Q2 FY2026
Filed Aug 27, 2026Dollar General Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results Raises Financial Guidance for Fiscal Year 2026
Net sales increased 5.2%, same-store sales increased 3.5%, operating profit increased 29.2%, and diluted EPS increased 33.3%. The Company raised fiscal 2026 net sales growth, same-store sales growth, and diluted EPS guidance.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net salesGAAP | $11.3 billion | – | 5.2% |
| Same-store salesother | 3.5% | – | – |
| Customer trafficother | 2.0% | – | – |
| Average transaction amountother | 1.5% | – | – |
| Gross profitGAAP | $3,680,921 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Gross profit as a percentage of net salesGAAP | 32.6% | – | 127 basis points |
| Selling, general and administrative expensesGAAP | $2,911,757 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net salesGAAP | 25.8% | – | – |
| Operating profitGAAP | $769.2 million | – | 29.2% |
| Operating profit as a percentage of net salesGAAP | 6.81% | – | – |
| Net interest expenseGAAP | $42.9 million | – | decreased 25.7% |
| Effective income tax rateGAAP | 24.2% | – | – |
| Net incomeGAAP | $550.3 million | – | 33.8% |
| Diluted EPSGAAP | $2.48 | – | 33.3% |
| Basic EPSGAAP | $2.49 | – | – |
| Year-to-date net salesGAAP | $22,077,345 (In thousands) | – | 4.3% |
| Year-to-date gross profitGAAP | $7,091,393 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Year-to-date operating profitGAAP | $1,407,680 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Year-to-date net incomeGAAP | $994,442 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Year-to-date diluted EPSGAAP | $4.49 | – | – |
| Net cash provided by operating activitiesGAAP | $1,496,705 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Purchases of property and equipmentGAAP | $758,450 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Cash and cash equivalentsGAAP | $1,589,590 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Merchandise inventoriesGAAP | $6.6 billion | – | decrease of 2.7% on an average per-store basis |
| Long-term obligationsGAAP | $4,558,145 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Total assetsGAAP | $32,167,333 (In thousands) | – | – |
| Total shareholders’ equityGAAP | $9,288,648 (In thousands) | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConsumablesSame-store sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 included growth in the consumables category. | $9,263,012 (in thousands) | – | 5.0% |
| SeasonalSame-store sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 included growth in the seasonal category. | $1,187,704 (in thousands) | – | 7.4% |
| Home productsSame-store sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 included growth in the home products category. | $536,574 (in thousands) | – | 4.8% |
| ApparelSame-store sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 included growth in the apparel category. | $303,090 (in thousands) | – | 4.5% |
Fiscal 2026 outlook
- RevenueNet sales growth in the range of approximately 4.0% to 4.3%
- Tax rateeffective tax rate of approximately 24.5%
- NoteSame-store sales growth in the range of approximately 2.5% to 2.9%
- NoteDiluted EPS in the range of approximately $7.80 to $8.00
- NoteDiluted EPS guidance includes the estimated benefit from tariff refunds, after related reinvestments, of approximately $0.25 in the second quarter of fiscal 2026
- NoteShare repurchases of up to $700 million
- NoteCapital expenditures, including those related to investments in the Company’s strategic initiatives, in the range of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion
- NoteExecute approximately 4,730 real estate projects
- NoteOpening approximately 450 new stores in the United States and approximately 10 new stores in Mexico
- NoteRemodeling approximately 2,000 stores through Project Renovate
- NoteRemodeling approximately 2,250 stores through Project Elevate
- NoteRelocating approximately 20 stores
Capital returns
- The Company intends to repurchase shares under its existing share repurchase program in the second half of fiscal 2026.
- The Company’s total remaining authorization for future repurchases was $1.4 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026.
- Share repurchases of up to $700 million are included in fiscal 2026 guidance.
- On August 26, 2026, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.59 per share, payable on or before October 20, 2026 to shareholders of record on October 6, 2026.
- Payments of cash dividends were $260,307 (In thousands) for the 26 weeks ended July 31, 2026.
What drove it
- Net sales growth was driven by growth in same-store sales and positive sales contributions from new stores, partially offset by the impact of store closures.
- Same-store sales reflected increases of 2.0% in customer traffic and 1.5% in average transaction amount.
- Same-store sales increased across consumables, seasonal, home products, and apparel.
- The gross profit rate increase was primarily attributable to tariff refunds, a lower LIFO provision, and lower distribution costs, partially offset by increased markdowns and increased transportation costs.
- The Company estimates the gross margin benefit of tariff refunds, after related reinvestments, was approximately 81 basis points.
- Lower net interest expense supported income growth.
