Family Dollar Stores, Inc.

Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO) continues to perform well as analysts boost earnings forecasts. Brokerage analysts lifted estimates over the past month, projecting earnings growth of 19% for the fiscal year ending August 2009.

Company Description

Family Dollar is a discount retail chain operator in the United States. Family Dollar offers a core assortment of name-brand and quality consumable merchandise supplemented by fashion and seasonal merchandise. A Fortune 500 company that is based in Matthews, North Carolina, FDO operates more than 6,500 stores in 44 states.

Rising Forecasts

Brokerage analysts lifted estimates over the past month, projecting earnings growth of 19% for the fiscal year ending August 2009, which translates into earnings of $1.97 per share. Last month, earnings expectations stood at $1.89. For the following year, earnings projections of $2.15 per share are up from last month’s $2.06 and reflects annual growth of 9%.

Solid Income

The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.135 per share, noting that it is payable July 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 15. FDO’s dividend yield of 1.7% is well ahead of the industry average.

Outstanding Quarterly Results

Family Dollar posted fiscal second-quarter earnings of 60 cents per share, beating the previous year’s 45 cents and matching the consensus estimate.

Management stated that, while the current environment has resulted in more budget-minded consumers, the company’s strong performance is also the result of significant investments in the enhancement of the Family Dollar shopping experience.

Read the full analyst report on FDO