No. of Recommendations: 2
the jan 2025 value line, they make it hard to share but it's doable.
DollarTree delivered improvedfiscal
third-quarter results (period ended
November 2nd). The discount retailer
reportedearningsof$1.08ashareontotal
sales of $7.57 billion, up from$0.97 a
shareand$7.31billioninthecomparable
year-ago quarter. The performance was
boosted by anaccelerated pace of Dollar
Tree store openings and a strong out-of
the-gate showing from the company’s
$0.99onlyportfolio.Reducedfreight costs
werealsosupportiveofmarginexpansion
duringtheperiod.Fromasame-storesales
perspective,growthwasrealizedacrossall
of thecompany’sbannersincludinga1.8%
uptickatDollarTree.Thiswasdrivenby
marketsharegainsandpositivetrends in
bothstoretrafficandaverageticket.
Wearemaintainingour full-year es
timates.DollarTree’s fiscal third-quarter
results came inslightlyaheadof our ex
pectations, but it reallywasn’t enoughto
move the needle. For what its worth,
leadershipnarrowed its full-yearadjusted
earnings outlook to $5.31-$5.51 a share
(previously$5.20-$5.60)anditssales fore
cast to $30.7 billion-$30.9 billion (pre
viously$30.6billion-$30.9billion).
The futureofFamilyDollar remains
uncertain. Challenges in this business
led to the company initiating a strategic
reviewofalternativesinJuneof lastyear.
Whilethisisstillongoing, leadershipindi
catedthat thereviewcouldultimatelyre
sultinasaleorspinoffofFamilyDollar.
AnewCEO is at the helm. Richard
Dreilingsteppeddown inearlyNovember
after only two years in the top spot.His
departurewas somewhat unexpectedand
was reportedlydue topersonal health is
sues. Chief Operating Officer Michael
Creedonwas appointed interimCEOfol
lowing the announcement, and after a
brief review, was given the job on a
permanent basis inDecember. It is un
certainwhat type of change in strategic
directionwewill seeunderMr. Creedon,
given his relatively short tenure at the
company (arrived in 2022). One thing is
for sure, he enters with a full plate in
navigatingtheFamilyDollarsituation.
The stockholdsanAverage (3) rank
forTimeliness.Ourprojections continue
toshowattractive recoverypotential over
the18-monthand2027-2029timeframes.
MichaelRatt
