© Reuters. Dollar General (DG) shares rise on earnings, revenue beat
Dollar General (NYSE:) reported a fourth-quarter earnings beat, with adjusted EPS of $1.83 exceeding analysts’ predictions by $0.11 and revenue reaching $9.9 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $9.76 billion. Despite a challenging retail environment, the company’s shares rose 5.58% on the news, signaling strong investor confidence fueled by the earnings and revenue beat.
The discount retailer saw a 3.4% decline in net sales compared to the same quarter last year, which included an extra week of sales. However, same-store sales showed resilience with a 0.7% increase, attributed to higher customer traffic. The company’s CEO, Todd Vasos, highlighted the success of their “Back to Basics” strategy and market share gains as key factors driving the positive performance.
Operating profit, however, took a significant hit, dropping 37.9% to $579.7 million, and diluted EPS fell 38.2% from the previous year’s $2.96. The decrease in profitability was largely due to a shorter fiscal period, increased shrink and inventory markdowns, and higher retail labor costs. Despite these headwinds, the company managed to end the fiscal year with a 2.2% increase in net sales, totaling $38.7 billion.
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2024, Dollar General forecasts net sales growth between 6.0% and 6.7%, with same-store sales expected to rise between 2.0% and 2.7%. The company anticipates diluted EPS to be in the range of $6.80 to $7.55, considering an estimated $0.50 negative impact from higher incentive compensation expense. This guidance compares favorably to the consensus estimates, with the midpoint of the EPS guidance range sitting above analysts’ expectations.
Vasos expressed confidence in the company’s plans for 2024, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing customer service and supporting their teams for sustainable long-term growth. The company’s operational focus and strategic investments appear to be well-received by the market, as reflected in the positive stock movement following the earnings release.
