Dollar General Stock Jumps on Earnings. It’s Been a Great Week for Dollar Stores.

Dollar General shares were up 45% this year as of Wednesday’s close. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Key Points

• Dollar General reports third-quarter earnings of $1.28 ashare, exceeding analysts’ estimates of 98 cents.
• The retailer’s net sales reach $10.6 billion, with same-store sales increasing by 2.5% from the previous year.
• Dollar General raises its fiscal-year earnings guidance to $6.30 to $6.50 a share and same-store sales growth to 2.5% to 2.7%.

Shares of Dollar General rose Thursday after the low-cost retailer reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and lifted its fiscal-year guidance.

The company posted earnings of $1.28 a share for its third quarter, well ahead of analysts’ consensus call for 98 cents, according to FactSet. Net sales totaled $10.6 billion, in line with estimates. Same-store sales increased 2.5% from the prior year.

Dollar General stock climbed 2.9% in premarket trading Thursday. Shares had risen 45% this year as of Wednesday’s close.

Dollar General now expects per-share earnings of $6.30 to $6.50 for the fiscal year, up from a previous range of $5.80 to $6.30. Fiscal-year same-store sales were forecast to rise between 2.5% and 2.7%. The company previously had expected growth between 2.1% and 2.6%.

The beat-and-raise follows a strong earnings report from competitor Dollar Tree on Wednesday. Dollar Tree shares were up 0.6% in premarket trading after climbing 3.6% in Wednesday’s session.

Write to Nate Wolf at nate.wolf@barrons.com