Key Highlights

  • Dollar General's $0.59 quarterly dividend has an October 6, 2026 ex-dividend date and is payable on or before October 20.
  • Second-quarter net sales rose 5.2% to $11.29 billion, with same-store sales up 3.5% on 2.0% higher customer traffic.
  • Diluted EPS was $2.48 versus $1.86, including an estimated $0.25 benefit from tariff refunds after related reinvestments.
  • Fiscal 2026 diluted EPS guidance is $7.80 to $8.00, and the company plans share repurchases of up to $700 million.

Dollar General Corporation's (NYSE:DG) $0.59 quarterly dividend yields 1.98% and sits beside second-quarter diluted EPS of $2.48, up from $1.86. The Board declared it on August 26, 2026, at the same $0.59 declared on June 1. The company states that it has paid quarterly cash dividends since 2015.

Dividend Program and Shareholder Returns

Dollar General's Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.59 per share on August 26, 2026. It is payable on or before October 20 to shareholders of record on October 6.

The June 1, 2026 declaration of $0.59 was payable on or before July 21 to shareholders of record on July 7. The company states that the Board currently intends to continue regular cash dividends, and that the declaration and amount of future dividends remain in its sole discretion.

The company's total remaining repurchase authorization was $1.4 billion at the end of the second quarter.

About the Company

Dollar General, based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, ended the second quarter operating 21,148 stores across the United States and Mexico. It opened 125 new stores in the United States and one in Mexico during the quarter. Same-store sales rose in the consumables, seasonal, home products and apparel categories for the 26 weeks ended July 31, 2026.

Financial Performance Behind the Payout

Dollar General reported second-quarter net sales of $11.29 billion, up 5.2%. Same-store sales rose 3.5%, made up of a 2.0% increase in customer traffic and a 1.5% increase in average transaction amount. First-half net sales rose 4.3% to $22.08 billion, with same-store sales up 2.7%.

Gross margin was 32.6%, up 127 basis points. Operating profit rose 29.2% to $769.2 million, versus $595.4 million, and net income was $550.3 million, versus $411.4 million. Diluted EPS was $2.48 versus $1.86. Net interest expense was $42.9 million versus $57.7 million. Year-to-date cash flow from operations was $1.5 billion.

Tariff Refunds Inside the Quarter

The company estimates the tariff-refund benefit, after related reinvestments, was approximately 81 basis points of gross margin, approximately 66 basis points of operating margin and approximately $0.25 of diluted EPS.

The company states it received the majority of its anticipated total refund amount in the second quarter and does not anticipate a material impact from tariff refunds, after related reinvestments, in the second half.

Outlook

Dollar General's fiscal 2026 guidance is net sales growth of approximately 4.0% to 4.3%, same-store sales growth of 2.5% to 2.9% and diluted EPS of approximately $7.80 to $8.00, versus a prior $7.20 to $7.45. The EPS range includes the $0.25 second-quarter tariff-refund benefit. Capital expenditures of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion, repurchases of up to $700 million and an effective tax rate of approximately 24.5% are also part of the guidance. Customer traffic, gross margin and repurchase timing are the measures reported alongside it.