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DG or HSY or PG
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Dollar General (DG) vs. Hershey (HSY) vs. Procter & Gamble (PG) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- DG has delivered strong YTD gains of over 10%, driven by robust same-store sales growth and anticipation of Q4 earnings, outperforming peers in recent market activity.
- HSY shows solid YTD performance around 24%, bolstered by salty snacks expansion amid cocoa cost pressures, with shares reflecting resilient demand.
- PG maintains stability with YTD returns near 8%, supported by consistent dividend growth over 70 years, though facing softer U.S. volume trends.
- All three stocks operate in consumer defensive spaces, but DG's discount retail model benefits from value-seeking consumers, while HSY and PG navigate commodity and volume challenges.
- Recent momentum favors DG with nearly 100% one-year gains, contrasting HSY's 26% and PG's more modest advances.
- Valuation metrics highlight DG's P/E around 25x, competitive with PG at 23x, amid sector-relative performance shifts.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines DG (Dollar General), HSY (Hershey), and PG (Procter & Gamble), three stalwarts in consumer defensive sectors offering essential goods. Dollar General thrives in discount retail, Hershey in confectionery and snacks, and Procter & Gamble in household and personal care products. Investors seeking relative performance insights amid shifting consumer sentiment, commodity pressures, and economic resilience will find value here. Recent market activity underscores contrasts in momentum, valuation sensitivity, and growth drivers, aiding decisions on stock positioning in portfolios focused on stability and income.
DG Overview and Recent Performance
Dollar General Corporation (DG), a leading discount retailer serving rural and suburban communities, operates over 20,000 stores focused on value-oriented consumables and non-consumables. In recent weeks, shares have traded around $146, reflecting YTD gains exceeding 10% and one-year advances near 98%. This momentum stems from solid Q3 results with net sales up 4.6% to $10.6 billion and same-store sales rising 2.5%, fueled by traffic growth. Analysts anticipate Q4 revenue around $10.78 billion, with positive earnings surprise potential at 5.38%. Sentiment benefits from Jim Cramer's bullish stance on its affordable essentials amid economic uncertainty, though store safety concerns and valuation scrutiny persist. The stock's P/E near 25x aligns with growth expectations, supported by expansion plans.
HSY Overview and Recent Performance
The Hershey Company (HSY), a confectionery giant with brands like Reese's and strong salty snacks growth, reported full-year 2025 net sales up 4.4% to $11.7 billion despite cocoa-driven margin pressures. Shares have advanced about 24% YTD and 26% over one year, trading amid recent salty snacks surges. Q4 sales rose 7% to $3.1 billion, though adjusted EPS fell 36.4% to $1.71 due to elevated costs; leadership forecasts resilient 2026 demand. Positive analyst revisions and Zacks Rank #1 underscore momentum, with win rates in related bots highlighting sector appeal. Performance reflects pricing discipline offsetting commodity volatility, positioning HSY for snacking category expansion.
PG Overview and Recent Performance
Procter & Gamble (PG), a global leader in household and personal care with brands like Tide and Pampers, boasts a market cap over $350 billion and 70 years of dividend increases yielding 2.75%. Shares hover near $154, with YTD returns around 8%, tempered by recent U.S. softness. Q2 fiscal 2026 sales grew 1% to $22.2 billion, with organic sales flat as pricing gains offset 1% volume declines; core EPS held steady at $1.88. Beauty and health care segments drove growth at 5% each, countering baby care weakness amid tariffs and spending caution. P/E at 23x reflects stability, with Citi's Buy rating and $181 target signaling confidence despite broader sector headwinds.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
DG, HSY, and PG anchor consumer defensive plays but diverge in models: DG's rural discount focus drives traffic amid value hunts, contrasting HSY's premium snacks innovation and PG's broad essentials scale. Growth drivers include DG's 2.5% same-store gains and store expansions versus HSY's salty snacks surge offsetting cocoa costs, and PG's pricing resilience despite volume dips. Recent momentum favors DG (YTD +10%, 1Y +98%) over HSY (+24% YTD) and PG (+8%), reflecting retail resilience. Risks encompass DG's shrinkage, HSY's commodities, and PG's tariffs. All share consumer staples exposure, but DG shows higher beta to economic shifts. Valuations cluster at P/E 23-25x, with PG offering superior dividends; sentiment tilts toward DG's upside potential.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors DG based on superior trend consistency, with YTD outperformance, strong same-store momentum, and positive earnings catalysts like a 5.38% surprise potential. Relative to HSY's cost vulnerabilities and PG's volume stagnation, DG exhibits stronger positioning amid value-driven consumer shifts, though probabilistic edges depend on Q4 results and macro stability.
