DG vs KR: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: KR, with $147.6B of yearly revenue, about 3.5× DG's $42.7B.
  • More profitable: DG keeps 4 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 1 cents at KR.
  • More cash from each sale: DG turns 9 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 5 cents at KR.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Kroger (KR) is the larger business by reported revenue: $147.6B in its fiscal year ended Jan 2026, about 3.5× DG's $42.7B (fiscal year ended Jan 2026). DG's net margin was 3.5% and KR's 0.7%. The SEC classifies them differently (Retail-Variety Stores; Retail-Grocery Stores); what connects them is shared exposure to the Economic trends research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Consumer Staples
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
DG January 29 · KR January 30
Reviewed
Mar 31, 2026

DG vs KR: quick comparison

Company factDGKR
CompanyDollar General CorporationThe Kroger Co.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
SEC industryRetail-Variety StoresRetail-Grocery Stores
Fiscal year-endJanuary 29January 30
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-03-2010-K · 2026-03-31

DG vs KR: audited financials

  • Scale: KR's $147.6B of revenue is about 3.5× DG's $42.7B.
  • Net margin: DG kept 3.5% of revenue as net income versus 0.7% at KR.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled DG 8.5% of revenue, or 2.40× net income; KR 5.0% of revenue, or 7.20× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end 1 days apart (2026-01-30 and 2026-01-31), so these annual figures cover close to the same months.

DG: FY ending 2026-01-30 · KR: FY ending 2026-01-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where DG and KR overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Economic trends.
  • Nearly aligned fiscal calendars: DG's year ends January 29 and KR's January 30.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: DG files as Retail-Variety Stores; KR as Retail-Grocery Stores.
  • Scale: KR reported about 3.5× the annual revenue of DG.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Dollar General Corporation (DG)

Dollar General operates small-format discount stores serving rural and lower-income communities.

The Kroger Co. (KR)

Kroger operates one of the largest US supermarket chains along with pharmacies and private-label brands.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves DG

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for DG. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-03-20.

What moves KR

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for KR. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-03-31.

The investment question

You now know KR reports about 3.5× DG's revenue, and DG keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to economic trends, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. DG's fiscal year ends January 29, while KR's ends January 30. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 13 matched transaction rows for DG and 18 matched transaction rows for KR. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

DG vs KR FAQs

Are DG and KR direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Dollar General files as Retail-Variety Stores and Kroger as Retail-Grocery Stores. The pair is compared because both map to the Economic trends research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is DG or KR the bigger company by revenue?

Kroger (KR) is the larger business by reported revenue: $147.6B in its fiscal year ended Jan 2026, about 3.5× DG's $42.7B (fiscal year ended Jan 2026). DG's net margin was 3.5% and KR's 0.7%. The SEC classifies them differently (Retail-Variety Stores; Retail-Grocery Stores); what connects them is shared exposure to the Economic trends research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, DG or KR?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this DG vs KR comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Dollar General Corporation and The Kroger Co. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

DG vs KR compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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