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Globe and Mail
32 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Back to Basics or Back to Growth? Inside Dollar General's 2025 Plan
Dollar General Corporation 's DG first-quarter fiscal 2025 performance suggests a strong emphasis on "Back to Basics," laying the groundwork for a renewed path to growth. Net sales rose 5.3%, and same-store sales climbed 2.4%, driven by improved store standards, stronger customer service, better inventory control and meaningful progress on shrink mitigation, which lifted the gross margin. Merchandising initiatives, particularly SKU rationalization, are streamlining assortments to focus on high-velocity items, contributing to sales momentum. This effort aligns with improving execution in seasonal and non-consumable categories. Additionally, Dollar General continues to attract higher-income 'trade-in' customers seeking value, supported by its commitment to maintaining more than 2,000 items priced at or below $1. Furthermore, the significant investment in Project Elevate and Project Renovate remodels — targeting 20% of the store base annually — aims to bolster performance in mature stores. These remodels are expected to drive comp growth. Dollar General's goal for Project Elevate stores is to achieve first-year annualized comparable sales lifts ranging from 3% to 5%. On the digital front, Dollar General is ramping up delivery capabilities through its exclusive partnership with DoorDash and a growing in-house same-day service, now active in 3,000-plus locations. With SNAP and EBT now integrated into online orders, the retailer is broadening access and tapping into new customer segments. Overall, Dollar General's disciplined focus on operations, combined with its value proposition and strategic growth initiatives, positions it to convert 'Back to Basics' into sustainable growth. DG expects 3.7%-4.7% net sales growth, with 1.5%-2.5% same-store sales growth for fiscal 2025. Dollar General's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Dollar General stock has rallied 55.7% over the past six months against the industry 's decline of 0.1%. The company has also comfortably outperformed key peers such as Target Corporation TGT and Costco Wholesale Corporation COST. During the same period, Target shares have tumbled 23.8%, while Costco has posted a modest gain of 0.7%. Dollar General's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 18.21 reflects a lower valuation compared to the industry's average of 31.61. DG carries a Value Score of B. DG is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 13.21) but at a discount to Costco (48.26). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar General's current financial-year sales suggests year-over-year growth of 4.4%, while estimates for earnings per share imply a decline of 2.7%. Dollar General currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. One Big Gain, Every Trading Day To help you take full advantage of this market, you're invited to access every stock recommendation in all our private portfolios - for just $1. Zacks private portfolio services that closed 256 double and triple-digit winners in 2024 alone. That's about one big gain every day the market was open. Of course, not all our picks are winners, but members have seen recent gains as high as +627% +1,340%, and +1,708%. Imagine how much you could profit with a steady stream of real-time picks from all our services that cover a number of strategies to suit a variety of investing and trading styles. See Stocks Now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Target Corporation (TGT): Free Stock Analysis Report Dollar General Corporation (DG): Free Stock Analysis Report Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST): Free Stock Analysis Report
Globe and Mail
38 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
VZ Surpasses Q2 Earnings Estimates on Solid Wireless Traction
Verizon Communications Inc. VZ recorded strong second-quarter 2025 results with adjusted earnings and revenues beating the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company recorded industry-leading wireless service revenues of $20.9 billion, up 2.2% year over year. Verizon registered solid broadband growth with total fixed wireless access net additions of 278,000, growing the subscriber base to more than 5.1 million. The company remains well-positioned to achieve its target of 8 to 9 million fixed wireless access subscribers by 2028. Net Income On a GAAP basis, net income in the quarter was $5.12 billion or $1.18 per share compared with $4.7 billion or $1.09 per share in the prior-year quarter. The improvement was primarily attributable to top-line growth. Excluding non-recurring items, quarterly adjusted earnings were $1.22 per share compared with $1.15 in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4 cents. (See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.) Revenues Quarterly total operating revenues improved 5.2% to $34.5 billion with growth in service revenues and higher wireless equipment revenues driven by targeted pricing actions, customer growth, sales of perks and add-on services and growth in fixed wireless access. The top line beat the consensus estimate of $33.58 billion. Quarterly Segment Results Consumer: Total revenues from this segment improved 6.9% year over year to $26.65 billion on wireless equipment revenues. The segment revenues exceeded our estimate of $25.63 billion. Service revenues were up 2.1% to $20.26 billion, while wireless equipment revenues improved 29.6% to $5.37 billion. Other revenues totaled $1.02 billion, up 9.2% year over year. Wireless retail postpaid churn was 1.12%, while retail postpaid phone churn was 0.9%. The company recorded 28,000 Fios Internet net additions as high demand for reliable fiber optic broadband was spurred by higher video consumption. Verizon delivered 293,000 broadband net additions in the quarter. However, it registered 62,000 Fios Video net losses in the quarter, reflecting the ongoing shift from traditional linear video to over-the-top offerings. The segment's operating income increased 0.5% to $7.64 billion with a margin of 28.7%. EBITDA improved 2.1% to $11.22 billion with a margin of 42.1% compared with 44.1% in the prior-year quarter due to lower costs of wireless equipment. Business: The segment revenues were down 0.3% to $7.27 billion due to lower wholesale and enterprise and public sector revenues, partially offset by growth in business markets and other revenues. It was also lower than our estimates of $7.29 billion, largely due to challenging macroeconomic conditions. The segment had 65,000 wireless retail postpaid net additions in the quarter, including 42,000 postpaid phone net additions. Wireless retail postpaid churn was 1.61%, while retail postpaid phone churn was 1.26%. Fixed wireless broadband net additions were 114,000 for the quarter. Operating income improved to $638 million from $500 million in the year-ago quarter with respective margins of 8.8% and 6.8%. Segment EBITDA was up 5.8% to $1.67 billion owing to an improvement in wireless service revenues for a margin of 22.9% compared with 21.6% in the year-earlier quarter. Other Quarterly Details Total operating expenses were up 5.4% to $26.33 billion, while operating income improved 4.5% to $8.17 billion. