Which companies are considered dollar store stocks?

Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Five Below are generally considered to be the Big Three of dollar stores that are publicly traded.

How do dollar stores generate revenue?

The biggest driver of revenue for dollar stores is the sale of low-priced items in high volume. They also bring in more revenue by stocking private-label products with high margins and consumables such as food, beverages, and hygiene items that generate repeat business.

Are dollar store stocks suitable for long-term or short-term investing?

Dollar store stocks are best used as a defensive position against an economic downturn. While there may be some value-oriented opportunities, dollar stores generally profit from a weak economy.

Are dollar stores resilient during economic downturns?

Like most consumer staples stocks, dollar stores do quite well when times are tough.

What is the most successful dollar store?

In terms of size, Dollar General dominates the market, with more than 20,000 locations and an especially strong presence in rural markets.

Are dollar store stocks a good investment?

Dollar store stocks can be a very good investment, especially during relatively mild economic downturns. Investors should be prepared for some volatility, though, since consumers can curb spending during recessions and shift toward higher-priced goods during recoveries.

Best Dollar Store Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Frank Bass – Updated Jul 20, 2026 at 1:24 PM EST | Fact-checked by Margo Winton Parodi

Key Points

Dollar store stocks like Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Five Below cater to budget-conscious consumers.
These stocks experience volatility, influenced by economic conditions and consumer spending habits.
Investing in dollar stores involves buying shares through a brokerage, suitable for defensive strategy.

Dollar store stocks are companies that carry a range of cheap household products and random merchandise that fit even the tightest family budgets. While inflation has pressured the "everything costs $1 or less" niche, the concept of everyday staples at bargain prices endures nonetheless.

Let's explore three dollar store stocks so you can decide which one fits your investment portfolio.

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The exterior of a Dollar General store — Source: Dollar General

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3 top dollar store stocks in 2026

Industry consolidation has trimmed the dollar store space down to three main competitors: Dollar General (DG -2.38%), Dollar Tree (DLTR +0.99%), and Five Below (FIVE -2.06%).

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Current price	Dividend yield
Dollar General (NYSE:DG)	$27.1 billion	$122.89	1.92%
Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR)	$24.6 billion	$128.26	0.00%
Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE)	$13.4 billion	$241.89	0.00%

Data as of Aug 30, 2026. Showing 3 of 3 total entries.

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1. Dollar General

NYSE: DG

Dollar General

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

59/100

Today's Change

(-2.38%) $-3.00

Current Price

$122.89

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$27B

Day's Range

$121.34 - $125.88

52wk Range

$95.11 - $158.23

Volume

3.3M

Avg Vol

2.9M

Gross Margin

28.67%

Dividend Yield

1.92%

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Dollar General is the largest dollar store operator by annual sales and total store count. The company also has the longest history among its competitors. Dollar General opened its first store in 1955 after founder Cal Turner was inspired by department store "dollar days" promotions. Thirteen years later, Dollar General went public on the New York Stock Exchange for $16.50 per share. Today, the company operates more than 20,000 stores around the U.S.

Financial performance

Dollar General has a long track record of revenue growth. In 2015, the company produced sales of about $18 billion. By fiscal year 2025, net sales had risen to $42.7 billion, a 5.2% year-over-year increase. The growth has come primarily from its expanding store footprint. During the same time, the chain added roughly 8,700 stores.

More recent periods have been challenging, with budget-constrained customers feeling the impact of inflation, inventory management issues, and weather events that have increased selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses.

Stock price performance

It's been a slow but steady recovery for Dollar General's share prices. Between early 2023 and early 2025, the stock price plunged from more than $250 to about $75. In 2026, prices had rebounded to around $150 before retreating to $100 at the end of the first quarter, then bouncing back to $125 in mid-July. So, in brief: It's been volatile.

2. Dollar Tree

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NASDAQ: DLTR

Dollar Tree

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

64/100

Today's Change

(0.99%) $1.26

Current Price

$128.26

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$25B

Day's Range

$123.80 - $129.55

52wk Range

$84.71 - $142.40

Volume

2.5M

Avg Vol

Gross Margin

38.74%

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Dollar Tree is Dollar General's closest competitor in terms of store footprint and annual sales. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar in 2015 and 170 stores from the 99 Cents Only chain in 2024. Today, Dollar Tree and its subsidiary Family Dollar operate more than 16,500 stores in the contiguous United States and Canada. It generated about $19.4 billion in revenue during the 2025 fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31, 2026.

Financial performance

Like Dollar General, Dollar Tree has posted strong long-term sales growth. Same-store sales rose 5.3% in 2025, and the company noted that an increasing number of its customers made $100,000 or more. Of the 3 million new households shopping at its store in late 2025, the company estimated that 60% earned at least six figures.

Stock price performance

Like Dollar General, Dollar Tree stock has been on a bumpy ride lately amid weak consumer spending, stiff competition from big-box stores, and lowered analyst expectations. After falling into the mid-$60s in late 2024, share prices had rebounded to roughly $140 by early 2026, then plunged to around $90 in early summer 2026 before rebounding to $120. As with its larger competitor, its performance has been volatile.

3. Five Below

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NASDAQ: FIVE

Five Below

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

76/100

Today's Change

(-2.06%) $-5.09

Current Price

$241.89

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$13B

Day's Range

$241.02 - $249.15

52wk Range

$137.77 - $263.88

Volume

Avg Vol

1.3M

Gross Margin

32.93%

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Five Below opened its first store in 2002, which makes it a relative newcomer in the retail industry. The company targets young shoppers with an assortment of toys, party supplies, and other household basics -- many priced below $5.

