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. The company's consumable products also comprise snacks, such as candies, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; health and beauty products, including over-the-counter medicines and personal care products, such as soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and dental hygiene and foot care products; pet supplies and pet food; and tobacco products. In addition, it offers seasonal products comprising holiday items, toys, batteries, small electronics, greeting cards, stationery, prepaid phones and accessories, gardening supplies, hardware, and automotive and home office supplies; and home products that include kitchen supplies, cookware, small appliances, light bulbs, storage containers, frames, candles, craft supplies and kitchen, and bed and bath soft goods. Further, the company provides apparel, which comprise basic items for infants, toddlers, girls, boys, women, and men, as well as socks, underwear, disposable diapers, shoes, and accessories. The company was formerly known as J.L. Turner & Son, Inc. and changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968. Dollar General Corporation was founded in 1939 and is based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Dollar General Corporation

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 1/5/26, Thor Industries, Inc. (Symbol: THO), New York Times Co. (Symbol: NYT), and Dollar General Corp (Symbol: DG) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. Thor Industries, Inc. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.52 on 1/19/26, New York Times Co. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.18 on 1/16/26, and Dollar General Corp will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.59 on 1/20/26. As a percentage of THO's recent stock price of $102.67, this dividend works out to approximately 0.51%, so look for shares of Thor Industries, Inc. to trade 0.51% lower — all else being equal — when THO shares open for trading on 1/5/26. Similarly, investors should look for NYT to open 0.26% lower in price and for DG to open 0.44% lower, all else being equal.
Below are dividend history charts for THO, NYT, and DG, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared.
Thor Industries, Inc. (Symbol: THO):
New York Times Co. (Symbol: NYT):
Dollar General Corp (Symbol: DG):
In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 2.03% for Thor Industries, Inc., 1.04% for New York Times Co., and 1.78% for Dollar General Corp.
Free Report: Top 8%+ Dividends (paid monthly)
In Friday trading, Thor Industries, Inc. shares are currently down about 1.5%, New York Times Co. shares are off about 0.5%, and Dollar General Corp shares are down about 2.2% on the day.
Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen »
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Ex-Dividend Reminder: Thor Industries, New York Times and Dollar General

