DOLLAR GENERAL CORP vs TARGET CORPORATION, two Discount Stores stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Dollar General runs small discount boxes in places too rural for a Target; Target runs the general big-box in the suburbs. Both trade near the value end, 16.9 times earnings for Dollar General and 18.54 for Target, and both gush cash, an 8.32% free cash yield for Dollar General and 4.74% for Target. Target pays the heftier dividend, 3.24% to 1.98%. Dollar General earns a bit less on equity, 17.69% to 21.05%, but keeps a wider net margin, 3.63% to 3.24%. Book prices them at 2.99 and 3.90 times. Debt sits at 0.52 and 0.87. The rural cash-compounder versus the broader, higher-yielding suburban box.
Comparison updated 2026-07-11.
| Metric | DG | TGT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.83 | $135.10 |
| Market cap | $26.3B | $61.6B |
| Sector | Discount Stores | Discount Stores |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| Implied growth (priced in) | — | +3.5% |
| P/E | 16.8 | 17.9 |
| P/B | 2.98 | 3.76 |
| P/S | 0.61 | 0.58 |
| EV/EBITDA | 8.9 | 9.1 |
| Revenue growth | +4.7% | +0.7% |
| Gross margin | 31.6% | — |
| Operating margin | 5.9% | 4.5% |
| Net margin | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| Return on equity | 17.7% | 21.1% |
| Return on assets | 4.9% | 6.0% |
| Return on invested capital | 12.7% | 11.8% |
| FCF yield | 8.4% | 4.9% |
| Dividend yield | 2.0% | 3.4% |
| Debt / equity | 0.52 | 0.87 |
| Current ratio | 1.17 | 0.93 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 2.37 | 8.10 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 6 / 9 | 5 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.