Dollar General Corporation (DG)
Dollar General operates small-format discount stores serving rural and lower-income communities.
Consumer Staples stock comparison
DG vs KR: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Dollar General Corporation with The Kroger Co. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Consumer
- Industry
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-03-31
DG vs KR: quick comparison
| Company fact | DG | KR |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Dollar General Corporation | The Kroger Co. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| SEC industry | Retail-Variety Stores | Retail-Grocery Stores |
| Fiscal year-end | January 29 | January 30 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-03-20 | 10-K · 2026-03-31 |
DG vs KR: audited financials
KR reported about 3.5× the revenue of DG in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, DG converted a larger share of revenue into net income (3.5% versus 0.7%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | DG | KR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $42.7B | $147.6B |
| Net income | $1.5B | $1.0B |
| Operating cash flow | $3.6B | $7.3B |
| Diluted EPS | $6.85 | $1.54 |
| Net margin | 3.5% | 0.7% |
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.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
DG and KR have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Economic trends research theme inside the Consumer Staples sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
The Kroger Co. (KR)
Kroger operates one of the largest US supermarket chains along with pharmacies and private-label brands.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. DG is classified by the SEC as Retail-Variety Stores, while KR is classified as Retail-Grocery Stores. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study DG when…
- Input-cost inflation and pricing power
- Private-label competition and volume trends
- Currency, given large international revenue
- Defensive rotation when growth slows
Study KR when…
- Input-cost inflation and pricing power
- Private-label competition and volume trends
- Currency, given large international revenue
- Defensive rotation when growth slows
Shared research themes
Economic trends
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 13matched transaction rows for DGand 18 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.
DG primary filings
KR primary filings
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?
Dollar General Corporation and The Kroger Co. sit in the same Consumer Staples sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
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 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
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