Family Dollar Stores

Why Walmart Had to Bring Back Layaways

Walmart is struggling to end its declining same store sales, which have faltered over the past nine consecutive quarters. It's no wonder: With massive unemployment, discount retailers have to pull out all the stops to win over new customers, or even retain the ones they have. Re-enter layaways, which Walmart shelved in 2006.

How Dollar Stores Are Eating Walmart's Lunch

Thrifty shoppers looking for low prices on basics are frequently passing up the big boxes of Walmart for the tighter aisles of their local dollar stores. The cheaper upstarts have replaced no-name products with nationally known brands and revamped their interiors to lure in a new crop of bargain hungry customers.

Retail Stocks That Can Thrive in a Down Economy

Fund manager Neil Hennessy believes investors should target retail stocks that are likely to thrive in slow-growth economic conditions -- but which also stand to benefit when the economy picks up again. Here are some of his favorites.

Five Retail Stocks Worth Putting on Your Shopping List

We started with Citi Investment Research's top global retail picks for an "hourglass" recovery (benefiting retailers on the high and low ends). After drilling down into the fundamentals and valuations, here are our five favorites.

Family Dollar Profit Surges 23% in Fourth Quarter

Discount retailer Family Dollar posted a better-than-expected profit jump during the fourth quarter as it continues to lure budget-conscious shoppers into its stores. The company also announced plans to purchase $750 million of its common stock.

Nelson Peltz's Trian Group Buys 6.6% of Family Dollar

Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Group has taken an approximately 6.6% stake in Family Dollar, saying the stock is currently undervalued in the market, according to a Wednesday SEC filing. Shares of the discount retailer jumped 6.9% in early trading.

Retailers in 2010: Less, but More Exclusive Stuff

If stores seem picked over this year, don't be fooled into thinking you just missed a crazy sale. It's deliberate. Retailers expect growth and profits in 2010 won't come from new stores, but rather from merchandising the existing ones to the hilt -- with less, but more exclusive merchandise.