Advertisement
DG or MO or TGT
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Dollar General (DG) vs. Altria Group (MO) vs. Target (TGT) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- DG delivered strong Q4 FY2025 results with net sales up 5.9% to $10.9B, but shares fell ~7-9% post-earnings due to cautious 2026 guidance amid cost pressures.
- MO trades steadily around $68 with YTD gains near 18%, supported by a high ~6.3% dividend yield and stable tobacco demand, though facing volume declines offset by pricing.
- TGT beat Q4 EPS estimates at $2.44 adjusted, guiding FY2026 EPS $7.50-$8.50, with shares up ~21% YTD on price cuts and recovery efforts.
- Relative performance shows DG leading 1-year returns at ~68-115%, followed by TGT ~9-12% and MO ~17%, highlighting discount retail resilience.
- Valuations differ: TGT P/E ~14x, MO ~16x, DG ~25x, with MO offering top yield.
- Recent momentum favors TGT and MO YTD, while DG shows volatility but long-term outperformance in discount segment.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines DG (Dollar General), MO (Altria Group), and TGT (Target), representing discount retail, tobacco, and general merchandise sectors. These stocks appeal to value-oriented traders and investors navigating consumer spending shifts, inflation pressures, and sector-specific dynamics like pricing power and dividend reliability. Recent earnings highlight contrasts in performance and guidance, offering insights into relative strength in a volatile market environment focused on resilient essentials and discount demand. This analysis aids decisions on stock comparison, relative performance, and market positioning.
DG Overview and Recent Performance
Dollar General, a leading discount retailer with over 20,000 U.S. stores, targets value-conscious consumers with everyday essentials. In recent market activity, shares traded around $132 after a post-earnings dip of 7-9% despite strong Q4 FY2025 results: net sales rose 5.9% to $10.9B, same-store sales up 4.3%, and EPS $1.93 beating estimates. Full-year sales hit $42.7B, up 5.2%, with improved cash flow from operations at $3.6B. Sentiment softened on tempered FY2026 guidance (sales growth 3.4-4.4%, EPS $5.10-$5.80) citing rising costs and macro pressures, though store expansions and inventory management bolster long-term positioning. YTD returns near flat, but 1-year gains exceed 67%.
MO Overview and Recent Performance
Altria Group, a major tobacco player owning Philip Morris USA, focuses on cigarettes, smokeless products, and oral nicotine like on!. Shares hovered near $68 in recent weeks, up ~18% YTD and ~17% over one year, reflecting defensive appeal amid volatility. Q4 FY2025 adjusted EPS was $1.30, slightly missing estimates, with revenues ~$5B; full-year adjusted EPS ~$5.42. Pricing offset ~10% cigarette volume declines, while on! pouches grew strongly. FY2026 guidance targets adjusted EPS $5.56-$5.72 (2.5-5.5% growth). High dividend yield ~6.3% drives income focus, with low beta (~0.43) signaling stability. Sentiment remains positive on cash returns and diversification, though regulatory risks linger.
TGT Overview and Recent Performance
Target operates big-box stores emphasizing style, groceries, and essentials, with ~2,000 locations. Recent performance saw shares around $117, up ~21% YTD and ~9-12% over one year, rebounding on strategic moves. Q4 FY2025 adjusted EPS $2.44 beat estimates ($2.16), though revenue $30.45B missed slightly; comparable sales down 2.5%. Full-year adjusted EPS $7.57 aligned with expectations. New CEO initiatives include price cuts on 3,000+ items and $2B store investments to revive traffic. FY2026 EPS guidance $7.50-$8.50 signals growth. Sentiment improved on turnaround efforts, digital sales strength, and dividend yield ~3.9%, despite prior sales slumps.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page curates 25 top-performing AI trading bots from 351 total, selected by AI for suitability in current market conditions like volatility and sector rotations. These bots trade thousands of tickers across stocks, ETFs, and crypto using diverse strategies—technical patterns, fundamentals, swing trading, or short-term signals on 5min to 60min timeframes. Performance stats shine: annualized returns +17% to +210%, win rates 53-95%, profit factors 1.6-25.8, trading 1-25 tickers with average durations 1-62 days. Consumer staples bots feature leaders like WMT (+25%, 73% win rate). Virtual and brokerage agents add risk controls. Explore these for real-time signals and copy trading to enhance strategies across DG, MO, TGT.
