Discount retailer Dollar Tree Inc said it was confident it would need to divest fewer stores than anticipated to win antitrust approval to purchase Family Dollar Stores Inc.Dollar Tree's shares rose as much as 7 percent to a record high of $67.08 on Thursday.The company, which like other discounters is facing competition from small-format stores opened by big retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, offered to buy Family Dollar for $8.5 billion in July.Dollar Tree will become the largest U.S. dollar store chain if it pulls off the deal by fending off a rival offer by Dollar General Corp, the No. 1 U.S. discount chain.
Dollar General Corporation is a discount retailer in the United States by number of stores, with 9,961 stores located in 39 states as of March 2, 2012, primarily in the southern, southwestern, midwestern and eastern United States. Shares of DG fell by 0.11% or $-0.07/share to $66.10. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $53.00 and as high as $66.29. On average, 3981840 shares of DG exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 14828334.
Dollar Tree, Inc. (Dollar Tree) is an operator of discount variety stores offering merchandise at the fixed price. Shares of DLTR traded higher by 1.03% or $0.64/share to $62.63. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $49.59 and as high as $62.72. On average, 2468510 shares of DLTR exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 3907360.
Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (Family Dollar) operates a chain of more than 7,900 general merchandise retail discount stores in 46 states, providing consumers with a selection of merchandise in neighborhood stores. Shares of FDO fell by 0.51% or $-0.4/share to $78.45. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $55.64 and as high as $80.97. On average, 1330430 shares of FDO exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 3538683.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Walmart), operates retail stores in various formats globally. Shares of WMT traded higher by 1.43% or $1.2/share to $84.99. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $72.27 and as high as $85.64. On average, 6910310 shares of WMT exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 12189846.
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