Dollar General (NYSE:DG) Reaches New 12-Month High – Should You Buy?

Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)’s share price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $146.89 and last traded at $146.6980, with a volume of 230388 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $142.74.

Key Dollar General News

Here are the key news stories impacting Dollar General this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bernstein raised its outlook and boosted its target for DG, arguing 2026 trends favor higher‑income shoppers (a structural tailwind for Dollar General’s value positioning). Analyst target upgrades tend to prompt buying and lift sentiment. Bernstein Sees 2026 Favoring Higher-Income Shoppers, Boosts Dollar General (DG) Target
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks added DG to its Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth list — a signal some momentum and quant-driven funds follow, which can increase demand for the shares. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for Jan. 12
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks also placed DG on its Rank #1 income list, highlighting appeal to income‑oriented investors and further broadening the buyer base. Best Income Stocks to Buy for Jan. 12
• Positive Sentiment: Media coverage notes DG outperformed peers on a strong trading day, reinforcing momentum and attracting short‑term traders. Positive relative performance often amplifies intraday gains. Dollar General Corp. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading day
• Positive Sentiment: Jim Cramer cited dollar stores, including DG, as market favorites — a high‑visibility endorsement that can spur retail interest and buying. Jim Cramer Says Dollar Stores Like Dollar General Are “Wall Street Faves”
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks ran a piece on DG hitting a 52‑week high and asked whether it’s time to cash out — highlights momentum but also raises investor caution; useful for timing decisions rather than changing fundamentals. Dollar General Corporation (DG) Soars to 52-Week High, Time to Cash Out?
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks published a DG vs. ROST comparison — useful context on valuation and relative value, but not an immediate catalyst unless it triggers rotation between names. DG or ROST: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?
• Negative Sentiment: Yahoo/other coverage questions whether DG’s current price is fair after a ~112% one‑year jump — raising valuation concerns that could cap further upside and invite profit‑taking or analyst caution. Is Dollar General (DG) Pricing Fair After A 112% One Year Share Price Jump

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on DG. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Dollar General from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Dollar General from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Dollar General from $127.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Argus boosted their target price on shares of Dollar General from $135.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Dollar General from $112.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, December 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and fifteen have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.50.

Dollar General Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $122.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $112.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.11, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.26.

Dollar General (NYSE:DG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.33. Dollar General had a net margin of 3.03% and a return on equity of 18.59%. The business had revenue of $10.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.60 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.89 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Dollar General has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.300-6.500 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Dollar General Corporation will post 5.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Dollar General Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 6th will be paid a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 6th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. Dollar General’s payout ratio is currently 40.76%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Bryan D. Wheeler sold 9,776 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.32, for a total value of $1,322,888.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 22,295 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,016,959.40. This trade represents a 30.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Rhonda Taylor sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.89, for a total transaction of $1,011,675.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 73,492 shares in the company, valued at $9,913,335.88. The trade was a 9.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 58,673 shares of company stock valued at $7,713,389 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.56% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Dollar General by 416.4% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,525,608 shares of the company’s stock worth $259,759,000 after buying an additional 2,036,573 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of Dollar General by 116.0% in the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,714,972 shares of the company’s stock worth $310,538,000 after acquiring an additional 1,458,093 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Dollar General during the 2nd quarter worth $154,371,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in shares of Dollar General by 15,369.9% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,219,179 shares of the company’s stock valued at $139,450,000 after acquiring an additional 1,211,298 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Dollar General by 10,936.5% in the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,204,193 shares of the company’s stock valued at $137,736,000 after purchasing an additional 1,193,282 shares during the period. 91.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Dollar General Company Profile

Dollar General Corporation is a U.S.-based variety and discount retailer operating a large network of small-format stores that serve primarily rural and suburban communities. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DG and is headquartered in the Nashville/Goodlettsville, Tennessee area. Founded in 1939, Dollar General has grown from a regional operation into one of the nation’s prominent low-price retailers focused on convenience and value.

Dollar General’s stores offer a wide assortment of everyday consumables and household goods, including food and beverage items, cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, paper goods, apparel basics, seasonal merchandise and small household items.