Key Points
One BDC, three energy stocks, and a REIT make the list of ultra-high-yield stocks to buy for the new year.
These stocks offer yields of between 5.7% and 9.6%.
What would make income investors enjoy a happy new year? My guess is they'd be pretty pleased if they received consistently high dividends every quarter.
I'm not really an income investor at this stage in my life. However, enjoying consistently juicy dividends throughout next year would make me smile. The great news is that several stocks appear to be well-positioned to meet that objective. Here are my five favorite ultra-high-yield dividend stocks to buy for 2026.
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1. Ares Capital
Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) is the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC). Its $28.7 billion portfolio is highly diversified, with over 15 industries represented and no individual investment outside of its subsidiary, Ivory Hill Asset Management, making up more than 2% of the total.
This BDC pays a lofty forward dividend yield of 9.6%. Ares Capital has either maintained or grown its dividend for 16 consecutive years and counting. It has also delivered significantly higher total returns than its rival BDCs, as well as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), since its inception in 2004.
2. Enbridge
Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) is a leading midstream energy company, operating pipelines that transport 30% of the crude oil produced in North America and 20% of natural gas consumed in the U.S. It's also North America's largest natural gas utility based on volume, serving 7.1 million U.S. customers.
The company boasts an impressive dividend track record, with 30 consecutive years of dividend increases. Enbridge's forward dividend yield is roughly 5.9%. As icing on the cake, the energy leader has around $50 billion of growth opportunities identified through the end of this decade.
3. Energy Transfer
Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) is another top midstream energy company. The limited partnership (LP) operates over 144,000 miles of pipeline throughout the U.S., as well as other assets, including terminals, storage facilities, and fractionators.
This stock is an excellent choice for income investors, boasting a forward distribution yield of 8.1%. It also has solid growth prospects with the construction of new data centers powered by electricity generation facilities fueled by natural gas. Two recent examples of these opportunities include Energy Transfer's contracts with CloudBurst and Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) to provide natural gas for data centers.
4. Enterprise Products Partners
Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) is like the same song but a different verse. Like Energy Transfer, it's a leader in the midstream energy industry and is organized as an LP. Enterprise Products Partners operates over 50,000 miles of pipelines, as well as liquids storage facilities, natural gas processing trains, fractionators, and deepwater docks.
This energy stock isn't too far behind Enbridge, with its 27 consecutive years of distribution increases. Enterprise Products Partners' distribution yield is an attractive 6.8%. I especially like that the LP has a long history of generating solid cash flow to fund its distribution. I also appreciate Enterprise's strong balance sheet, which has earned the LP the highest credit rating in the midstream energy industry.
5. Realty Income
Last, but not least, I'm a big fan of Realty Income (NYSE: O). This real estate investment trust (REIT) owns 15,542 commercial real estate properties in nine countries. Realty Income's tenant base features 1,647 clients representing 92 industries.
The REIT bills itself as the "real estate partner to the world's leading companies." That's no exaggeration. Realty Income's clients include well-known companies such as Dollar General (NYSE: DG), FedEx (NYSE: FDX), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), and Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT).
Like Enbridge, Realty Income has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years. Even more impressively, though, the REIT has raised its dividend payout for 112 straight quarters. Its forward dividend yield is 5.7%. One more thing: Realty Income pays its dividend monthly rather than quarterly. I think this REIT is an ideal stock to make the new year a happy one for income investors.
Should you buy stock in Ares Capital right now?
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Keith Speights has positions in Ares Capital, Enbridge, Energy Transfer, Enterprise Products Partners, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ares Capital, Enbridge, Home Depot, Oracle, Realty Income, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners and FedEx. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

My 5 Favorite Ultra-High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2026

