UPDATE: Wedbush Cuts PT to $50 on Dollar Tree Stores on Payroll Tax Headwinds

Wedbush maintained Dollar Tree Stores

with an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $51.00 to $50.00. Wedbush commented, "We are cautious on the lower to middle income consumer due to headwinds from higher payroll taxes, rising gas prices, and delayed tax refunds, which could have pressured consumer spending, particularly on more discretionary merchandise. … Maintain our OUTPERFORM rating on Dollar Tree and believe current/expected headwinds are already reflected in the current valuation. … Reducing our price target to $50 (from $51), which assumes DLTR should trade at about 17x our revised 2013 forecast of $2.84 plus $1 in cash." Dollar Tree Stores closed at $41.88 on Friday.