Dec 5 (Reuters) - Discount store operator Dollar General ( DG )

on Thursday trimmed the upper end of its annual profit

forecast on hurricane-related expenses, while also laying out a

plan to open more stores as well as remodel old ones next year.

The company said the updated forecast includes the impact of

hurricane-related expenses of $32.7 million in the third

quarter.

The dollar store chain operator also said it aims to open

about 575 new stores in the U.S., while fully remodeling roughly

2,000 stores in the fiscal year ending January 2026.

The company expects annual earnings per share in the range

of $5.50 to $5.90, compared with its prior forecast range of

$5.50 to $6.20.

(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru; Editing by

Sriraj Kalluvila)