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Dollar Tree, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 16 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales and EPS grew: Net sales rose 9.0% to $5.45 billion. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.56, up 37.8%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.56, up 21.3%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS within December ranges: Q4 adjusted EPS of $2.56 was within the $2.40 to $2.60 range given in December. Full-year adjusted EPS of $5.75 was within the $5.60 to $5.80 range.
  • Gross margin rose 150 basis points: Q4 gross margin rose 150 basis points to 39.1%, driven by pricing-related mark-on and lower freight. Higher tariff costs partly offset the gain. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A rate rose 170 basis points: Reported SG&A was 26.9% of revenue, down 10 basis points, but adjusted SG&A was 26.8%, up 170 basis points. Store payroll, general liability claims and incentive pay rose. Source
  • Q4 comparable sales rose 5.0%: Q4 comparable store net sales rose 5.0%, within the 4% to 6% range given in December. Average ticket rose 6.3% and traffic fell 1.2%. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 buybacks totaled $1.548 billion: The headline gives fiscal 2025 repurchases of $1.548 billion; the body says about $1.6 billion. Q4 buybacks were 2.2 million shares for $232 million, and quarter-to-date buybacks are $193 million. Source
  • Dollar Tree 3.0 multi-price conversions: About 2,400 stores were converted or added to the Dollar Tree 3.0 multi-price format in fiscal 2025, ending the year with about 5,300 multi-price stores. Source

“Dollar Tree remains America’s retail destination for value, convenience, and discovery - underscored by our 20th consecutive year of positive same store sales”

Mike Creedon, Chief Executive Officer for Dollar Tree

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales, continuing operations SourceFiscal 2026$20.5 to $20.7 billionNew
Comparable store net sales growth SourceFiscal 20263 to 4%New
New store openings SourceFiscal 2026Approximately 400New
Store closings SourceFiscal 202675New
Adjusted diluted EPS, continuing operations SourceFiscal 2026$6.50 to $6.90New
Net sales, continuing operations SourceFirst quarter fiscal 2026$4.9 billion to $5.0 billionNew
Comparable store net sales growth SourceFirst quarter fiscal 20263% to 4%New
Adjusted diluted EPS, continuing operations SourceFirst quarter fiscal 2026$1.45 to $1.60New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 guidance introduced for net sales, comparable store sales, store openings and closings, and adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • New guidance: First quarter fiscal 2026 guidance introduced for net sales, comparable store sales and adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • Ended: Commercial paper outstanding was $620.0 million at November 1, 2025 and is none at January 31, 2026. No credit facility borrowings. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter sales and EPS grew: Net sales rose 9.0% to $5.45 billion. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.56, up 37.8%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.56, up 21.3%. Source
  • Operating income rose 30.2% in Q4: Operating income rose 30.2% to $694.7 million. Adjusted operating income rose 10.7% to $695.0 million; the prior-year quarter carried software impairment and stock option acceleration charges. Source
  • Full-year sales and operating income grew: Full-year net sales rose 10.4% to $19.4 billion and operating income rose 13.1% to $1.7 billion, with operating margin of 8.5%. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $5.94. Source
  • Adjusted EPS within December ranges: Q4 adjusted EPS of $2.56 was within the $2.40 to $2.60 range given in December. Full-year adjusted EPS of $5.75 was within the $5.60 to $5.80 range.

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose 150 basis points: Q4 gross margin rose 150 basis points to 39.1%, driven by pricing-related mark-on and lower freight. Higher tariff costs partly offset the gain. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A rate rose 170 basis points: Reported SG&A was 26.9% of revenue, down 10 basis points, but adjusted SG&A was 26.8%, up 170 basis points. Store payroll, general liability claims and incentive pay rose. Source
  • Full-year gross margin rose 60 basis points: Full-year gross margin rose 60 basis points to 36.4% for the Dollar Tree segment. Higher markdowns and tariff costs were partial offsets. Source
  • Adjusted full-year SG&A rate 28.1%: Adjusted SG&A was 28.1% of total revenue for the year, compared with 26.9% a year earlier. Source

“By delivering great value at low prices, with disciplined execution, we continue to expand our reach and drive long-term growth.”

