Dollar General

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Sales and profits continued to pile up at Dollar General during the first quarter as shoppers sought value at the retailer’s 9,500 stores.

The company reported a 5.4% increase in same-store sales and said total sales increased 10.9% to $3.45 billion during the quarter ended April 29. Profits adjusted to account for several one-time items increased 14% to $166 million, while earnings per share of 48 cents were 2 cents shy of analysts’ consensus estimate due to gross margins pressures.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General announced its plans to expand its operations to California in 2012.

The California announcement comes on the heels of the company’s planned expansions into three new states in 2011 — Connecticut, Nevada and New Hampshire. California would be Dollar General’s 39th state.

The company said it plans to serve shoppers in rural, suburban and metropolitan markets.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Expectations of improved profitability at Dollar General mean the company will keep the pedal to the metal in terms of expansion.

(THE NEWS: Dollar General keeps growing. For the full story, click here)

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General maintained its momentum in 2010 by achieving record sales, profits and expansion; and it’s looking like 2011 will bring more of the same. Last year, Dollar General opened 600 new stores and remodeled or relocated another 504 units to end its fiscal year on Jan. 28 with 9,372 stores. The additional square footage combined with a 4.9% same-store sales increase enabled the company to grow total sales by 10.5% to roughly $13 billion.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Though Dollar General's fourth-quarter sales growth came in at slightly below analysts' expectations, the company still is considered a good investment.

"Overall, longer term, the stock remains one of our top picks given the company's robust store growth opportunity and strong execution of its merchandising and operational initiatives," according to analysts at Bernstein Research.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Building on its plans to open 625 new stores in fiscal 2011, Dollar General on Monday resolved to create 6,000 new jobs.

In addition to expanding within its 35-state operating area, Dollar General also has targeted such new markets as Connecticut, Nevada and New Hampshire.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General reported that its third-quarter net income was $128 million, or a diluted earnings per share of 37 cents.

Excluding a net loss of $8 million ($5 million after income taxes) relating to the early repayment of certain long-term obligations, net income for the 2010 third quarter was $133 million, or a diluted EPS of 39 cents, a 76% increase over net income of $76 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2009.