Key Points
Realty Income today is a top REIT with a diversified portfolio and a high dividend yield that's attractive to income investors.
Key trends impacting the REIT's future include growth in real estate financing (particularly in Europe).
Realty Income is likely to become a much larger company by 2030, with its stock remaining a favorite for income investors.
Five years ago, Realty Income's (NYSE: O) market capitalization was approximately $20 billion. Today, the real estate company's market cap stands at roughly $52 billion. The bad news, though, is that Realty Income's share price declined slightly over the last five years. Its market cap growth stemmed from the issuance of new shares.
Should investors expect more of the same from this top real estate investment trust (REIT) through the rest of the decade? I don't think so. However, that raises an important question: Where will Realty Income stock be in five years?
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Where Realty Income stands today
To gain insight into a company's and its stock's potential direction, it's essential to first understand its current position. Realty Income ranks as the world's sixth-largest REIT. Its gross real estate value is around $61 billion.
The company owns 15,542 properties. At the end of the third quarter of 2025, its occupancy rate was a respectable 98.7%. Realty Income has 1,647 clients, with top tenants including 7-Eleven (owned by Seven and I Holdings (OTC: SVNDY)), Dollar General (NYSE: DG), Walgreens, Family Dollar, and Lifetime Fitness (NYSE: LTH).
Although Realty Income owns properties in nine countries, over 82% of its total annualized base rent is generated in the U.S. And although the REIT's tenants represent 92 industries, nearly 80% of its total rent comes from retailers.
Realty Income is also a favorite for income investors. Its dividend yield of 5.7% is attractive. Even more impressive, the company has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years and 112 consecutive quarters.
Key trends impacting Realty Income's future
We also need to understand the key trends that will impact Realty Income's future to predict where its stock may be in five years. Probably the most significant trend affecting the REIT's business is that more companies will likely seek shareholder-friendly capital funding solutions.
Taking on additional debt can be problematic if interest expenses erode earnings growth. Issuing new shares causes dilution in the value of existing shares – something shareholders don't like. Leveraging real estate assets, though, can provide an attractive way to raise capital without hurting shareholders.
Real estate financing is a popular option in the U.S., particularly in the retail sector. However, look for the approach to gain greater traction in Europe, where the total addressable market of $8.5 trillion tops the $5.5 trillion U.S. market. Additionally, the momentum for REITs in the data center and gaming markets is likely to grow over the next few years.
An aging demographic is another major trend that should work to Realty Income's advantage. Older Americans often need retirement income to supplement their Social Security benefits. High-yield dividend stocks such as Realty Income offer a great alternative.
Predictions for Realty Income in 2030
Now, for the fun part. Here are five predictions for Realty Income in 2030.
First, I predict the REIT will significantly increase its number of properties. I expect Realty Income to own at least 22,000 properties in five years, up from its current 15,542 properties.
Second, I think that much of this growth will be in Europe. I predict that in the ballpark of 25% of Realty Income's total annualized rent in 2030 will come from European tenants, compared to less than 18% in 2025.
Third, I predict that Realty Income's growth will be mainly in non-retail sectors. Within the next five years, I anticipate that approximately 30% of the company's rent will be generated from sources outside the retail space.
Fourth, I'm confident that Realty Income will keep its outstanding streak of dividend hikes going over the next five years. At the end of 2030, the REIT will have achieved 35 consecutive years of dividend increases.
Fifth, I predict that Realty Income's market cap and share price will increase by roughly 40% over the next five years. That would put the company's market cap at around $73 billion, with its share price at over $79.
Why do I think history won't repeat itself, with Realty Income's market cap growing due to the issuance of new shares, while its share price remains stagnant? For one thing, the REIT's establishment of an institutional private capital fund should minimize the need for dilution-causing stock offerings. Also, I expect Realty Income's growth opportunities in Europe will provide a solid catalyst for its stock.
Will my predictions come true? Check back in five years.
Should you buy stock in Realty Income right now?
Before you buy stock in Realty Income, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Realty Income wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $504,239!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,159,896!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of December 25, 2025.
Keith Speights has positions in Realty Income. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Realty Income. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Where Will Realty Income Stock Be in 5 Years?

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores?
Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value Score
For value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth Score
Growth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum Score
Momentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM Score
What if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank
The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.81% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Dollar General (DG)
Headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Dollar General Corporation is one of the largest discount retailers in the United States. The company trades in low priced merchandise typically $10 or less.
DG is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 20.76; value investors should take notice.
22 analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.33 to $6.47 per share. DG also boasts an average earnings surprise of +22.9%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, DG should be on investors' short list.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here's Why Dollar General (DG) is a Strong Value Stock

Fintel reports that on December 23, 2025, Evercore ISI Group maintained coverage of Dollar General (NYSE:DG) with a In-Line recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 0.92% Upside
As of December 21, 2025, the average one-year price target for Dollar General is $135.48/share. The forecasts range from a low of $80.80 to a high of $174.30. The average price target represents an increase of 0.92% from its latest reported closing price of $134.25 / share.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for Dollar General is 44,463MM, an increase of 5.57%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 15.58, a decrease of 2.13% from the prior forecast.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 1,737 funds or institutions reporting positions in Dollar General. This is an increase of 23 owner(s) or 1.34% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to DG is 0.25%, an increase of 13.14%. Total shares owned by institutions increased in the last three months by 0.02% to 238,556K shares. The put/call ratio of DG is 1.11, indicating a bearish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Pzena Investment Management holds 11,678K shares representing 5.31% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 11,849K shares , representing a decrease of 1.47%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in DG by 11.50% over the last quarter.
VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 7,082K shares representing 3.22% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 6,961K shares , representing an increase of 1.71%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in DG by 18.07% over the last quarter.
VFINX - Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares holds 6,243K shares representing 2.84% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 6,113K shares , representing an increase of 2.08%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in DG by 18.02% over the last quarter.
First Eagle Investment Management holds 5,977K shares representing 2.72% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 5,976K shares , representing an increase of 0.02%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in DG by 18.46% over the last quarter.
Geode Capital Management holds 5,665K shares representing 2.57% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 5,649K shares , representing an increase of 0.28%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in DG by 56.19% over the last quarter.
Fintel is one of the most comprehensive investing research platforms available to individual investors, traders, financial advisors, and small hedge funds.
Our data covers the world, and includes fundamentals, analyst reports, ownership data and fund sentiment, options sentiment, insider trading, options flow, unusual options trades, and much more. Additionally, our exclusive stock picks are powered by advanced, backtested quantitative models for improved profits.
This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Dollar General (DG) In-Line Recommendation

