation (DG) a "Buy" — based on 50 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — DG or DLTR?
On forward P/E, Dollar Tree, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DG or DLTR?
Over the past 5 years, Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) delivered a total return of +27.5%, compared to -13.3% for Dollar General Corporation (DG). A $10,000 investment in DLTR five years ago would be worth approximately $13K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DG returned +133.2% versus DLTR's +57.6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — DG or DLTR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Dollar General Corporation (DG) is the lower-risk stock at -0.06β versus Dollar Tree, Inc.'s 0.65β — meaning DLTR is approximately -1233% more volatile than DG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 197% versus 2% for Dollar General Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — DG or DLTR?
Dollar General Corporation (DG) is the more profitable company, earning 2.8% net margin versus -17.2% for Dollar Tree, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DLTR leads at 8.3% versus 4.2% for DG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DLTR leads at 35.8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is DG or DLTR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR) trades at 22.0x forward P/E versus 24.0x for Dollar General Corporation — 2.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DLTR: 0.6% to $127.22.
07Which pays a better dividend — DG or DLTR?
In this comparison, DG (1.5% yield) pays a dividend. DLTR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is DG or DLTR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Dollar General Corporation (DG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.06), 1.5% yield, +133.2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DG: +133.2%, DLTR: +57.6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between DG and DLTR?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. DG pays a dividend while DLTR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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