Dollar General is expecting its customers to face deteriorating financial conditions this year.“Our customers continue to report that their financial situation has worsened over the last year, as they have been negatively impacted by ongoing inflation,” Todd Vasos, CEO of the discount retailer, said during a fourth-quarter earnings call Thursday (March 13). “Many of our customers report that they only have enough money for basic essentials, with some noting that they have had to sacrifice even on the necess ...

Group 1 - Dollar General Corp reported strong fourth-quarter earnings with earnings of $1.68 per share and revenue of $10.3 billion, exceeding Wall Street expectations [1] - The stock surged 6% to $79.35 following the earnings report, despite plans to close 96 general stores and 45 pOpshelf locations [1] - Options trading activity is significantly high, with 9,079 calls and 8,254 puts exchanged, which is triple the average daily volume [2] Group 2 - The most active options contracts are the March 80 call and March 75 put, with new positions being sold to open at the former [2] - Short sellers have decreased by nearly 18% over the past two reporting periods, representing 4.8% of the stock's total available float [3] - Dollar General's stock has rebounded into the black for 2025 after previously suffering a steep decline below $90 in late August, although it remains 50% lower year-over-year [3]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Ross Stores (ROST), and highlights the potential misalignment of interests between brokerage firms and retail investors [1][4][9]. Brokerage Recommendation Summary - Ross Stores has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.70, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on 23 brokerage firms' recommendations [2]. - Out of the 23 recommendations, 15 are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 65.2% of the total recommendations [2]. Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock rating tool, categorizes stocks from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell) and is based on earnings estimate revisions, making it a more effective indicator of near-term stock performance compared to ABR [7][10]. - Unlike ABR, which is based solely on brokerage recommendations and may not be up-to-date, Zacks Rank reflects timely changes in earnings estimates, providing a more accurate indication of future price movements [8][11]. Earnings Estimate Trends for Ross Stores - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores has decreased by 4% over the past month to $6.43, indicating growing pessimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [12]. - This decline in earnings estimates has contributed to a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) for Ross Stores, suggesting caution despite the favorable ABR [13].

I rate Dollar General (NYSE: DG ) a Buy due to its recession resistant business model and attractive valuation. While the stock has dropped 69%, and the board brought back the old CEO, I think DG will be successful inAnalyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of DG either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business ...

Economic Indicators - The European Central Bank (ECB) lowered interest rates by 25 basis points, with the Deposit Facility now at +2.50%, signaling confidence in controlling inflation despite trade war concerns [2] - Initial Jobless Claims for last week were reported at +221K, lower than the anticipated +235K, indicating stability in the labor market [4] - Continuing Claims rose to 1.897 million, approaching the psychological level of +1.9 million, which may raise concerns about the robustness of the U.S. labor market [5] - Q4 Productivity was revised up to +1.5%, marking the ninth consecutive upward move, while Unit Labor Costs were revised down to +2.2%, indicating improved productivity and lower costs [6] - The U.S. Trade Deficit reached a record -$131.4 billion, significantly higher than the previous month's -$98.4 billion, influenced by anticipated trade tariff changes [7] Company Earnings - Earnings reports from Macy's, Burlington Stores, and Cracker Barrel exceeded expectations, while upcoming reports from Broadcom and Costco are anticipated [8]

Shoppers are gearing up to slap Target with a 40-day boycott over its DEI policy reversal on Wednesday — even as black business owners have warned a boycott could hurt their own brands.It’s a triple whammy for the retailer as it emerges from a brutal year plagued by low spending and prepares for possible cost increases under President Trump’s tariffs.“We’re asking people to divest from Target because they have turned their back on our community,” Rev. Jamal Bryant, an Atlanta-area megachurch pastor who star ...

Core Viewpoint - Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. will release its fourth quarter and full-year fiscal 2024 financial results on March 19, 2025, before market opening [1] Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The financial results will be discussed in a conference call hosted by the President and CEO, Eric van der Valk, and the Executive Vice President and CFO, Robert Helm, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day [1] - The company encourages interested parties to pre-register for the live conference call and provides options for listening to a live webcast or replay through its Investor Relations section [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Ollie's is recognized as America's largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, offering significant value on brand name products across various departments [3] - The company operates 571 stores across 31 states and continues to expand its presence [3]

Group 1 - Ross Stores Inc. shares declined after hours due to forecasts of weaker same-store sales for the year, attributed to recent slowing trends and adverse weather conditions [1] - The company anticipates same-store sales to range from a decline of 1% to an increase of 2%, which is below FactSet's expectation of a 3% gain [2] - Earnings per share are projected to be between $5.95 and $6.55, compared to FactSet's forecast of $6.67 [2]

Shares of Target Corp. were gearing up for a gain in early Tuesday trading after the discount retailer bucked a recent trend of warnings by providing a full-year earnings outlook that was in line with expectations.The company said that fiscal-first-quarter profit could see “meaningful” pressure due to tariff uncertainty and the timing of certain costs, but results should improve the rest of the year. ...

Axon Enterprise - Axon Enterprise reported strong earnings, with revenue up 37% and cash flow increasing by 79%, marking their 12th consecutive quarter of 25% or better revenue growth [6][8][12] - The company raised its total addressable market opportunity from $50 billion to $129 billion, driven by acquisitions and new enterprise opportunities [5][15] - Annual recurring revenue grew by 37% to $1 billion, with a net revenue retention rate of 123%, indicating existing customers are spending 23% more than the previous year [8][9] - Axon shipped over 200,000 TASER devices and 300,000 body cameras in 2024, with cloud and services revenue up 44% to $806 million [9][10] - The company is investing in AI, launching its AI Era Plan, which includes innovative services like Draft One, a transcription service for police reports [10][12] - Despite a recent stock drop of nearly 30% due to severing ties with Flock Safety, analysts believe Axon has the resources to continue growing independently [17][18] Dutch Bros - Dutch Bros has seen a stock increase of about 160% over the past year, with same-store sales growth of nearly 10% in company-operated stores [28][31] - The company is expanding its store count by over 15% annually, focusing on a drive-through model that aligns with current consumer preferences [33][36] - Dutch Bros is perceived as more innovative compared to Starbucks, adapting its product offerings to meet consumer demands in a competitive market [31][32] - The company is still in a growth phase, with GAAP net income margins around 2-3%, indicating potential for margin expansion as it matures [36][40] - Concerns about stock dilution exist due to the company's historical reliance on public markets for funding, but management claims they will be self-funding moving forward [37][39]