Target Corporation’s TGT ongoing shrink normalization is shaping up as one of the most visible contributors to near-term margin stabilization, even as top-line trends remain pressured. After multiple years of elevated shrink, management expects the shrink levels to fully normalize to the pre-pandemic benchmarks in fiscal 2025, materially improving the gross margin performance.
Management has positioned shrink improvement as a deliberate, multi-year operational reset rather than a short-term benefit. Enhanced inventory controls, improved store execution and better supply-chain visibility have collectively reduced loss rates. Importantly, shrink normalization represents a margin lever that does not depend on pricing actions or incremental demand, making it a higher-quality source of profit improvement.
The financial impact is already evident in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 results. Lower shrink contributed approximately 70 basis points of gross-margin benefit, partially offsetting roughly 100 basis points of merchandising pressure tied to higher markdowns. As a result, the gross margin declined only modestly year over year to 28.2% despite ongoing softness in discretionary categories.
Looking to fiscal 2025, Target expects shrink improvements to deliver approximately 80-90 basis points of gross masrgin favorability. This level of benefit is sufficient to return shrink fully to the pre-pandemic levels, representing what management described as a “dramatic turnaround” versus peak post-pandemic losses.
From an earnings perspective, shrink normalization alone is unlikely to drive a full profit recovery. However, it meaningfully improves margin durability and earnings conversion. As sales trends stabilize, Target’s improved shrink profile positions the company to translate incremental revenues into disproportionately higher operating profit, making shrink control a foundational element of the longer-term profit rebound story.
How TGT’s Shrink Progress Compares to DG & ULTA
Dollar General Corporation DG continues to demonstrate solid progress in reducing shrink, supporting margin recovery. In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, Dollar General achieved a 90-basis-point improvement in shrink, contributing to a 107-basis-point increase in the gross margin. Management noted that shrink is improving faster than anticipated, driven by operational and inventory initiatives. Despite ongoing cost pressures, shrink reduction remains a key margin lever for Dollar General.
Ulta Beauty, Inc. ULTA delivered meaningful shrink benefits in third-quarter fiscal 2025, supporting margin expansion. Lower inventory shrink helped drive a 70-basis-point increase in the gross margin, reflecting disciplined execution. Ulta Beauty achieved this through enhanced associate training, process improvements and store-level action plans that reduced shrink across most categories and regions. Ulta Beauty expects modest shrink improvement in the fiscal fourth quarter compared with the prior-year period.
Target’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
The TGT stock has gained 1.5% in the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 0.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Target’s forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 12.76 reflects a lower valuation than the industry’s average of 29.56. TGT has a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TGT’s fiscal 2025 earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 17.7%, while the same for fiscal 2026 indicates growth of 6%. Earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 have been southbound by 7 cents and 25 cents per share, respectively, in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Target currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Target's Shrink Normalization Emerges as Key Margin Stabilizer