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 disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
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 0 FA rating(s) are green whileHSY’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and PG’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- DG’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- HSY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- PG’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 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 HSY’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and PG’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- DG’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- HSY’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- PG’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
DG (@Discount Stores) experienced а +9.46% price change this week, while HSY (@Food: Specialty/Candy) price change was -4.78% , and PG (@Household/Personal Care) price fluctuated +1.22% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Discount Stores industry was +2.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.71%, and the average quarterly price growth was +7.10%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Specialty/Candy industry was -2.68%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.45%, and the average quarterly price growth was +1.01%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Household/Personal Care industry was +0.96%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.95%, and the average quarterly price growth was -8.44%.
Reported Earning Dates
DG is expected to report earnings on May 21, 2026.
HSY is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
PG is expected to report earnings on Apr 24, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Discount Stores (+2.34% 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.
@Food: Specialty/Candy (-2.68% weekly)A specialty/candy manufacturer specializes in one or more of the following: chocolate, candies, pasta, condiments, seasonings, among other items. Hershey Company, McCormick & Company and J.M. Smucker Company are some of the major firms in this segment. Demand for this industry’s products comes from both institutions/restaurants as well as households.
@Household/Personal Care (+0.96% weekly)Household/Personal Care companies sell products for home cleaning and/or personal hygiene and grooming purposes. Products of this industry include detergents, shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, fabric conditioners and infant care fragrances. Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Estee Lauder and Colgate-Palmolive are some of the biggest names in the business. A lot of the products become a necessary part of people’s daily routine, and therefore the industry is relatively less vulnerable to macroeconomic downturns. At the same time, product quality, consumer safety, and ease of use are extremely critical factors for a company to survive competition and earn recognition in this industry.
| DG | HSY | PG | |
| Capitalization | 27.9B | 39B | 341B |
| EBITDA | 3.24B | 1.94B | 24.5B |
| Gain YTD | -3.726 | 6.547 | 3.254 |
| P/E Ratio | 18.49 | 44.38 | 21.77 |
| Revenue | 42.7B | 11.7B | 85.3B |
| Total Cash | 1.14B | 926M | 10.8B |
| Total Debt | 15.7B | 5.74B | 36.6B |
DG | HSY | PG | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 20 | 5 | 51 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 45 Fair valued | 34 Fair valued | 39 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 71 | 54 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 46 | 46 | 30 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 54 | 59 | 60 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 7 | 81 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 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.
HSY's Valuation (34) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as PG (39) in the Household Or Personal Care industry, and is in the same range as DG (45) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that HSY's stock grew similarly to PG’s and similarly to DG’s over the last 12 months.
PG's Profit vs Risk Rating (54) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as HSY (71) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (100) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that PG's stock grew similarly to HSY’s and somewhat faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
PG's SMR Rating (30) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as HSY (46) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is in the same range as DG (46) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that PG's stock grew similarly to HSY’s and similarly to DG’s over the last 12 months.
DG's Price Growth Rating (54) in the Discount Stores industry is in the same range as HSY (59) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is in the same range as PG (60) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that DG's stock grew similarly to HSY’s and similarly to PG’s over the last 12 months.
HSY's P/E Growth Rating (7) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (62) in the Discount Stores industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for PG (81) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that HSY's stock grew somewhat faster than DG’s and significantly faster than PG’s over the last 12 months.
| DG | HSY | PG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 68% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 45% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | N/A | 2 days ago 41% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | N/A | 2 days ago 46% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 43% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 43% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 10 days ago 64% | 10 days ago 45% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 42% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 36% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 35% |
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