Food has helped Wawa build a fiercely loyal fan base. What some call a cult-like following. We had a lot of research, we knew the customers, we'd done all the homework and the lines around those stores, and the opening excitement was palpable.7-Eleven is the world's largest convenience store chain. Despite that title, it has somewhat of a reputation problem. It always has that kind of dirty feel.You feel the floor is a little bit sticky. Japanese parent company, Seven & i Holdings, is facing pressure after ...

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: Casey's General Stores (CASY) - CASY currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential for outperformance [3][4] - The stock has shown significant price increases, with shares up 8.28% over the past week, compared to the Zacks Retail - Convenience Stores industry, which is up 7.63% [6] - Over the past quarter, CASY shares have increased by 24.91%, and over the last year, they have gained 62.38%, while the S&P 500 has moved -7.71% and 15.21%, respectively [7] Trading Volume - CASY's average 20-day trading volume is 491,418 shares, which serves as a useful baseline for price-to-volume analysis [8] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, 5 earnings estimates for CASY have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $17.00 to $18.10 [10] - For the next fiscal year, 5 estimates have also moved upwards, indicating positive sentiment regarding future earnings [10] Conclusion - Given the positive momentum indicators and earnings outlook, CASY is positioned as a strong buy candidate for investors seeking short-term opportunities [12]

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but they also come with higher risks and volatility. Identifying strong growth stocks is challenging, especially as a company's growth may be nearing its end [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Casey's General Stores (CASY) is currently highlighted as a recommended growth stock by the Zacks Growth Style Score system, which evaluates a company's growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2]. - The stock has a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank, indicating strong potential for performance [2]. Group 2: Earnings Growth - Historical EPS growth for Casey's stands at 17.3%, but the projected EPS growth for this year is significantly higher at 23.4%, surpassing the industry average of 13.3% [5]. Group 3: Cash Flow Growth - Casey's year-over-year cash flow growth is reported at 11.7%, which exceeds the industry average of 5.6%, highlighting its strong cash generation capabilities [6]. - The company's annualized cash flow growth rate over the past 3-5 years is 13.1%, compared to the industry average of 9.8%, indicating consistent performance [7]. Group 4: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for Casey's, with the current-year earnings estimates increasing by 3.9% over the past month, suggesting favorable market sentiment [8]. Group 5: Conclusion - Overall, Casey's has achieved a Zacks Rank of 2 and a Growth Score of B, based on its strong earnings growth, cash flow growth, and positive earnings estimate revisions, making it a solid choice for growth investors [9][10].

Group 1 - Carrefour SA (CRRFY) is part of the Retail-Wholesale group, which ranks 12 out of 16 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank for Carrefour SA is 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable outlook based on earnings estimate revisions [3] - Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carrefour SA's full-year earnings has increased by 2.7%, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [4] Group 2 - Year-to-date, Carrefour SA has gained approximately 8.4%, outperforming the average loss of 4.4% in the Retail-Wholesale group [4] - Carrefour SA is categorized under the Retail - Supermarkets industry, which ranks 54 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 9.9% this year [6] - In comparison, Casey's General Stores, another stock in the Retail-Wholesale sector, has achieved a year-to-date return of 28.8% and is part of the Retail - Convenience Stores industry, which has gained 27.2% [5][7]

Core Viewpoint - Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY) has demonstrated strong stock performance, with significant increases in share price over various time frames, indicating robust market confidence and growth potential [2][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Shares of Casey's General Stores increased by 6.22% over the past week, 3.82% over the past month, and 27.35% year-to-date, with a 66.29% rise over the trailing 12 months, recently reaching a 52-week high of $721.50 [2]. - The Street consensus target for the stock is $722.03, with a "Moderate Buy" rating, while JPMorgan analyst Thomas Palmer has initiated coverage at Neutral with a price target of $719, suggesting approximately 10% upside potential from recent trading levels [3]. Group 2: Key Drivers of Performance - Fuel margin expansion has been significant, with Casey's fuel margin increasing to 41.0 cents per gallon in Q3 FY2026, up from 36.4 cents per gallon the previous year, contributing to a 15.3% increase in total fuel gross profit to $348.2 million [4][7]. - The company's Rewards program has surpassed 10 million members, driving inside same-store sales growth of 4.0% and expanding inside margin by approximately 130 basis points to 42.2% [7][8]. - Casey's plans to open at least 80 new stores in FY2026 and has a long history of dividend increases, with the most recent raise at 14%, indicating a commitment to shareholder returns [7][8]. Group 3: Market Conditions and Future Outlook - Moderating crude oil prices, with WTI crude at $64.51 per barrel in February 2026 compared to $75.74 a year earlier, are expected to support favorable fuel economics and sustained margins above 40 cents per gallon, which is projected to drive EBITDA growth of 18% to 20% for FY2026 [8]. - Despite the positive outlook, there are concerns regarding margin pressures from the expansion into chicken wings and the elevated valuation at 33.56x forward P/E, which may create near-term headwinds [4][7].

