** Shares of Dollar General DG.N rise 2.5% to $121.94
** Co announces veteran CEO Todd Vasos is stepping down to be replaced by Jerry "JJ" Fleeman Jr
** DG snaps two straight sessions of gains, dropping to its lowest level since December 4
** Fleeman is currently the CEO of the U.S. division of Ahold Delhaize after spending more than 35 years at the multinational retailer. His appointment as DG's CEO is effective January 1, 2027, company says in statement
** Vasos is in his second stint, having served as CEO for ten years from 2015 to 2022 and from 2023 to present. He will continue to serve as CEO until the effective date of the transition, after which he will serve as senior advisor through April 2, 2027
** 31 analysts rate DG "buy" on average; median PT is $150 - LSEG data
** DG down 8.8% YTD vs. 8.6% fall in S&P 500's consumer discretionary index .SPLRCD
(Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York)
((Email: Chibuike.Oguh@thomsonreuters.com; Phone: +332-219-1834; Reuters Messaging: chibuike.oguh.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))