Head-to-Head Comparison
DG and TGT operate in discount/general retail, thriving on value seekers amid inflation, but DG's smaller-store focus yields higher 1-year momentum (~68%) versus TGT's recovery (~9%). MO contrasts as a defensive tobacco staple with steady volumes/pricing, lower volatility (beta 0.43), but growth capped by regulations. Growth drivers: DG/TGT expansions/remodels vs. MO's smokeless shift. Risks include retail traffic sensitivity for DG/TGT and volumes for MO. Valuations: TGT cheapest P/E ~14x, MO ~16x with top yield ~6%, DG priciest ~25x. Sentiment favors DG on execution, TGT on catalysts, MO stability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI leans toward TGT in the current environment, citing consistent Q4 EPS beats, proactive price cuts, and FY2026 growth guidance amid retail recovery signals. Its lower P/E, solid YTD momentum (~21%), and catalysts like store investments position it favorably versus DG's post-guidance pullback and MO's structural headwinds, though MO offers stability. Observable trends suggest higher probability of near-term outperformance for TGT.
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 whileMO’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s), and TGT’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
- DG’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- MO’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- TGT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 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 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and TGT’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- DG’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- MO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- TGT’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
DG (@Discount Stores) experienced а +9.46% price change this week, while MO (@Tobacco) price change was -4.76% , and TGT (@Discount Stores) price fluctuated +4.88% 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 @Tobacco industry was -1.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.47%, and the average quarterly price growth was -9.25%.
Reported Earning Dates
DG is expected to report earnings on May 21, 2026.
MO is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
TGT is expected to report earnings on May 20, 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.
@Tobacco (-1.34% 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 | TGT | |
| Capitalization | 27.9B | 107B | 57.9B |
| EBITDA | 3.24B | 10.8B | 8.35B |
| Gain YTD | -3.726 | 13.155 | 32.113 |
| P/E Ratio | 18.49 | 15.58 | 15.72 |
| Revenue | 42.7B | 20.1B | 105B |
| Total Cash | 1.14B | N/A | 5.49B |
| Total Debt | 15.7B | 25.7B | 20.3B |
DG | MO | TGT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 30 | 56 | 23 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 45 Fair valued | 8 Undervalued | 67 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 14 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 46 | 9 | 38 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 52 | 34 | 12 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 15 | 24 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 23 |
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 (8) in the Tobacco industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (45) in the Discount Stores industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for TGT (67) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that MO's stock grew somewhat faster than DG’s and somewhat faster than TGT’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Profit vs Risk Rating (14) in the Tobacco industry is significantly better than the same rating for DG (100) in the Discount Stores industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for TGT (100) in the Specialty Stores industry. This means that MO's stock grew significantly faster than DG’s and significantly faster than TGT’s over the last 12 months.
MO's SMR Rating (9) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as TGT (38) in the Specialty Stores industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (46) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to TGT’s and somewhat faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
TGT's Price Growth Rating (12) in the Specialty Stores industry is in the same range as MO (34) in the Tobacco industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (52) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that TGT's stock grew similarly to MO’s and somewhat faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
MO's P/E Growth Rating (15) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as TGT (24) in the Specialty Stores industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (62) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to TGT’s and somewhat faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
| DG | MO | TGT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 55% | N/A | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 57% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 35% | 3 days ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 40% | 3 days ago 52% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 62% | 3 days ago 40% | 3 days ago 67% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 31% | 3 days ago 68% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 62% | 11 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 67% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 64% | 5 days ago 37% | 7 days ago 64% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 71% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 23% | 5 days ago 51% |
Advertisement
| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| PPA | 176.59 | 1.85 | +1.06% |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | |||
| DECT | 37.84 | 0.33 | +0.88% |
| AllianzIM US Equity Buffer10 Dec ETF | |||
| AMUN | 26.06 | 0.01 | +0.04% |
| abrdn Ultra Short Municipal Inc Act ETF | |||
| DIAX | 14.10 | N/A | N/A |
| Nuveen DOW 30Sm Dynamic Overwrite Fund | |||
| BNDD | 97.32 | -1.00 | -1.02% |
| Quadratic Deflation ETF | |||
TGT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, TGT has been loosely correlated with DLTR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 33% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if TGT jumps, then DLTR could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To TGT | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TGT | 100% | +3.17% | ||
| DLTR - TGT | 33% Loosely correlated | +6.00% | ||
| DG - TGT | 26% Poorly correlated | +2.60% | ||
| PSMT - TGT | 26% Poorly correlated | +3.26% | ||
| COST - TGT | 25% Poorly correlated | +1.28% | ||
| OLLI - TGT | 24% Poorly correlated | +0.30% | ||
More | ||||