Mike Creedon, Chief Executive Officer for Dollar Tree

Traffic, ticket and store productivity

  • Q4 comparable sales rose 5.0%: Q4 comparable store net sales rose 5.0%, within the 4% to 6% range given in December. Average ticket rose 6.3% and traffic fell 1.2%. Source
  • Full-year comparable sales within range: Full-year comparable store sales rose 5.3%, within the 5.0% to 5.5% range set in December. Average ticket rose 4.3% and traffic rose 1.0% for the year. Source
  • Sales per square foot rose to $241: Sales per square foot were $241 for the 52 weeks, against $232 in the prior year. The figure uses average selling square footage. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Fiscal 2025 buybacks totaled $1.548 billion: The headline gives fiscal 2025 repurchases of $1.548 billion; the body says about $1.6 billion. Q4 buybacks were 2.2 million shares for $232 million, and quarter-to-date buybacks are $193 million. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $1.1 billion: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $2.2 billion and free cash flow was $1.1 billion, after $1.134 billion of capital expenditures. Source
  • Year-end cash and buyback authorization: Year-end cash and cash equivalents were $717.8 million, and $1.8 billion remained under the share repurchase authorization. Source

Strategy, stores and footprint

  • Dollar Tree 3.0 multi-price conversions: About 2,400 stores were converted or added to the Dollar Tree 3.0 multi-price format in fiscal 2025, ending the year with about 5,300 multi-price stores. Source
  • Family Dollar stores converted to Dollar Tree: 71 Family Dollar stores were re-opened as Dollar Tree stores in fiscal 2025. The Dollar Tree store count ended the year at 9,282. Source
  • Selling square footage up 5.4%: Selling square footage reached 82.6 million at year-end, up 5.4% from 78.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Canadian footprint described as seven provinces: The company boilerplate describes 48 contiguous states and seven Canadian provinces. The December release said five Canadian provinces. Source

Family Dollar separation and one-time items

  • Transition services income reported: Transition services agreement income was $23.1 million in Q4 and $54.9 million for the year, for services provided to and from Family Dollar after the sale. Source
  • Separation costs of $15.5 million: Consulting, legal and other costs tied to the Family Dollar sale and ongoing separation were $4.8 million in Q4 and $15.5 million for fiscal 2025. These are excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Software termination credit and insurance gain: Q4 recorded a $4.5 million credit from changed software termination estimates; the prior-year quarter had a $58.3 million charge. The $61.8 million fiscal 2025 insurance gain is excluded from adjusted income. Source

People and leadership

  • CEO quoted on quarter results: Mike Creedon, Chief Executive Officer, is quoted in the release on the quarter's results. Source
  • About 150,000 associates: The company reports about 150,000 associates across its stores and distribution centers. Source
  • Stock-based compensation expense fell: Stock-based compensation expense was $58.9 million for the year, compared with $106.9 million a year earlier. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable store net sales growth, Q4 Source5.0%
Comparable store net sales growth, fiscal 2025 Source5.3%
Average ticket, Q4 Source+6.3%
Traffic, Q4 Source-1.2%
Merchandise inventories, January 31, 2026 Source$2,495.4 million
Store openings, fiscal 2025 Source402
Store closings, fiscal 2025 Source72
Gross margin, Q4, Dollar Tree segment Source39.1%
Gross margin, fiscal 2025, Dollar Tree segment Source36.4%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Traffic fell 1.2% in the fourth quarter, partly offset by higher average ticket. Source
  • External: Higher tariff costs partly offset gross margin gains in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Operational: Higher general liability claims and incentive compensation raised SG&A in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The December release assumed most incremental margin pressure from tariffs and input costs would be mitigated. This release does not state the outcome.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.