Key Points
TJX stock has not experienced a negative annual return in stock price for 16 consecutive years.
Walmart is the world's largest retailer by revenue, and its stock isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Dollar General experienced rough years in 2023 and 2024, but it has bounced back strongly in 2025.
Retail stocks can be sensitive to economic shifts, but several major retailers have proven they can perform across both downturns and growth cycles. Companies such as TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX), Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT), and Dollar General (NYSE: DG) remain pillars in the U.S. retail economy.
If you have $500 in available cash that isn't needed for an emergency fund, monthly bills, or short-term debt, you may want to consider buying and holding one or all three of these retail stocks.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
1. TJX remains the retail leader of off-price apparel and home goods
Having outperformed the S&P 500 for the last two years as of Dec. 12, TJX is undeniably one of the best retail stocks, having consistently delivered gains for over 15 years.
Consisting of off-price retail stores such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, the company offers a variety of products for every season at discounted prices.
2. Walmart continues to dominate retail, now expanding into AI shopping
Walmart's stock price was reduced to $58.52 per share in February 2024, following its stock split. The retail giant has already essentially doubled that price, sitting at $116.70, as of Dec. 12.
Two months prior, Walmart agreed to a partnership with OpenAI , allowing ChatGPT users to soon search for and purchase goods directly within the artificial intelligence (AI) app, further distancing itself from the competition.
3. Dollar General plans a massive expansion in 2026
Dollar General's stock is up 75% in 2025, as of Dec. 12, making a strong rebound from its 70% decline over the prior two years.
After restructuring its executive team throughout the winter, the discount retailer is optimistic about 2026, with plans to open 450 new U.S. locations next year.
The retail industry is dependent on these companies
The key takeaway here is that TJX, Walmart, and Dollar General have all demonstrated adaptability across various consumer spending patterns. If you have $500 to invest in retail companies today, any one of these three can be ideal for your shopping bags, and for your portfolio.
Should you buy stock in TJX Companies right now?
Before you buy stock in TJX Companies, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and TJX Companies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $509,039!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,109,506!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 972% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of December 22, 2025.
Adé Hennis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends TJX Companies and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Got $500? 3 Retail Stocks to Buy and Hold for Decades.

Key Points
Stocks are hovering at an all-time high despite concerns about AI and the economy.
Micron surged on its latest earnings report, but the stock got even cheaper.
Dollar General is on the mend after a rough few years.
Heading into the end of 2025, the stock market seems to be at a crossroads. The S&P 500 is hovering near an all-time high, but after surging for the last three years, expectations of a pullback seem to be increasing.
Talk of an AI bubble has grown, leading to a sell-off in November, and the economy is showing clear signs of weakness. Consumer sentiment has tumbled, putting pressure on a number of retailers, and the labor market is struggling, with the unemployment rate hitting a four-year high.
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In other words, this looks like the kind of stock market where the gap between winners and losers is growing. Keep reading to see two stocks that look like winners heading into 2026.
1. Micron
Memory chipmaker Micron (NASDAQ: MU) may have been an underrated AI play for the last few years, but the secret is out after the company's latest earnings report.
Micron crushed estimates and gave even better guidance for its fiscal second quarter. Overall revenue jumped 57% to $13.6 billion, and its division with the most exposure to AI, cloud memory, grew by 100% to $5.3 billion. Demand continues to soar for its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are a key component of the AI stack, and the company pulled forward its forecast for HBM growth, saying it now expected the total addressable market for HBMs to reach $100 billion by 2028, ahead of an earlier forecast of 2030.
In addition to the soaring revenue, Micron is also seeing its margins expand thanks to rising prices, lower costs, and a favorable product mix. Operating margin jumped from 25% to 45%, and adjusted earnings per share climbed from $1.79 to $4.78.
What really makes Micron worth doubling down on right now is its dirt cheap valuation, a sign that Wall Street has continued to underestimate the stock. Following the report, EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 jumped from $18.10 to $31.88, nearly quadrupling from the $8.29 it reported in the year before. Based on that estimate, the stock trades at less than 9 times forward earnings. Though that partly reflects a sector where pricing dynamics are notoriously cyclical, it also shows how cheap the stock is.
That should give investors confidence that the stock can still go significantly higher even as it just reached an all-time high.
2. Dollar General
Consumer-facing stocks might be under pressure, but the combination of persistent inflation and flat job growth has led to more Americans trading down to cheaper goods when they shop, and that's good news for Dollar General (NYSE: DG).
In its third-quarter earnings report, the company posted same-store sales growth of 2.5%, and the company said it was seeing more traffic from higher-income customers. Dollar General is a countercyclical business, meaning it tends to do better when the economy is weak. For example, same-store sales soared in 2008 and 2009 during the depths of the great financial crisis, so economic challenges should work to the company's favor.
Additionally, the company has made real progress in its strategic initiatives, including limiting out-of-stocks and ensuring the checkout area is adequately staffed. That helped drive a significant improvement in gross margin, which rose from 28.8% to 29.9% in the third quarter, benefiting from lower shrink and higher inventory markups.
As a result of its margin improvements, the company raised its earnings per share guidance from $5.80-$6.30 to $6.30-$6.50 for the year.
Based on that forecast, the stock trades at a forward P/E of 21.5, which looks like a good price to pay for a stock like Dollar General that's getting tailwinds from both internal improvement and macro-level effects.
Dollar General continues to open new stores, targeting 575 new stores this year and 450 next year, which will help drive revenue higher. With a solid growth runway and the tailwinds above, the company looks like a good bet to keep moving higher.
Should you buy stock in Micron Technology right now?
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Jeremy Bowman has positions in Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