- The Company opened 125 new stores in the United States and one new store in Mexico during the second quarter of 2026, remodeled 665 stores through Project Renovate and 711 stores through Project Elevate, and relocated 5 stores.
Concerns
- The Company does not anticipate a material impact to its financial results from tariff refunds, after related reinvestments, in the second half of fiscal 2026.
- Increased markdowns and increased transportation costs partially offset gross-profit-rate improvements.
- The effective income tax rate increased primarily due to expired federal tax credits, partially offset by a reduced state effective tax rate.
- Depreciation and amortization was higher as a percentage of net sales, while rent was lower as a percentage of sales.
- Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,496,705 (In thousands) for the 26 weeks ended July 31, 2026, compared to $1,814,855 (In thousands) for the 26 weeks ended August 1, 2025.
What to watch
- Fiscal 2026 same-store sales growth guidance of approximately 2.5% to 2.9%.
- Whether gross-margin performance continues after the second-quarter estimated tariff-refund benefit of approximately 81 basis points.
- Execution of approximately 4,730 fiscal 2026 real estate projects.
- Delivery of share repurchases of up to $700 million in fiscal 2026.
- Capital expenditures in the range of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents were $1,589,590 (In thousands) as of July 31, 2026.
- Merchandise inventories were $6,552,841 (In thousands) as of July 31, 2026.
- Long-term obligations were $4,558,145 (In thousands) as of July 31, 2026.
- Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,496,705 (In thousands) for the 26 weeks ended July 31, 2026.
- Purchases of property and equipment were $758,450 (In thousands) for the 26 weeks ended July 31, 2026.
- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents was $451,089 (In thousands) for the 26 weeks ended July 31, 2026.
- Total additions to property and equipment in the 26-week period ended July 31, 2026 were $758 million.
Analysis
Dollar General reported broad-based second-quarter sales growth. Net sales increased 5.2% to $11.3 billion, while same-store sales increased 3.5%, reflecting a 2.0% increase in customer traffic and a 1.5% increase in average transaction amount. Each reported merchandise category grew, led by seasonal sales growth of 7.4%, followed by consumables at 5.0%, home products at 4.8%, and apparel at 4.5%. New-store contributions also supported sales, partly offset by store closures.
Profitability improved materially. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased 127 basis points to 32.6%, while SG&A as a percentage of net sales was 25.8% in both periods. Tariff refunds, a lower LIFO provision, and lower distribution costs supported gross margin, while increased markdowns and transportation costs were offsets. The Company estimated that tariff refunds, after related reinvestments, contributed approximately 81 basis points to gross margin and approximately 66 basis points to operating margin.
Operating profit increased 29.2% to $769.2 million and net income increased 33.8% to $550.3 million. Diluted EPS increased 33.3% to $2.48, including an estimated benefit from tariff refunds, after related reinvestments, of approximately $0.25. Lower net interest expense also aided earnings, while the effective income tax rate increased to 24.2% from 23.5% primarily because of expired federal tax credits.
Cash flow from operations totaled $1.5 billion year to date, while property and equipment additions totaled $758 million. The Company ended the quarter with $1,589,590 in cash and cash equivalents and $1.4 billion of remaining repurchase authorization. It plans to repurchase shares in the second half and declared a $0.59 per-share quarterly cash dividend. Store investment remained substantial, with openings, Project Renovate remodels, Project Elevate remodels, and relocations continuing during the quarter.
Management raised fiscal 2026 guidance for net sales growth to approximately 4.0% to 4.3%, same-store sales growth to approximately 2.5% to 2.9%, and diluted EPS to approximately $7.80 to $8.00. The EPS outlook includes the approximately $0.25 second-quarter tariff-refund benefit, and the Company does not anticipate a material financial impact from tariff refunds after related reinvestments in the second half. The guide retains capital-expenditure expectations of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion and real estate plans for approximately 4,730 projects.
Management, verbatim
We are pleased with our second quarter performance, which included balanced topline growth, healthy operating margin expansion and strong double-digit EPS growth.
Todd Vasos, chief executive officer
Our results reflect continued momentum across the business, including our fifth consecutive quarter of customer traffic growth and the sixth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales growth across all four merchandising categories.
Todd Vasos, chief executive officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Non-GAAP revenue, gross profit, operating income, net income, and EPS measures were not reported.
- Free cash flow was not reported.
- Quarterly operating cash flow was not reported.
- Share repurchases completed during the second quarter or 26-week period were not reported.
- Fiscal 2026 gross-margin guidance was not reported.
- Fiscal 2026 operating-expense guidance was not reported.
- Prior-quarter income-statement comparisons were not reported.
- A previous-quarter outlook document was not provided for formal actual-versus-prior-guidance comparisons.
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.