DOLLAR TREE, INC. (DLTR) Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 2025 consolidated revenue was $8.27B, at the high end of guidance, while continuing operations (Dollar Tree segment) net sales were $5.00B; adjusted EPS was $2.29 at the enterprise level and $2.11 for continuing operations .
- Against S&P Global consensus, consolidated EPS beat by ~$0.09 ($2.29 vs $2.20*) and revenue modestly beat ($8.27B vs $8.24B*), catalyzed by stronger holiday sell-through and multi-price assortment traction; continuing ops comp of +2.0% was balanced (+0.7% traffic, +1.3% ticket) .
- Management announced a definitive agreement to divest Family Dollar for $1,007M with estimated net proceeds of ~$804M and ~$350M cash tax benefits, enabling focus and capital allocation on Dollar Tree’s growth; closing expected ~Q2 2025 .
- FY 2025 guidance (continuing ops) initiated: net sales $18.5–$19.1B, adjusted EPS $5.00–$5.50, with ~$0.30–$0.35 EPS headwind from only half-year TSA reimbursement; Q1 2025 guide: net sales $4.5–$4.6B, EPS $1.10–$1.25 .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- “We finished 2024 on a high note with strong execution at Dollar Tree,” highlighting holiday strength and expanded multi-price assortment driving momentum .
- Multi-price 3.0 stores delivered measurable lifts: +220 bps comp vs other formats, with traffic +20 bps and ticket +200 bps; seasonal comps at 3.0 stores saw double-digit lifts in Thanksgiving and Christmas categories .
- Consolidated revenue landed at high end of the Q4 outlook range ($8.27B vs $8.1–$8.3B guide), supported by non-comp stores including former 99 Cents Only locations .
What Went Wrong
- Continuing ops gross margin contracted 130 bps YoY to 37.6% on lower initial mark-on, higher shrink, distribution and markdown costs, and loss of leverage from the prior year’s 53rd week; SG&A rate increased 260 bps to 27.0% due to software impairments, stock comp, and professional fees tied to the Family Dollar sale decision .
- Q4 included a $25M anti-dumping duty accrual (continuing ops), and adjusted operating margin fell 230 bps to 12.6% despite freight tailwinds, highlighting inflationary and tariff pressures .
- Year-over-year adjusted EPS for continuing ops declined to $2.11 (-15.3%), reflecting margin compression and higher SG&A, even as comps improved sequentially .
Financial Results
Consolidated vs Continuing Operations (Quarterly)
Comps, Traffic, Ticket (Dollar Tree Segment)
Segment Breakdown (Dollar Tree)
KPIs and Operating Metrics
Results vs S&P Global Consensus (Consolidated)
Values with an asterisk were retrieved from S&P Global.
Why: Beats driven by holiday assortment execution, multi-price ticket lift, and contribution from non-comp stores; ongoing shrink/distribution/markdown pressures and anti-dumping accrual tempered margin expansion .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO on strategic focus: “With the sale of Family Dollar set to close later this year, we will be able to fully dedicate ourselves to Dollar Tree’s long-term growth, profitability, and returns on capital.”
- CFO (incoming) on 2025 shape: “While we will receive TSA income in the second half… we will incur these costs over the entire year. This negatively impacts our adjusted EPS by approximately $0.30 to $0.35.”
- CEO on multi-price momentum: “Fourth quarter results reflect the positive impact of our expanded assortment… with our newest multi-price offerings… driving strong year-end sell-through.”
- CEO on tariffs: “We have offset more than 90% of this incremental cost [first 10% China tariff]… and are working to mitigate the latest round of tariffs.”
Q&A Highlights
- Tariff mitigation and pricing: Management quantified second-round exposure (~$20M/month pre-mitigation), highlighted levers (spec changes, supplier concessions, origin shifts), and selective price point tests to preserve value perception .
- 3.0 format performance and rollout cadence: Strong cohort maturation and seasonal discretionary strength; 2025 plan targets ~2,000 conversions and ~300 new stores, with stricter execution readiness to sustain performance .
- Margin philosophy: Transitional year with shared cost burden; multiyear algorithm envisioned with improving gross margin, eventual SG&A leverage, and EPS growth augmented by capital returns .
- Combo stores unwind and TSA mechanics: ~1,000 combo stores convey with Family Dollar; TSA offsets arrive H2, making EPS back-half weighted alongside holiday calendar tailwind .
- Gross margin drivers: Modest freight benefits; multi-price maturation; offsets include distribution costs and tariff uncertainty; clarity that first-round tariffs are embedded in outlook .
Estimates Context
- Q4 2025 consolidated EPS beat consensus ($2.29 actual vs $2.20*), while consolidated revenue modestly beat ($8.27B actual vs $8.24B*). Continuing ops adjusted EPS was $2.11; S&P consensus tracks enterprise “Primary EPS,” which aligned with the $2.29 actual .
- FY 2025 consensus EPS ~$5.42* compares to management’s adjusted EPS guide $5.00–$5.50; consensus revenue ~$30.87B* refers to consolidated, while company’s FY 2025 guide ($18.5–$19.1B) is continuing ops only, reflecting separation .
Values with an asterisk were retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Separation catalyst: Family Dollar sale and associated cash proceeds/tax benefits provide balance sheet flexibility and sharpen the Dollar Tree growth story; expect investor rerating towards a single-banner, discretionary-led model .
- Near-term EPS cadence: 2025 EPS back-half weighted due to TSA timing and holiday calendar; de-risking actions on tariffs underway, but residual policy uncertainty remains .
- Multi-price continues to drive ticket and seasonal strength; 3.0 expansion and cohort maturation support comp and margin trajectory into H2 .
- Margin mix: Freight tailwinds and mark-on improvements are offset by shrink/distribution/markdowns and anti-dumping accrual; watch shrink initiatives and supply chain normalization (Marietta replacement) .
- Capital allocation: Expect share repurchases to resume post-closing given ~$952M authorization remaining and improved cash position; debt refinancing planned following May maturity .
- Estimates setup: Post-print beats vs S&P consensus and conservative guidance (TSA impact) suggest potential for upward revisions if tariff mitigation and multi-price lifts persist; note consolidated vs continuing ops differences for modeling .
- Trading lens: Positive narrative inflection on separation and multi-price execution vs lingering tariff/shrink headwinds; monitor Q1 comp/traffic/ticket and margin progression for confirmation of 2025 back-half EPS ramp .