Advertisement
DG vs MO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Dollar General (DG) vs. Altria Group (MO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- DG reported strong Q4 earnings with 5.9% sales growth to $10.9 billion and EPS up 121.8% to $1.93, but shares dropped over 6% post-earnings due to tempered 2026 guidance.
- MO has shown resilience with shares up about 17% YTD and a high dividend yield around 6.3%, attracting income-focused investors amid market volatility.
- Recent momentum favors MO with steady gains, while DG faces pressure from slower projected sales growth and consumer spending concerns.
- MO trades at a lower P/E ratio near 16x compared to DG's 23-26x, offering better relative valuation in consumer staples.
- Both stocks operate in defensive consumer staples, but DG emphasizes retail expansion while MO focuses on smoke-free transitions and dividends.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines DG (Dollar General) and MO (Altria Group), two consumer staples giants offering stability in volatile markets. DG serves value-conscious shoppers through discount retail, while MO dominates U.S. tobacco with a shift toward smoke-free products. Traders seeking relative performance insights and investors prioritizing dividends or growth potential will find this analysis relevant, highlighting recent trends, valuations, and sector dynamics in the current economic environment.
DG Overview and Recent Performance
Dollar General Corporation (DG) is the largest U.S. discount retailer by store count, operating over 20,000 small-format stores focused on consumables, household essentials, and seasonal goods at low prices, primarily in rural areas. Its business model emphasizes efficient operations, store expansion, and private labels to capture value-driven demand.
In recent market activity, DG delivered robust Q4 results with net sales up 5.9% to $10.9 billion and EPS surging 121.8% to $1.93, beating estimates amid higher traffic and same-store gains. However, guidance for 2026 sales growth of 3.7%-4.2% and softer same-store outlook led to a sharp post-earnings decline of over 6%, with shares trading around $136. Sentiment reflects concerns over consumer pressures like rising costs, though YTD gains stand at about 2-3% and 1-year returns near 72-85%.
MO Overview and Recent Performance
Altria Group, Inc. (MO) is a leading U.S. tobacco company, producing Marlboro cigarettes, smokeless products like Copenhagen, and emerging oral nicotine pouches under on! alongside e-vapor via NJOY. Its model relies on premium pricing, brand strength, and diversification into smoke-free alternatives to offset declining cigarette volumes.
Recent weeks have seen MO exhibit stability, with shares around $68 up 2% in recent sessions and 17% YTD, outperforming amid volatility thanks to its defensive appeal and dividend yield exceeding 6%. Performance drivers include resilient cash flows and growth in oral nicotine, though core cigarette declines persist. Over the past year, returns approximate 16%, bolstered by consistent payouts and lower beta for risk-averse positioning.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page showcases over 25 top-performing AI trading bots curated from hundreds of bots that trade thousands of tickers across stocks, ETFs, and crypto. These bots earn their spot through AI analysis highlighting superior adaptation to current market volatility, with stats like annualized returns from +17% to +216%, win rates of 53-95%, and profit factors up to 25.83. Examples include a multi-ticker bot on minerals, semis, and aerospace delivering +132% annualized with 62% win rate, and a semiconductors-focused bot at +103% with 71% wins. Varying by style—scalping on 15min charts to swing trades—these bots offer real-time signals for growth sectors. Explore Trending AI Robots to deploy strategies suited to today’s conditions.
Head-to-Head Comparison
DG and MO both anchor consumer staples but diverge in models: DG drives growth via 450+ annual store openings and digital delivery, targeting budget retail expansion, while MO leverages pricing power and smoke-free shifts amid volume declines. Recent momentum contrasts sharply, with DG down 6-9% weekly post-earnings versus MO’s steady uptrend. Risk profiles differ—DG faces retail competition and spending sensitivity (beta ~0.22), MO regulatory hurdles but defensive yield. MO’s ~$114B cap dwarfs DG’s $30B, with lower P/E (16x vs. 23x) and superior dividends signaling value trade-offs over growth.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors MO for its trend consistency, attractive valuation at a lower P/E, high dividend yield supporting income stability, and relative resilience in recent volatility. While DG shows strong fundamentals, its post-earnings pullback and growth moderation reduce short-term appeal. Observable factors like MO’s YTD outperformance position it probabilistically stronger amid uncertain consumer trends.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is DG is a Hold and MO is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
DG’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileMO’s FA Score has 5 green FA rating(s).
- DG’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- MO’s FA Score: 5 green, 0 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
DG’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MO’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- DG’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- MO’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
DG (@Discount Stores) experienced а -2.89% price change this week, while MO (@Tobacco) price change was +2.46% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Discount Stores industry was -0.78%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.41%, and the average quarterly price growth was +9.75%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Tobacco industry was +0.39%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.02%, and the average quarterly price growth was -8.00%.
Reported Earning Dates
DG is expected to report earnings on May 21, 2026.
MO is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Discount Stores (-0.78% weekly)Companies in the discount stores industry specialize in offering substantial discounts on a vast array of retail products. Some companies in this industry also operate general merchandise warehouse clubs. Products sold at discount stores are typically similar to those of any department store, but the pricing of the goods is generally much lower (and hence the name “discount”). Think Dollar General Corporation, Dollar Tree, Inc. and Five Below, Inc. Many discount stores target low-income households and/or price-sensitive consumers as their potential market. Discount stores’ profitability could hinge on factors like competitive pricing, sufficient locations, healthy revenue per square foot, and effective advertisement. These store operators could have an edge over other retailers during financial crises or recessions, when many consumers could be looking for less expensive alternatives.
@Tobacco (+0.39% weekly)The industry is engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products like cigarettes. In 2017, tobacco companies spent an estimated $9.36 billion marketing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the U.S. – an amount that translates to more than $25 million each day (according to a CDC report). Philip Morris International Inc., Altria Group Inc., and British American Tobacco plc are some major cigar makers. In recent times, vaping or the use of e-cigarette (does not burn tobacco) is gaining momentum – several established cigarette makers are trying to expand their footprint in this new market.
| DG | MO | DG / MO | |
| Capitalization | 25.5B | 113B | 23% |
| EBITDA | 3.24B | 10.8B | 30% |
| Gain YTD | -12.047 | 18.816 | -64% |
| P/E Ratio | 16.89 | 16.35 | 103% |
| Revenue | 42.7B | 20.1B | 212% |
| Total Cash | N/A | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 15.7B | 25.7B | 61% |
DG | MO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 5 | 5 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 31 Undervalued | 10 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 10 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 45 | 9 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 31 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 13 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MO's Valuation (10) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as DG (31) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that MO’s stock grew similarly to DG’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Profit vs Risk Rating (10) in the Tobacco industry is significantly better than the same rating for DG (100) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that MO’s stock grew significantly faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
MO's SMR Rating (9) in the Tobacco industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (45) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that MO’s stock grew somewhat faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Price Growth Rating (31) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as DG (59) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that MO’s stock grew similarly to DG’s over the last 12 months.
MO's P/E Growth Rating (13) in the Tobacco industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (62) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that MO’s stock grew somewhat faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
| DG | MO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 56% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 44% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 72% | 1 day ago 65% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 57% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 51% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 47% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 62% | 3 days ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 11 days ago 37% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 58% | 1 day ago 59% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 22% |
Advertisement