Dollar stores beat sales estimates as cheaper essentials in demand

Dollar General's quarterly same-store sales rose 3.5% from a year earlier with growth in categories such as seasonal, home products and apparel. It raised its annual same-store sales growth target to 2.5% to 2.9% from 2.2% to 2.7% earlier.

Both dollar store operators joined several consumer-facing companies in noting the benefits from tariff refunds, helping them lift their full-year profit targets.

Dollar General expects fiscal 2026 profit per share to be about $7.80 to $8.00, which includes an estimated benefit from tariff refunds, after related re-investments, of roughly 25 cents.

Dollar Tree raised its annual profit forecast to between $7.70 and $8.05 per share, including a roughly 60 cent benefit from tariff refunds.