MKM Maintains Buys On Discount Retailers

With discount retailers heading into the 2Q16 results, MKM Partners’ Patrick McKeever maintained Buy rating on Dollar Tree, Inc. DLTR, Dollar General Corp. DG and Big Lots, Inc. BIG, saying that all three companies are benefiting from “an improvement in the economic well-being of lower-income consumers.”

The well-being of lower income consumers has been driven by lower unemployment, wage gains, lower gas prices and deflationary food prices, analyst McKeever stated. He added that the dollar stores were continuing to gain share by capturing more fill-in trips and were improving both national brand representation and private label, while there was an uptrend in the sales of more discretionary items.

“We think Big Lots continues to benefit from broad-based merchandising improvement and strong execution of company initiatives,” McKeever commented.

Price Targets

• Dollar Tree: $104
• Dollar General: $97
• Big Lots: $60