Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores (NYSE: NDN) surged as high as 20% in intraday trading Friday after receiving a $19.09 per share buyout bid from the Schiffer-Gold family, which runs the company, and private-equity firm Leonard Green.

So what: The all-cash offer values 99 Cents Only at $1.36 billion and represents a 14.5% premium to its Thursday closing price. About a third of 99 Cents is controlled by the Schiffer-Gold family, which is making the bid as the low-cost retailer continues to be an attractive shopping alternative for customers amid the downturn. 

Now what: With the stock price currently sitting above the offer price, it seems that Mr. Market feels the offer is on the low side and is expecting a competing offer to emerge. Of course, given the very real possibility that a higher bid doesn't come along, taking some gains off the table seems like a prudent thing to do. After all, with the likes of Dollar General (NYSE: DG) and Dollar Tree (Nasdaq: DLTR) now trading at a forward P/E discount to 99 Cents Only, you should have plenty of places to roll over that dollar store bet.

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Fool contributor Brian Pacampara owns no position in any of the companies mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.

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