Core Insights - Casey's General Stores Inc. has seen its quality score rise significantly, moving from 87.06 to 90.63, placing it in the top 10% of Benzinga Edge's Stock Rankings [1][2] Financial Performance - The company reported a diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.49 for Q3 fiscal 2026, representing a 49.8% increase year-over-year and exceeding forecasts by over 20% [4] - Net income increased by 49.3% to $130.1 million, while EBITDA rose by 27.5% to $308.9 million [4] - Despite a slight revenue miss at $3.91 billion, the stock remains resilient [3] Analyst Ratings and Outlook - Analyst Pooran Sharma from Stephens maintained an overweight rating with a price target of $680, citing a "solid quarter" and overall momentum [5] - The company has raised its full-year fiscal 2026 EBITDA growth outlook to between 18% and 20% due to strong year-to-date performance [5] Stock Performance - Year-to-date, CASY stock has returned 22.49%, outperforming the Nasdaq Composite index, which has seen a loss of 5.55% [6] - Over the last six months, the stock is up 22.85%, and it has increased by 67.58% over the past year [6] - The stock closed at $677.02, up 2.64%, and saw a premarket increase of 0.58% [6]

Market Overview - Wall Street ended March 19, 2026, on a weak note, with all three major U.S. indices falling below their respective 200-day moving averages, leading to accelerated equity sell-offs due to surging oil prices and a hawkish Fed signaling only one rate cut this year [1][2] Low-Leverage Stocks - Investors are likely to seek safe bets rather than high-beta growth-oriented stocks, emphasizing the importance of low-leverage stocks, which are better equipped to handle interest rate volatility and geopolitical shocks [2][6] - Low-leverage stocks are defined as companies with minimal debt relative to equity, providing a solid foothold as the market faces a potential energy-driven slowdown [2][5] Recommended Low-Leverage Stocks - Recommended low-leverage stocks include: - Nu Holdings (NU): Serves 131 million customers and is expanding through partnerships with major sports teams [10][15] - Casey's General Stores (CASY): Reported a 4% increase in same-store sales and a 49.8% surge in EPS [17][18] - Astec Industries (ASTE): Launched a rebuild and repair program for road construction equipment, with a 13% revenue improvement expected [19][20] - HNI Corp. (HNI): Achieved a 38.3% year-over-year increase in net sales [20][21] - Blue Bird (BLBD): Acquired full ownership of Micro Bird joint venture for approximately $200 million [22][23] Financial Metrics and Screening Criteria - The debt-to-equity ratio is a key metric for assessing financial risk, with a lower ratio indicating improved solvency [7][11] - Additional screening criteria for selecting low-leverage stocks include: - Debt/Equity less than industry median - Current price greater than or equal to $10 - Average 20-day volume greater than or equal to 50,000 - Percentage change in EPS greater than industry median - VGM Score of A or B combined with Zacks Rank 1 or 2 for better upside potential [12][13][14]

Core Insights - Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) is recognized as one of the 14 high growth dividend-paying stocks to invest in currently [1] - UBS has raised its price target for Casey's to $706 from $600 while maintaining a Neutral rating [2] - Wells Fargo increased its price objective for Casey's to $745 from $725, maintaining an Overweight rating, citing strong Q3 earnings and positive sales trends [3] Financial Performance - For fiscal Q3 2026, Casey's reported total revenue of $3.91 billion, an increase of $12 million or 0.3% year-over-year, driven by stronger inside sales and higher fuel volumes, although lower retail fuel prices partially offset this growth [4] - Gross profit reached $1.01 billion, up $94 million or 10.3% year-over-year, with inside gross profit margin improving to 42.2%, an increase of 130 basis points from the previous year [4] - The company also noted a decline in net interest expense due to debt repayment related to the Fikes transaction and repurchased $76 million of its shares during the quarter [5] Company Overview - Casey's operates approximately 2,900 convenience stores across 19 states, offering self-service fuel, grocery items, and a variety of freshly prepared food options [5]

Core Viewpoint - Casey's General Stores (CASY) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the correlation between changes in earnings estimates and near-term stock price movements, making it a valuable tool for investors [2][3]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to price movements based on their buying or selling activities [3]. Business Improvement Indicators - The increase in earnings estimates and the Zacks rating upgrade suggest an improvement in Casey's underlying business, which could lead to higher stock prices as investors respond positively [4]. Importance of Earnings Estimate Revisions - Research indicates a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and stock movements, highlighting the importance of tracking these revisions for investment decisions [5]. - The Zacks Rank system effectively leverages earnings estimate revisions to classify stocks, providing a structured approach to investment [6]. Specific Earnings Estimates for Casey's - Casey's is projected to earn $17.86 per share for the fiscal year ending April 2026, with no year-over-year change, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 7% over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rating System Overview - The Zacks rating system maintains a balanced distribution of ratings, with only the top 20% of stocks receiving a "Strong Buy" or "Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [8][9]. - The upgrade of Casey's to a Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9].

Group 1: Company Overview - Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) operates a network of convenience stores across the U.S., offering fuel, groceries, prepared foods, and other everyday essentials, focusing on convenience, community presence, and customer service in small-town and suburban markets [5] Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Outlook - BMO Capital increased its price target for CASY to $700 from $540 and maintained a Market Perform rating on the shares, noting strong trends in both in-store and fuel sales at convenience stores, with expectations for overall sector growth returning in 2026 after two years of stabilization [2][8] Group 3: Community Initiatives - Casey's General Stores launched its annual campaign to combat hunger in partnership with DoorDash and Feeding America, aiming to provide 10 million meals to local food banks [3] - The initiative allows guests to participate by rounding up in-store purchases, adding donations to online orders, or placing deliveries through DoorDash, which contributes the value of one meal per order (up to 300,000 meals), supporting 61 regional food banks [4]