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA increased to $12.81 billion from $12.3 billion, led by wireless service revenue growth and perceived benefits from lower upgrade volumes for respective margins of 37.1% and 37.5%. Cash Flow & Liquidity Verizon generated $16.76 billion of net cash from operating activities for the first six months of 2025. Free cash flow was $5.17 billion for the quarter compared with $5.8 billion in the prior-year period. As of June 30, 2025, the company had $3.43 billion in cash and cash equivalents with $123.93 billion of long-term debt. Guidance For 2025, Verizon continues to expect wireless service revenue growth in the range of 2%-2.8%. However, adjusted EBITDA is expected to grow 2.5%-3.5%, up from prior expectations of 2%-3.5%. The company expects adjusted earnings to grow 1-3% range with a cash flow of $37-$39 billion on capital expenditures of $17.5-$18.5 billion. Zacks Rank Verizon currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Upcoming Releases Arista Networks Inc. ANET is scheduled to release second-quarter 2025 earnings on Aug. 5. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 65 cents per share, suggesting a growth of 25% from the year-ago reported figure. Arista has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.8%. Arista delivered an average earnings surprise of 11.8% in the last four reported quarters. Akamai Technologies, Inc. AKAM is slated to release second-quarter 2025 earnings on Aug. 7. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.55 per share, indicating a 1.9% decline from the year-ago reported figure. Akamai has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%. Akamai delivered an average earnings surprise of 4.8% in the last four reported quarters. Pinterest, Inc. PINS is set to release second-quarter 2025 earnings on Aug. 7. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 34 cents per share, implying a growth of 17.2% from the year-ago reported figure. Pinterest has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 33.3%. Pinterest delivered an average earnings surprise of 0.5% in the last four reported quarters. One Big Gain, Every Trading Day To help you take full advantage of this market, you're invited to access every stock recommendation in all our private portfolios - for just $1. Zacks private portfolio services that closed 256 double and triple-digit winners in 2024 alone. That's about one big gain every day the market was open. Of course, not all our picks are winners, but members have seen recent gains as high as +627% +1,340%, and +1,708%. Imagine how much you could profit with a steady stream of real-time picks from all our services that cover a number of strategies to suit a variety of investing and trading styles. See Stocks Now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ): Free Stock Analysis Report Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM): Free Stock Analysis Report Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET): Free Stock Analysis Report Pinterest, Inc. (PINS): Free Stock Analysis Report
CBC
39 minutes ago
- CBC
Republican senator says Trump's 51st state rhetoric not 'constructive' during Ottawa visit
A U.S. Republican senator says she doesn't think President Donald Trump's past comments about making Canada the 51st state are helpful as the two countries are locked in negotiations to reach some sort of trade agreement. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was in Ottawa as part of a bipartisan delegation meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday morning. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Murkowski was asked about Trump's taunts about Canada becoming part of the U.S. "I cannot explain President Trump's rhetoric about the 51st state. That is his statement [and] I think it has been made very, very clear that most view that as nothing more than a positioning statement… something to maybe agitate," she said. "I don't think that's constructive, quite honestly. Certainly here in Canada you can sense that there is a direct hostility, if you will, to that suggestion." Since his re-election in November, Trump has said multiple times that he wants to see Canada join the U.S. as its 51st state — though his rhetoric has cooled in recent weeks. Trump was asked about the idea of Canada joining the U.S. as he was leaving the G7 meeting in Alberta last month and said he still thinks the country should become a state. "I think it's a much better deal from Canada, but, you know, it's up to them," the president told reporters. WATCH | Trump asked about 51st state comments: Trump asked about 51st state comments, Canada's potential role in Golden Dome 1 month ago Trump and Carney have been in talks to reach a trade agreement after the U.S. slapped a series of tariffs on Canada earlier this year. Carney had set a deadline for an agreement to be reached a few times but has most recently pushed it back to Aug. 1. Murkowski was joined in Ottawa by Democratic senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada. Carney briefly spoke to reporters, saying he had a "good meeting" with the U.S. delegation. The senators showed off Canada-U.S. friendship bracelets they wore into the meeting. "Four senators here, [from] both political parties, spent the morning working to build bridges, not throw wrenches," Wyden said of the trade talks. Wyden said he and his colleagues covered a number of topics with Carney, including Canada's digital services tax and softwood lumber. The federal government rescinded the tax on companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb last month after Trump called for its removal. Wyden said Monday that he wants Canada to permanently kill the tax in legislation and suggested Carney was open to that idea. The Oregon senator also said he and his colleagues were pushing for a quota on Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. "Softwood lumber is enormously important and we asked about how we could make progress on dealing with that issue," Wyden said. Carney says softwood quota is a possibility The prime minister suggested last week he is open to a trade agreement that includes quotas. "There is normally some element of managed trade that comes out of any agreement that comes there, it can include quotas, can include a variety of trade factors," Carney said. Softwood lumber has been a sticking point in Canada-U.S. relations for decades. The two countries have been without a softwood deal since 2015.
