Dollar General

There's no such thing as a no-risk stock. But these three stocks should be much less risky than most. […]

Editor's note: InvestorPlace's Earnings Reports to Watch is updated weekly. Please check back next week for our latest earnings picks.The earnings calendar starts getting lighter next week. And looking backward, earnings reports look like much ado about nothing, or something close to it.Indeed, the S&P 500, going back to July 15th, when earnings season began, is down about 3%. The external factors buffeting the market -- lower Treasury yields, trade war concerns, fears of a recession -- seem to have outweighed what looks like a reasonably strong earnings season.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsThe fear, then, would be what comes once corporate earnings can't move the market higher. Of course, that same fear held after first quarter earnings reports came through -- and stocks generally moved higher amid broadly similar fears.In the meantime, the earnings calendar isn't exactly empty. Indeed, next week, there are a few reports in key sectors that investors of all stripes should keep an eye on. * 7 Retail Stocks to Buy on the Dip Two high-flying software plays might test valuation concerns in that sector. A pair of retailers will try and follow strong results from Walmart (NYSE:WMT) and Target (NYSE:TGT) that assuaged fears about the U.S. consumer. And two leaders in the consumer packaged goods space will try and keep momentum going. Earnings season might be nearing an end -- but that doesn't mean investors can take their eye off the ball. Dollar General (DG)Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com Earnings Report Date: Thursday, August 29, before market openFiscal second-quarter earnings for Dollar General (NYSE:DG) will be interesting and important for two core reasons. First, the U.S. economy seems overly reliant on consumer spending at this point. Tariffs -- and perhaps other factors -- have led to weaker-than-expected business investment. It's the consumer that is driving U.S. economic growth.The worry is that consumer strength can't last forever. But, at least for now, any near-term worries seem dispelled by strong numbers from Walmart and Target. With Dollar General and rival Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) reporting on Thursday morning, we'll see if that's still true on the low to middle end of the spectrum.There's a second factor at play for DG stock in particular. Dollar General stock has gained almost 30% so far this year. As a relatively defensive play, it's benefited from those recession worries.Does that hold after earnings? If it does, perhaps there's more room to run for not only DG, but consumer staples stocks like Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL).A weak report from Dollar General can amplify concerns about consumer spending, particularly if it's matched by Dollar Tree. A weak response to a strong report, however, can raise concerns about valuations for supposedly 'safe' stocks amid plunging bond yields. All told, Dollar General earnings should be watched by investors across the spectrum, not just those invested in DG or even retail more broadly. Workday (WDAY)Source: Shutterstock Earnings Report Date: Thursday, August 29, after market closeOne of the key questions in this market is: for how long can software stocks like Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY) keep moving higher? No less an authority than Barron's asked that question last month, wondering if software stocks finally were forming what looked like a bubble.Indeed, the outlet specifically called out WDAY stock, noting that Workday had a market capitalization near $50 billion (at the time) while remaining unprofitable. And -- coincidentally or not -- WDAY stock has pulled back since. * 10 Marijuana Stocks That Could See 100% Gains, If Not More And so results from Workday on Thursday afternoon and fellow high-flyer Veeva Systems (NYSE:VEEV) on Tuesday look important. In both cases, what's of interest might not be the actual numbers, but the market's response to those numbers. Investors long have wondered if valuation concerns will ever hit the market's fastest-growing stocks. As two of those stocks, VEEV and WDAY might give an answer next week. Campbell Soup (CPB)Source: HeinzTeh / Shutterstock.com Earnings Report Date: Friday, August 30, before market openFiscal fourth quarter earnings for Campbell Soup (NYSE:CPB) look absolutely critical for CPB stock. Ahead of the report, CPB shares have hit a 52-week high. Many consumer packaged goods stock, which looked left for dead a year ago, have rallied, despite weakness at key names like Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC). Fiscal 2020 guidance will be delivered for the first time -- and closely watched.With CPG peer J.M. Smucker (NYSE:SJM) also reporting, earnings reports next week will be an intriguing gauge for the health of the industry. At a time when investors are looking desperately for yield, U.S. CPG stocks can be attractive targets. But they won't be unless worries about private-label competition and shifting consumer tastes can be assuaged.Both Campbell Soup and J.M. Smucker can ease investor fears next week. But given broad secular fears, if the two companies stumble, the narrative toward the entire sector could take a hit.As of this writing, Vince Martin has no positions in any securities mentioned. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Retail Stocks to Buy on the Dip * 7 Marijuana Stocks With Critical Levels to Watch * 7 Internet of Things Stocks to Buy Now The post 3 Earnings Reports to Watch Next Week appeared first on InvestorPlace. […]

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More investors are watching the shares of discount retailers like Dollar General Corp and Dollar Tree Inc , which perform better during economic downturns, in the hopes of gauging changes in consumer behavior, though higher tariffs may erode the companies' ability to act as economic bellwethers. Fund managers and analysts say that they are looking for signs of a so-called "trade-down trade", in which consumers forgo shopping at higher-end department stores or supermarkets in favor of the more limited selection but lower prices at deep discounters. Between December 2008 and December 2011, for instance, shares of Dollar Tree soared nearly 200% as consumers pinched pennies during the Great Recession, while the benchmark S&P 500 gained just 39% over the same time. […]

Ulta Beauty's (ULTA) Q2 performance is expected to gain from comps growth, supported by strong merchandising, marketing and omnichannel efforts. […]