Shares of Dollarama (TSX:DOL) surged on Thursday because the inventory introduced its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 outcomes. Dollarama inventory jumped by as much as 8% in early buying and selling as the corporate exceeded its 2024 steerage on all key metrics.

What occurred

The fourth quarter and full-year was a robust one for Dollarama, with the low cost retailer reporting retailer gross sales progress of 8.7% yr over yr within the fourth quarter. Moreover, it noticed a 12.8% climb in comparison with full-year 2023 ranges.

Diluted earnings per share (EPS) hit $3.56 for the yr, up 29%, with the quarter up 26.4% to $1.15 EPS. Gross sales elevated 11.3% within the fourth quarter to $1.6 billion, and 16.1% for the yr to $5.9 billion. Such power additionally allowed Dollarama inventory to extend its dividend. And never by a bit of, however by a whopping 30%!

“In Fiscal 2024, we met or exceeded our steerage for all our key efficiency metrics, together with greater than anticipated comparable retailer gross sales, translating right into a 29% enhance in EPS. Our robust monetary and operational efficiency demonstrates the enduring power of our enterprise mannequin and that our compelling worth proposition continues to resonate with customers, together with in an unsure financial context,” stated Neil Rossy, President and CEO of Dollarama.

Trying forward

Now Dollarama is wanting forward, and it appears to be like as if for the subsequent yr issues will stay pretty establishment. The corporate expects to proceed to learn from customers in search of “comfort and compelling worth” provided by the corporate.

Moreover, the worth retailer expects to generate continued comparable retailer gross sales progress, over and above two years of double-digit comparable retailer gross sales progress. All which was partly fuelled by inflationary pressures on customers.

As for extra exhausting numbers, Dollarama excepts to hit between 60 and 70 new web retailer openings. Moreover, as of now it expects comparable retailer gross sales between 3.5% to 4.5%, which might be far decrease than the 12.8% seen this yr. Even so, its gross margin ought to stay related, reaching between 44% and 45%. 

Different information?

One other piece of reports might come down the pipeline within the subsequent yr or two. Although nothing has been hinted at by Dollarama and its administration, there are rumours that the corporate would possibly increase. And this time, into Australia.

After seeing such success with its Greenback Metropolis places in Latin America, there have been rumblings the corporate might purchase one other low value retailer in Australia. Given the success it’s seen on a global scale, it appears probably that this might occur. Particularly in an economic system just like Canada’s.

Nonetheless, that’s unlikely to occur whereas we stay on this inflationary and risky atmosphere. Something may occur within the close to time period. So Dollarama inventory is correct to reward its traders with a 30% enhance within the dividend somewhat than threat an acquisition at these ranges. Even so, I might proceed to maintain a watch out for such a transfer within the not too distant future. For now, with shares up as they’ve been the final yr, Dollarama inventory stays a robust purchase on the TSX immediately.