2 Top Stocks To Double Up on Right Now

Fintel reports that on December 19, 2025, Wells Fargo maintained coverage of Dollar General (NYSE:DG) with a Equal-Weight recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 6.26% Downside
As of December 5, 2025, the average one-year price target for Dollar General is $128.68/share. The forecasts range from a low of $80.80 to a high of $168.00. The average price target represents a decrease of 6.26% from its latest reported closing price of $137.28 / share.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for Dollar General is 44,463MM, an increase of 5.57%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 15.58, a decrease of 2.13% from the prior forecast.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 1,736 funds or institutions reporting positions in Dollar General. This is an increase of 26 owner(s) or 1.52% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to DG is 0.25%, an increase of 13.29%. Total shares owned by institutions increased in the last three months by 0.01% to 238,550K shares. The put/call ratio of DG is 1.09, indicating a bearish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Pzena Investment Management holds 11,678K shares representing 5.31% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 11,849K shares , representing a decrease of 1.47%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in DG by 11.50% over the last quarter.
VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 7,082K shares representing 3.22% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 6,961K shares , representing an increase of 1.71%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in DG by 18.07% over the last quarter.
VFINX - Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares holds 6,243K shares representing 2.84% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 6,113K shares , representing an increase of 2.08%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in DG by 18.02% over the last quarter.
First Eagle Investment Management holds 5,977K shares representing 2.72% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 5,976K shares , representing an increase of 0.02%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in DG by 18.46% over the last quarter.
Geode Capital Management holds 5,665K shares representing 2.57% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 5,649K shares , representing an increase of 0.28%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in DG by 56.19% over the last quarter.
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This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Wells Fargo Maintains Dollar General (DG) Equal-Weight Recommendation

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores?
Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value Score
For value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth Score
Growth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum Score
Momentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM Score
What if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank
A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.81% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Dollar General (DG)
Headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Dollar General Corporation is one of the largest discount retailers in the United States. The company trades in low priced merchandise typically $10 or less.
DG is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Retail-Wholesale stock. DG has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 36.3% over the past four weeks.
21 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.30 to $6.44 per share. DG boasts an average earnings surprise of +22.9%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, DG should be on investors' short list.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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