Dollar General (NYSE:DG) Cut to “Sell” at Citigroup

Dollar General (NYSE:DG) was downgraded by analysts at Citigroup from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report issued on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $73.00 price objective on the stock, down from their prior price objective of $91.00. Citigroup’s target price indicates a potential downside of 16.40% from the company’s current price.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on DG. Morgan Stanley lowered Dollar General from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $170.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, August 30th. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on Dollar General from $139.00 to $100.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 30th. Argus cut their target price on Dollar General from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Dollar General from $118.00 to $95.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 30th. Finally, Daiwa America downgraded shares of Dollar General from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $109.48.

Dollar General Price Performance

Shares of DG stock opened at $87.32 on Friday. Dollar General has a twelve month low of $77.96 and a twelve month high of $168.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $104.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $127.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.44.

Dollar General (NYSE:DG) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 29th. The company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.79 by ($0.09). Dollar General had a return on equity of 20.62% and a net margin of 3.57%. The business had revenue of $10.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.37 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.13 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Dollar General will post 5.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Warren F. Bryant purchased 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 5th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $80.40 per share, with a total value of $40,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 41,030 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,298,812. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP Roderick J. West sold 2,510 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.25, for a total transaction of $208,957.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,163 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $762,819.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Warren F. Bryant acquired 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 5th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $80.40 per share, with a total value of $40,200.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 41,030 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,298,812. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.49% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dollar General

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its holdings in Dollar General by 12.4% in the 1st quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 689 shares of the company’s stock worth $108,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Dollar General by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,425 shares of the company’s stock worth $378,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Dollar General by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,390 shares of the company’s stock valued at $373,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Dollar General by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC now owns 2,105 shares of the company’s stock valued at $278,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the period. Finally, Pathway Financial Advisers LLC increased its holdings in Dollar General by 30.6% in the 2nd quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 376 shares of the company’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. 91.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Dollar General Company Profile

Dollar General Corporation, a discount retailer, provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. It offers consumable products, including paper and cleaning products, such as paper towels, bath tissues, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, disinfectants, and laundry products; packaged food comprising cereals, pasta, canned soups, fruits and vegetables, condiments, spices, sugar, and flour; and perishables that include milk, eggs, bread, refrigerated and frozen food, beer, and wine.