** Dollar General DG.N beat estimates for holiday-quarter results on Thursday, while its annual forecasts came in below expectations
** Shares were up 6.8% at close on Thursday
** Stock rated "hold" on average; median PT is $85, per data compiled by LSEG
** At least three brokerages raise PT, while one lowers it
NEAR-TERM CONCERNS
** Jefferies ("buy", PT: $92) sees long-term upside, says near-term execution needs improvement, with better inventory management, labor investments
** Piper Sandler ("neutral", PT: $81) says "trade-in" from upper-income consumers allowed sales trends to hold steady, notes that guidance does not factor in tariffs pressuring lower-income customers' spending
** Citi ("sell") says co's plans to expand same-day delivery to 10,000 stores by year end is playing catch-up to Walmart WMT.N to prevent future market share losses
** Telsey Advisory Group ("market perform", PT: $85) says co is transitioning to a mature retailer from a growth retailer, focusing on in-store enhancements and improving in-store profitability, while slowing store unit growth
(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru)
((Neil.JKanatt@thomsonreuters.com;))