Dollar General (DG) and Dollar Tree (DLTR) both exceeded market expectations in earnings released Thursday (the 27th), highlighting a widening split in U.S. consumer behavior. Higher gasoline prices are keeping lower-income shoppers closer to home and encouraging careful spending, while middle- and upper-income households are also visiting discount stores for bargains and non-essential goods. Dollar General reported a 3.5% year-over-year increase in same-store sales, its fifth straight quarter of traffic growth, raised its full-year sales forecast to 2.5% to 2.9% and said it would resume share buybacks in the second half. Its shares rose as much as 8% intraday before closing 2.5% higher at $125.89, approximately NT$4,000. Dollar Tree, which operates more than 9,000 stores, posted 3.7% same-store sales growth, with customer traffic returning to growth for the first time in four quarters. Its shares fell 3.9% to $127, approximately NT$4,000, after its current-quarter profit forecast missed Wall Street expectations and its full-year revenue target remained unchanged. Both companies warned that elevated fuel costs could pressure margins in the second half of the year. IEEPA tariff refunds are also supporting earnings: Dollar General expects fiscal 2026 EPS of $7.80 to $8.00, including a $0.25 contribution from refunds, while Dollar Tree raised full-year EPS guidance to $7.70 to $8.05, with refunds contributing about $0.60. The reports come after Walmart (WMT) missed quarterly sales expectations and as US President Donald Trump warned fuel prices could remain elevated while the conflict with Iran escalates, suggesting value-oriented shopping may continue expanding across income groups even as retail momentum cools.