That stands in contrast to deep-discount chains like Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR), which faced similar circumstances yet blew away Wall Street expectations. The difference is likely due to Dollar Tree's stores being focused on food and everyday essentials that allow penny-pinching consumers to get more bang for their discretionary buck. Last year certainly was a tough comparison to go up against, as a populace generally freed from lockdown restrictions and in possession of stimulus checks, which economists now blame for the rampant inflation we're experiencing, went on a shopping spree.