Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Dollar Tree (DLTR) Gains on Strategic Initiatives & Expansion

Read MoreHide Full Article

Dollar Tree Inc.’s (DLTR - Free Report) progress in merchandising, IT and supply-chain initiatives, along with the multi-price journey and store renovations, demonstrate its commitment to improving customer experience and operational efficiency. These enhancements signify the company's dedication to staying relevant and competitive by updating and upgrading its offerings and store environments.

The company's expansion in market share across the Dollar Tree and Family Dollar segments is a testament to its competitive strength. This indicates the effectiveness of its business strategies in attracting customers and gaining a larger foothold in the competitive retail market.

Comparable store sales improved 3.9% year over year in third-quarter fiscal 2023, driven by a 4.7% increase in customer traffic. The Dollar Tree brand experienced a 5.4% rise in comps, while Family Dollar's comps grew 2% in the fiscal third quarter. Robust comps reflect the company's ability to adapt to market demands and customer preferences, thereby enhancing market presence and brand value.

The strategic review and optimization of the Family Dollar portfolio align with the company's transformational vision. This approach not only aims to enhance the value creation for the segment but also reflects its proactive stance in adapting to market demands and internal goals.

 

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

 

Expansion & Supply-Chain Strategy Bode Well

Dollar Tree's real estate initiatives in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 included opening 197 stores, on track with its target of opening 600-650 stores in fiscal 2023. These openings are part of a broader strategy to expand and enhance its retail footprint.

Alongside this, the company is focusing on improving its supply chain. It is preparing to implement a streamlined delivery process for stores serviced by its Matthews, NC-based distribution center, which involves using roto-carts and liftgate trailers. This change is expected to enhance efficiency and has received positive feedback in its testing phase.

The company plans to make all of its distribution centers use roto-carts by the end of fiscal 2027, indicating a long-term commitment to optimizing logistical operations. These efforts are complemented by investments in personnel, including increased wages in key markets, simplified tasks at the store level and enhanced company-wide communication, leading to improvements in store turnover and associate satisfaction.

Discretionary Spending Decline

The company’s Family Dollar segment continues to witness impacts of the ongoing soft discretionary spending trends. Notably, discretionary comp sales declined 12.5% year over year in the fiscal third quarter, particularly affecting sales of categories like home decor, electronics and toys. This trend is attributed to increasing financial stress among lower-income households, leading them to focus more on need-based goods. This shift has affected the Family Dollar segment’s sales mix and could impact profitability in those discretionary categories.

Despite a challenging retail environment, the company has added 4.3 million customers at Dollar Tree and 2.3 million at Family Dollar in the past 12 months, with most of these first-time customers returning to shop again. This demonstrates Dollar Tree's effective management strategies and commitment to growth.
 
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 19.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 20.6%.

Three Solid Picks

A few better-ranked stocks are The Gap, Inc. (GPS - Free Report) , Ross Stores Inc. (ROST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) .

The Gap is a premier international specialty retailer offering a diverse range of clothing, accessories and personal care products. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Gap’s current fiscal-year sales indicates growth of 387.5% from the previous year’s reported figures. GPS has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 138%.

Ross Stores operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home accessories, primarily in the United States. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 22.4% and 7.5%, respectively, from the fiscal 2022 reported figures. ROST has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 7.8%.

Target has evolved from being a pure brick-and-mortar retailer to an omni-channel entity. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 38.5% from the fiscal 2022 reported number. TGT has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 30.8%.

TJX Companies is a leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the United States and worldwide. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TJX Companies’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 20.6% and 8%, respectively, from the fiscal 2023 reported figures. TJX has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 6.3%.

Published in