Dollar General (DG)

[MiamiGent]

DG Dollar General Beats Analyst Estimates on EPS

By Seth Jayson | Motley Fool | Sptember 6, 2012

http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=DG

Dollar General (NYSE: DG ) reported earnings on Sep. 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway

For the quarter ended Aug. 3 (Q2), Dollar General met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded and GAAP earnings per share expanded significantly.

Gross margins shrank, operating margins were steady, net margins grew.

Revenue details
Dollar General notched revenue of $3.95 billion. The 20 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $3.96 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.58 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.69. The 25 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.64 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.64 for Q2 were 52% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.42 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 32.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.8%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.4%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.96 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.59.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $16.14 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.82.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 207 members out of 236 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 45 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 35 give Dollar General a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Dollar General is outperform, with an average price target of $58.33.