Dollar General Shares Surge 11% as Q3 Earnings Crush Estimates and Outlook Is Raised

Core Insights - Dollar General Corporation's shares increased by 11% intra-day following strong third-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations and raised full-year guidance [1] Financial Performance - The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.28, significantly higher than the analyst consensus of $0.94 [2] - Revenue reached $10.6 billion, slightly below expectations of $10.62 billion, but represented a 4.6% increase compared to the same quarter last year [2] - Same-store sales rose by 2.5% year over year, driven by a 2.5% increase in customer traffic, while the average ticket size remained unchanged [2] - Growth was observed across all major merchandise categories, including consumables, seasonal items, home products, and apparel [2] Profitability Metrics - Operating profit surged by 31.5% to $425.9 million compared to the prior-year period, aided by improved efficiency and cost controls [3] - Gross profit margin expanded by 107 basis points to 29.9%, reflecting better merchandising and pricing discipline [3] Future Guidance - Following the strong results, the company raised its full-year guidance, now expecting earnings per share of $6.30 to $6.50, exceeding the analyst consensus of $6.13 [4] - The net sales growth forecast was also raised to approximately 4.7% to 4.9%, up from a previous range of 4.3% to 4.8% [4]