This Stock, Up Over 230% in 5 Years, Looks Like a Genius Buy Right Now

Dollarama has already surged, but its value-focused model still fits today’s cautious consumer environment.

| More on:
Key Points
  • Dollarama can keep growing through strong same-store sales and new stores, plus expansion beyond Canada.
  • The dividend is tiny, so the real return story is earnings growth and buybacks, not income.
  • The biggest risk is its expensive valuation, since any slowdown could hit the stock hard.

A stock can more than double and still look tempting. That’s the strange thing about Dollarama (TSX:DOL). Shares are up more than 230% over the last five years, yet the business keeps giving investors reasons to stay interested. In a market where consumers remain cautious, food bills still feel heavy, and shoppers keep hunting for value, Dollarama stock looks built for the moment.

Pile of Canadian dollar bills in various denominations

Source: Getty Images

DOL

Dollarama’s model is beautifully simple. It sells low-priced everyday items across thousands of stores, with most products priced at $5 or less. Canadians go there for snacks, cleaning products, kitchen items, seasonal goods, school supplies, party items, and cheap household basics. It doesn’t need shoppers to feel rich. In many ways, it benefits when people feel stretched.

That makes the stock especially timely now. Inflation may not be racing the way it was a few years ago, but many households still feel squeezed. Rent, groceries, gas, debt payments, and family expenses keep pressure on budgets. Dollarama stock gives shoppers a way to trade down without feeling like they’re giving up much.

The dividend won’t excite income investors. Dollarama stock pays a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share, so the yield is tiny at just 0.24%. But the payout still signals confidence, and the company has used cash flow to reward shareholders through buybacks as well. For long-term investors, the bigger appeal is capital growth, not income.

Performing well

The company’s latest quarter shows why. Fiscal first-quarter 2027 sales rose 21.4% to $1.9 billion. Canadian comparable-store sales climbed 5.6%. For a retailer that already operates at a huge scale, that kind of growth is impressive.

The company also keeps expanding. Dollarama ended the quarter with 1,719 stores in Canada, up from 1,638 a year earlier. It also gained a new growth platform in Australia through The Reject Shop, which contributed $192.8 million in sales during the quarter. Add Dollarcity in Latin America, and the story becomes more than just Canadian discount retail.

Profitability is another reason the stock keeps working. Dollarama isn’t just growing sales. It runs a tight operation with strong margins, steady traffic, and disciplined buying. Its stores are small, efficient, and easy for shoppers to understand. The business doesn’t need a complicated pitch.

Looking ahead

That global angle is one reason the stock still deserves attention after such a strong run. Dollarama stock has already proven its format in Canada. If management can export that discipline into other markets, the runway could stay longer than investors expect.

The risk is valuation. Dollarama stock doesn’t look cheap, trading at almost 39 times earnings at writing. A strong business can still deliver weaker returns if investors pay too much. Shares already trade near past highs, and expectations remain high. If sales growth slows, margins slip, or the international expansion disappoints, the stock could pull back.

There’s also consumer risk. Dollarama stock benefits from value-seeking shoppers, but it still sells discretionary items. If consumers cut even deeper, traffic may hold up while basket sizes weaken. Even so, Dollarama has earned its premium. This is one of the rare Canadian retailers with a long track record of growth, strong execution, and a brand that becomes more useful when shoppers feel under pressure. It doesn’t need a booming economy to win. It needs Canadians to keep looking for bargains.

Bottom line

That’s why the stock still looks like a smart buy, even after a massive five-year climb. Investors shouldn’t expect another easy 230% gain from here. The valuation is too rich for that kind of assumption. But for a long-term portfolio, Dollarama stock still checks a lot of boxes.

Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Dollarama. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Stocks for Beginners

data center server racks glow with light
Tech Stocks

1 Canadian Company Set to Soar From the $1 Trillion Data Centre Buildout

Data centre expansion is creating a long runway for this Canadian company’s next growth phase.

Read more »

holding coins in hand for the future
Top TSX Stocks

The Economy Is Slowing: 2 TSX Stocks I’d Still Buy Today

The economy is slowing, but these two TSX stocks offer defensive strength, long-term growth, and reasons to keep buying today.

Read more »

man in bowtie poses with abacus
Stocks for Beginners

How Much Does a Typical 45-Year-Old Have Saved in Their TFSA and RRSP?

TFSA room can look huge by 45, but the real opportunity is using the next 20 years to compound.

Read more »

Data center woman holding laptop
Energy Stocks

1 Canadian Company Set to Profit From the $650 Billion Data Centre Buildout

Big Tech’s US$650 billion AI buildout could hit a hard limit: electricity, making nuclear fuel a quiet beneficiary.

Read more »

pregnant mother juggles work and childcare
Stocks for Beginners

5 Canadian Stocks Beginners Can Buy and Hold Forever

These Canadian stocks offer a strong mix of stability, steady income, and long-term growth, making them ideal investments for beginners.

Read more »

Map of Canada showing connectivity
Energy Stocks

2 TSX Stocks That Could Win Big From Canada’s Energy Advantage

Canada’s $140 billion oil-export engine is still growing, and CNQ plus Enbridge give investors two different ways to tap it.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing Canada's Tax Free Savings Account
Stocks for Beginners

The TFSA Strategy I’d Be Following Heading Into the Rest of 2026

Prepare for the second half of 2026 by reviewing your TFSA portfolio and understanding market impacts on your investments.

Read more »

Thrilled women riding roller coaster at amusement park, enjoying fun outdoor activity.
Dividend Stocks

3 Canadian Stocks That Could Turn Market Volatility Into Long-Term Gains

Volatility isn’t just a risk in Canada’s markets, it can be an opening to buy great businesses at better prices.

Read more »