Five Below trails its peers in store footprint and sales. The company has about 1,800 stores in the U.S. and reported net sales of $4.76 billion in 2025.

Financial performance

Five Below has largely been a growth story since its 2012 initial public offering. Between fiscal years 2015 and 2019, the company delivered annual sales growth of 20% or more. By fiscal year 2024, the rate had leveled off somewhat to about 15% before rebounding to 22.9% in 2025.

The company has the best operating margins of the three dollar stores, delivering more than 10% on this metric in most years. Its trailing 12-month operating margin stood at roughly 12% at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

Stock price performance

Five Below's stock dove in mid-2023, dropping from more than $200 per share to the mid-$60s in early 2025. The stock was buoyed by strong Q4 2025 results, topping $230 per share by the end of the first quarter, but had retreated to the low $200s by mid-2026. Not to sound like a broken record, but its investors have also had a bumpy ride.

How to buy dollar store stocks

Investing in dollar store stocks follows the same process as buying any other publicly traded company. To do so, just follow the steps below.

1. Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
2. Search for the stock you want to purchase: Enter the ticker into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
3. Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
4. Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
5. Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
6. Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Benefits and risks of dollar store stocks

As with almost any investment, there are pros and cons to investing in dollar stores. Some of the pros include:

Dollar stores typically benefit from challenging economic times, such as recessions.
Their size and scale can provide them with cost advantages over smaller businesses.
They have plenty of room for new stores and different offerings.

Despite their advantages, dollar store stocks aren't without risks:

An economy that's too strong or too weak can blunt revenue for dollar stores. In early 2026, for example, inflation and concerns about government spending reductions led analysts to lower their expectations.
Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Five Below compete most directly with one another, but there is fierce indirect competition in the broader shopping space. Big box stores like Walmart (WMT +0.45%), club stores Costco (COST +1.16%) and Sam's Club, and bargain retailers such as privately held Aldi all cater to value-oriented consumers.
Strategic shifts, such as Dollar Tree's 2015 purchase of Family Dollar, aren't guaranteed to benefit shareholders. The company offloaded Family Dollar for $1 billion in early 2025, one decade after purchasing it for $9 billion.

Methodology

It's easy enough to consider any one of the 151,975 convenience stores in the U.S. to be dollar stores. Companies that operate 500 or more stores account for less than 25% of the total; according to the National Association of Convenience Stores, almost two-thirds are single-store operations, and most rely heavily on gasoline sales.

Dollar stores, however, are a different breed. Our analysis began with publicly traded companies with more than 1,000 stores and a negligible reliance on gas sales (although Dollar General began a pilot program to sell gas in some locations in mid-2025). We also considered strategy, focusing only on companies that focus on value pricing for low- and middle-income households.

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Dollar store stock FAQ

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About the Author

Frank Bass is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst and editor covering energy, healthcare, consumer, and financial sectors. Frank has decades of experience in financial journalism, holding reporting and editing roles at The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Bloomberg. He also currently edits research on the global energy transition. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech University and is a graduate student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Fun Facts: Frank has hiked The Long Trail in Vermont from end to end, and currently lives in a semi-dry cabin in Interior Alaska.

TMFEditFool

Frank Bass has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Five Below. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Dollar Store Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

3 top dollar store stocks in 2026

1. Dollar General

NYSE: DG

Key Data Points

Financial performance

Stock price performance

2. Dollar Tree

NASDAQ: DLTR

Key Data Points

Financial performance

Stock price performance

3. Five Below

NASDAQ: FIVE

Key Data Points

Financial performance

Stock price performance

How to buy dollar store stocks

Benefits and risks of dollar store stocks

Methodology

Related investing topics

Top Agriculture Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

7 Best Retail Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Best Consumer Discretionary Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Dollar store stock FAQ

Which companies are considered dollar store stocks?

Which companies are considered dollar store stocks?

How do dollar stores generate revenue?

How do dollar stores generate revenue?

Are dollar store stocks suitable for long-term or short-term investing?

Are dollar store stocks suitable for long-term or short-term investing?

Are dollar stores resilient during economic downturns?

Are dollar stores resilient during economic downturns?

What is the most successful dollar store?

What is the most successful dollar store?

Are dollar store stocks a good investment?

Are dollar store stocks a good investment?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

NYSE: DG

Key Data Points

Financial performance

Stock price performance

2. Dollar Tree

NASDAQ: DLTR

Key Data Points

Financial performance

Stock price performance

3. Five Below

NASDAQ: FIVE

Key Data Points

Financial performance

Stock price performance

How to buy dollar store stocks

Top Agriculture Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

7 Best Retail Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Best Consumer Discretionary Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Dollar store stock FAQ

Which companies are considered dollar store stocks?

Which companies are considered dollar store stocks?

How do dollar stores generate revenue?

How do dollar stores generate revenue?

Are dollar store stocks suitable for long-term or short-term investing?

Are dollar store stocks suitable for long-term or short-term investing?

Are dollar stores resilient during economic downturns?

Are dollar stores resilient during economic downturns?

What is the most successful dollar store?

What is the most successful dollar store?

Are dollar store stocks a good investment?

Are dollar store stocks a good investment?

Benefits and risks of dollar store stocks

Methodology

The bottom line

3 top dollar store stocks in 2026