Dollar General (DG -0.36%) results for both Q4 and 2012 notched record highs in several categories. For the quarter, the company set a new peak in its top line, which came in at $4.21 billion. This was a bit above the $4.19 billion of the same quarter the previous year. Net profit also hit an all-time high at $317 million ($0.97 per diluted share), an improvement over the $293 million ($0.85) of Q4 2011.
The most recent quarter's EPS number topped expectations, although the market anticipated a higher top line. On average, analysts projected $4.26 billion in sales and EPS of $0.90.
For the full year, net sales climbed 8% on an annual basis to an all-time high of just over $16 billion. Net profit recorded another new peak at $953 million ($2.85 diluted EPS), or 24% above 2011's figure of $767 million ($2.22).
Dollar General also provided guidance for its fiscal 2013. The company believes its sales will increase 10%-12% on a year-over-year basis, and its adjusted EPS will come in at $3.15-$3.30.
