
Dollar Tree is an American discount variety retail chain founded in 1986 and headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia. It is a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the ticker DLTR, operating more than 9,200 stores in the United States and Canada. For fiscal 2025, ended January 31, 2026, Dollar Tree reported net sales of $19.4 billion after completing the sale of its Family Dollar banner in July 2025. The chain is a leading retailer of party supplies, seasonal decorations, and everyday value merchandise.
Parent Company
Founded
1986
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dollar Tree | Dollar Tree, Inc. | Wholly owned |
The chain traces to 1986, when Doug Perry, Macon Brock, and Ray Compton opened Only $1.00 stores in Virginia, building on a family Ben Franklin variety store business dating to the 1950s. The fixed $1 price point was the entire concept, and it scaled.
The company renamed itself Dollar Tree Stores in 1993 and went public on NASDAQ in 1995. Through the 1990s and 2000s it grew into one of the two dominant US dollar store chains alongside Dollar General, expanding by opening thousands of small-format stores in suburban and rural trade areas.
In 2015, Dollar Tree acquired larger rival Family Dollar for approximately $8.5 billion after a bidding contest with Dollar General. The combined company reached more than 15,000 stores, but Family Dollar's chronic operational problems weighed on results for a decade.
Pressure from activist investors pushed management to review the portfolio, and in March 2025 Dollar Tree agreed to sell Family Dollar to Brigade Capital and Macellum-backed 1959 Holdings for roughly $1 billion. The sale closed July 5, 2025, and Family Dollar results moved to discontinued operations.
Now a single-banner business, Dollar Tree has shifted from its original strict $1 price to a $1.25 base price introduced in 2021, plus a growing multi-price "Plus" assortment at $3 to $7. Same-store sales rose 5.3% in fiscal 2025, and the company continues opening several hundred stores per year toward a long-term potential of tens of thousands of locations.
Is Dollar Tree publicly traded?
Yes, on NASDAQ under ticker DLTR, with no controlling shareholder.
What happened to Family Dollar?
Dollar Tree sold it to private equity-backed 1959 Holdings, LLC on July 5, 2025, generating about $793 million in cash. They are now separate competitors.
How many stores does Dollar Tree operate?
9,282 at the end of fiscal 2025 in January 2026: 9,005 in the US and 277 in Canada.
What was Dollar Tree's fiscal 2025 revenue?
$19.4 billion in net sales from continuing operations, up 10.4% year over year.
Does Dollar Tree still charge $1?
No. The base price moved to $1.25 in 2021, and a multi-price Plus assortment sells items at $3, $5, and $7, though most merchandise remains near $1.25.
Who is the CEO?
Michael Creedon leads Dollar Tree, Inc. from Chesapeake, Virginia.
Dollar Tree is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest retailers in North America by store count. It consistently ranks among the top discount variety retailers in industry surveys, and its party supplies value proposition is regularly cited by consumer publications as the cheapest source for balloons and decorations in the US.
Dollar Tree, Inc. has faced periodic product safety recalls typical of large variety retailers, including FDA and CPSC recalls of imported toys, cosmetics, and food items. In 2019 the FDA issued a warning letter over receipt of adulterated and misbranded drugs sourced from foreign suppliers, which the company addressed through supplier changes.
The Family Dollar business it sold in 2025 had drawn a record $41.7 million OSHA fine history and a 2024 guilty plea for a rodent-infested Arkansas warehouse, liabilities that transferred with the sale. Dollar Tree's continuing operations have faced OSHA citations of their own, primarily over blocked exits and storeroom hazards, part of a wider dollar store industry enforcement pattern.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Below | USA | 2002 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Oriental Trading | USA | 1932 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| New Amscan | USA | 1986 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Dollar General | USA | 1955 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Family Dollar Stores | USA | 1959 | Mass market | United states | Unisex |
Retail EcommerceOwned by Five Below, Inc.
American discount retailer founded in 2002 selling trend-right products mostly under $5, operating 2,000-plus stores and trading on NASDAQ under FIVE.
Retail EcommerceOwned by Oriental Trading Company
Omaha-based direct retailer of party supplies, toys, and crafts founded in 1932, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway since 2012.
Retail EcommerceOwned by New Amscan, Inc.
American party supplies retailer founded in 1986, ceased retail operations in February 2025 after two Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Brand IP acquired by New Amscan, Inc., backed by Advent International.
Retail EcommerceOwned by Dollar General Corporation
American discount retail brand operating roughly 20,800 small-format stores selling consumables, seasonal goods, and home products at everyday low prices.
Retail EcommerceOwned by Family Dollar
American discount variety store chain offering affordable household items, merchandise, and general goods. Founded in 1959, Family Dollar operates approximately 7,100 stores across the United States. Sold by Dollar Tree in July 2025 to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management.
Market Positioning: Dollar Tree competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Dollar Tree, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Retail EcommerceOwned by Oriental Trading Company
Omaha-based direct retailer of party supplies, toys, and crafts founded in 1932, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway since 2012.
Oriental Trading is privately owned, unlike Dollar Tree which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceOwned by New Amscan, Inc.
American party supplies retailer founded in 1986, ceased retail operations in February 2025 after two Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Brand IP acquired by New Amscan, Inc., backed by Advent International.
Party City is privately owned, unlike Dollar Tree which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceOwned by Family Dollar
American discount variety store chain offering affordable household items, merchandise, and general goods. Founded in 1959, Family Dollar operates approximately 7,100 stores across the United States. Sold by Dollar Tree in July 2025 to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management.
Family Dollar is privately owned, unlike Dollar Tree which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceOwned by Five Below, Inc.
American discount retailer founded in 2002 selling trend-right products mostly under $5, operating 2,000-plus stores and trading on NASDAQ under FIVE.
Five Below operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Retail EcommerceOwned by ALDI SÜD
German discount supermarket chain operating in 20+ countries under two separate privately held entities, ALDI SÜD and ALDI NORD, both owned by the Albrecht family.
Aldi is privately owned, unlike Dollar Tree which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Retail EcommerceOwned by EG Group
British supermarket chain offering groceries, clothing, and general merchandise, owned by TDR Capital and the Issa brothers since 2021.
Asda is privately owned, unlike Dollar Tree which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Discover popular brands and companies in the Retail & E-commerce category and related searches from other users.

Global leader in convenience retail with over 84,000 stores across 19 countries, offering a diverse range of food, beverages, and everyday essentials with a focus on 24/7 accessibility and neighborhood convenience.

The home repair and improvement franchise brand owned by Ace Hardware.

The hardware retail brand of Ace Hardware Corporation, the world's largest hardware cooperative.