One of Arkansas’ most recognizable businesses made financial history Friday as Dillard’s executives celebrated the company’s move from the New York Stock Exchange to the newly launched Texas Stock Exchange.
The milestone was marked by a ceremonial opening bell ringing at Dillard’s corporate headquarters in Little Rock, highlighting the company’s historic role as the first business headquartered outside Texas to transfer its primary stock listing to the new exchange.
The ceremony also featured the Texas Stock Exchange’s first-ever cannon firing to mark the opening of the market.
Dillard’s officially began trading on the Texas Stock Exchange on Monday, October 5, under its existing stock symbol, DDS.
The company’s capital securities also transferred to the new exchange under the symbol DDT.
The move marks a major development for the Arkansas-founded retailer after nearly 60 years of listings on New York stock exchanges.
ARKANSAS COMPANY BECOMES FIRST OUT-OF-STATE BUSINESS TO MAKE HISTORIC MOVE
Dillard’s has become the first company headquartered outside Texas to move its primary stock listing to the Texas Stock Exchange.
The retailer also changed its state of incorporation to Texas while maintaining its corporate headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The move represents an important early milestone for the new exchange, which is seeking to establish itself as an alternative to traditional financial markets in New York.
Texas Stock Exchange Chairman and CEO James H. Lee praised the company’s decision, emphasizing the business built by the Dillard family and generations of employees.
The Texas Stock Exchange described Dillard’s as a national retail business valued at approximately $10 billion.
The company’s participation gives the new exchange a nationally recognized retail brand with deep roots in Arkansas.
DILLARD’S CELEBRATES HISTORIC OPENING BELL CEREMONY IN LITTLE ROCK
The October 9 ceremony brought the excitement of a major stock exchange opening to the heart of Arkansas.
Instead of gathering on Wall Street in New York or at the Texas Stock Exchange’s headquarters in Dallas, company leaders participated in the bell-ringing ceremony at Dillard’s corporate offices in Little Rock.
The special event included the Texas Stock Exchange’s first ceremonial cannon firing to open the market.
The celebration recognized Dillard’s transition to the new exchange and its role in helping establish a new financial marketplace.
Company Chairman and CEO William T. Dillard II and President Alex Dillard were among the executives whose comments were featured in the Texas Stock Exchange’s official announcement.
Alex Dillard said the company believes the new exchange can help create value for its investors, including Dillard’s employees who own shares.
The move is also generating attention because Dillard’s is among the first major national companies to shift its primary listing to the new Texas exchange.
FROM A SMALL ARKANSAS STORE TO A NATIONAL RETAIL BUSINESS
Dillard’s has a history deeply connected to Arkansas.
The company was founded in 1938 by William T. Dillard, who opened a department store in Nashville, Arkansas, with an initial investment of $8,000.
From those beginnings, the business expanded into one of the nation’s largest fashion retailers.
Today, Dillard’s operates 272 stores, including 28 clearance centers, across 30 states.
The company also serves customers nationwide through its online retail operation at dillards.com.
Dillard’s sells fashion apparel, footwear, beauty products, accessories and merchandise for the home.
Despite its new Texas incorporation and stock exchange listing, Dillard’s continues to maintain its corporate headquarters in Little Rock.
That distinction makes the company’s historic financial move especially significant for Arkansas, where its retail history began more than 88 years ago.
WHAT THE TEXAS STOCK EXCHANGE MOVE MEANS
The Texas Stock Exchange is a national securities exchange headquartered in Dallas.
The exchange was created to provide another marketplace for companies to list their securities and for investors to trade.
Dillard’s announced its planned transition September 18, 2026.
The company said its primary stock listings would leave the New York Stock Exchange following the October 2 market close and begin trading on the Texas Stock Exchange on October 5.
The transfer included Dillard’s Class A common stock and the capital securities of Dillard’s Capital Trust I.
Both retained their existing ticker symbols.
Dillard’s said shareholders and holders of the transferred securities did not need to take action in connection with the move.
The company’s headquarters and national retail operations remain centered in Little Rock.
A MOMENT OF ARKANSAS BUSINESS HISTORY
The ceremony also drew attention from those with personal ties to Dillard’s and its longtime corporate headquarters.
One attendee described the event as a memorable moment for Arkansas business, recalling 4 consecutive summer internships at Dillard’s corporate headquarters from 1988 through 1991.
The attendee reflected on the experience and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to support the Arkansas company and the Dillard family during the historic ceremony.
The reflection included the phrase, “From Wall Street to Y’all Street,” capturing the company’s shift from New York’s traditional financial district to the new Texas marketplace.
The occasion celebrated both Dillard’s business history and its role in the launch of a new national securities exchange.
DILLARD’S MAINTAINS ITS ARKANSAS ROOTS
For Arkansas, Dillard’s move represents another chapter in the history of a company that grew from a small hometown department store into a nationally recognized retail operation.
While the company’s legal incorporation and primary stock listing have moved to Texas, its corporate headquarters remain in Little Rock.
The October 9 opening bell ceremony provided a highly visible reminder of those Arkansas roots.
Dillard’s now begins a new chapter as one of the pioneering companies on the Texas Stock Exchange, while continuing the retail business started in Arkansas in 1938.
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KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE
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COMPANY:
Dillard’s, Inc.
HEADQUARTERS:
Little Rock, Arkansas
FOUNDED:
1938
FOUNDER:
William T. Dillard
ORIGINAL LOCATION:
Nashville, Arkansas
ORIGINAL INVESTMENT:
$8,000
NEW STOCK EXCHANGE:
Texas Stock Exchange
PREVIOUS PRIMARY EXCHANGE:
New York Stock Exchange
STOCK SYMBOLS:
DDS and DDT
FIRST TRADING DAY ON TEXAS EXCHANGE:
October 5, 2026
CEREMONIAL BELL RINGING:
October 9, 2026
CEREMONY LOCATION:
Dillard’s Corporate Headquarters
Little Rock, Arkansas
COMPANY RETAIL FOOTPRINT:
272 Stores, Including 28 Clearance Centers
STATES SERVED:
30
HISTORIC DISTINCTION:
First Company Headquartered Outside Texas To Transfer Its Primary Listing To The Texas Stock Exchange
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