Dollar General Posts Q1 Gains, Same-Store Sales Up 2.4%
Dollar General reported sales gains in its fiscal first quarter, with new stores and same-store sales growth cited as key revenue drivers.
For the quarter ended May 2, net sales rose 5.3% to $10.4 billion. Same-store sales increased 2.4% compared to the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a 2.7% increase in average transaction amount and a 0.3% decrease in customer traffic. Same-store sales in the first quarter of 2025 included growth across the consumables, seasonal, home products, and apparel categories.
The company reported net income of $391.9 million for the first quarter of 2025, up 7.9% from $363.3 million in the same quarter of 2024. Diluted earnings per share rose 7.9% to $1.78 from $1.65 a year earlier.
“We are pleased with our start to the year, including strong same-store sales and EPS results,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer. “Our efforts to improve execution and enhance the associate and customer experience are yielding positive outcomes in both our operational performance and our financial results. I want to thank our team for their hard work and dedication to serving our customers and communities with value and convenience every day. These efforts contributed to market share gains in sales of both consumables and non-consumables and drove growth with both our core customer and trade-in customers during the quarter.”
According to Placer.ai, first-quarter store visits at Dollar General were up 1.9%, with visits per location flat. As spring began, the retailer saw visits grow 6.5% in April, with visits per location up 5.4%.
The Placer.ai report noted the retailer’s foot traffic growth in April was likely the result of pull-forward demand ahead of tariffs, while also suggesting a strong start to its second quarter.
“We are uniquely well-positioned to serve our customers in a variety of economic environments,” Vasos said. “We are proud of our progress and are excited about the future of this business as we look to further create sustainable long-term value for our shareholders.”
Total additions to Dollar General’s property and equipment in the first quarter were $291 million, including approximately $167 million for improvements, upgrades, remodels and relocations of existing stores; $76 million related to store facilities, primarily for leasehold improvements, fixtures and equipment in new stores; $36 million for distribution and transportation-related projects; and $12 million for information systems upgrades and technology-related projects.
During the first quarter, the company opened 156 new stores, remodeled 668 stores through Project Elevate and remodeled 559 stores through Project Renovate, and relocated 23 stores.
