Burlington Stores (BURL) vs Dollar General (DG)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Dollar General (DG) has outperformed Burlington Stores (BURL) over the past year, gaining 26.7% versus a gain of 4.9%. Over five years, BURL leads with a +1.3% price change compared with -42.6% for DG. Dollar General is the larger company by market cap ($27.20 billion vs $17.17 billion), about 1.6 times the size, while Burlington Stores is growing revenue faster (+8.8% vs +5.2%).
On valuation, Dollar General trades at a lower forward P/E (14.8x vs 20.0x for Burlington Stores). Dollar General pays a dividend yielding 1.91%, while Burlington Stores does not currently pay one. Burlington Stores converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 5.3% versus 3.5%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BURL | DG |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $273.39 | $123.28 |
| Market cap | $17.17B | $27.20B |
| 1-day change | +0.30% | +0.93% |
| YTD return | -5.64% | -8.01% |
| 1-year return | +4.87% | +26.74% |
| 5-year return | +1.35% | -42.60% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 24.56 | 16.01 |
| Forward P/E | 19.98 | 14.83 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.13 | $7.70 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.91% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.36 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.57B | $42.72B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.76% | +5.20% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $610.15M | $1.51B |
| Gross margin | 43.92% | 30.66% |
| Operating margin | — | 5.16% |
| Net margin | 5.27% | 3.54% |
| 52-week high | $378.33 | $158.23 |
| 52-week low | $226.85 | $95.11 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.74% | -22.09% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.42% | +14.74% |
| Average volume | 1.24M | 2.38M |
| Shares outstanding | 62.82M | 220.62M |
| Employees | 17,495 | 194,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Department/Specialty Retail Stores | Department/Specialty Retail Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- DG has outperformed BURL by 21.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Burlington Stores trades at a higher earnings multiple (24.6x vs 16.0x trailing P/E).
- Dollar General offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.91% vs 0.00%).
About Burlington Stores
BURL stock →Burlington Stores, Inc. operates as a retailer of branded merchandise in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Consumer Discretionary · Department/Specialty Retail Stores · 17,495 employees
About Dollar General
DG stock →Dollar General Corporation, a discount retailer, provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. It offers consumable products, including paper towels, bath tissues, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, disinfectants, and laundry products; packaged food, such as cereals, pasta, canned soups, canned meats, fruits and vegetables, condiments, spices, sugar, and flour; and perishables, including milk, eggs, bread, refrigerated and frozen food, beer, wine, and produce; candy, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; over-the-counter medicines and personal care products including soap, body wash, shampoo, cosmetics, dental hygiene and foot care products; pet supplies and pet food; and tobacco products.
Consumer Discretionary · Department/Specialty Retail Stores · 194,000 employees
BURL vs DG FAQ
Which is bigger, Burlington Stores or Dollar General?
Dollar General (DG) is larger, with a market capitalization of $27.20B compared with $17.17B for Burlington Stores (BURL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BURL or DG?
DG returned +26.74% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.87% for BURL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BURL or DG?
DG has the lower trailing P/E at 16.0, versus 24.6 for BURL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Burlington Stores or Dollar General?
Dollar General pays a dividend yielding 1.91%, while Burlington Stores does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Burlington Stores and Dollar General in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Department/Specialty Retail Stores industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.