Core Viewpoint - Casey's General Stores has shown significant growth and potential for future expansion, making it an attractive investment opportunity despite trading near all-time highs [2][4]. Group 1: Company Overview - Casey's General Stores operates over 2,900 locations, making it the third-largest convenience store and fifth-largest pizza chain in the U.S. [3] - The company primarily serves small towns with populations under 20,000, acting as a key community eatery [3]. - Since its IPO in 1983, Casey's has delivered remarkable returns, with a $100 investment now worth $47,380 [3][8]. Group 2: Expansion Opportunities - Casey's has nearly doubled its store count since 2010, with significant growth potential remaining, particularly in states outside its current stronghold of Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri [5]. - Approximately 75% of towns with populations between 500 and 20,000 within its distribution reach still lack a Casey's store, indicating substantial room for growth [6]. - The company is also exploring expansion through mergers and acquisitions into new markets like Texas, Tennessee, and Florida [7]. Group 3: Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy - Casey's M&A team focuses on integrating smaller c-store chains, enhancing kitchen capabilities, which boosts inside sales by 20% and EBITDA by 70% [10][11]. - The high gross margin of 58% on prepared food and beverage sales allows for a 15% return on investment for acquired stores [12]. - Successful integration into larger cities has led to an increase in cash return on invested capital (ROIC) [12][14]. Group 4: Dividend Potential - Despite a current dividend yield of only 0.5%, Casey's has raised its dividend for 25 consecutive years, with payouts using only 13% of net income [15]. - The company could increase its dividend yield significantly while still maintaining a healthy payout ratio, indicating strong future dividend growth potential [16]. - Historical performance shows that long-term investors could achieve a 20% dividend yield based on their original cost basis [16]. Group 5: Valuation and Market Position - Casey's is currently trading at a higher valuation than usual, but this reflects its growth story and a 19% annual increase in net income over the last decade [19]. - The price-to-CFO ratio of 16 is higher than historical averages but remains attractive compared to the broader market, which averages closer to 30 [20][21]. - The company's ongoing expansion and annual dividend increases at a sub-market valuation support the case for continued investment [21].

Group 1: Kroger - Kroger's stock forecast indicates a 12-month price target of $67.06, with a current price of $68.91, suggesting a potential downside of 2.69% [3] - The company is expected to deliver significant capital returns to investors, including a $5 billion accelerated plan and $2.5 billion remaining on the existing authorization [3][4] - Despite a contraction in FQ4 2024 results, the organic adjusted comparable figure rose modestly, and growth is anticipated to return in 2025, supported by a reliable dividend [5][6] Group 2: Casey's General Stores - Casey's General Stores has a 12-month stock price forecast of $430.33, with a current price of $436.80, indicating a downside of 1.48% [9] - The company is growing through acquisitions and organic expansion, with revenue growth of 17% in Q3 driven by the acquisition of Fikes [9] - Casey's maintains a reliable dividend with a payout ratio of almost 15% of earnings, aiming to extend its history of annual distribution increases [11] Group 3: AutoZone - AutoZone's stock forecast shows a 12-month price target of $3,821.91, with a current price of $3,663.00, indicating an upside of 4.34% [13] - The company focuses on share buybacks instead of dividends, reducing its share count by over 3.25% year-over-year in FQ2, with $1.3 billion remaining for buybacks [14] - AutoZone is expected to continue modest single-digit growth, supported by a strong balance sheet and cash flow [15]

Core Points - A public hearing is scheduled to discuss a Casey's development project at 20 E. Ogden Ave. in Naperville, set for May 7 at 7 p.m. [1] - The developers are requesting a conditional use agreement and a zoning variance to construct a new 3,218 square foot convenience store, replacing the existing Bucky's gas station, which was acquired by Casey's General Stores in 2021 [2] - The zoning variance aims to permit the replacement of three light fixtures within a major arterial setback, as outlined in village documents [2]

Core Insights - IntelAgree has entered into an enterprise agreement with Casey's, a Fortune 500 company and a major player in the convenience store and pizza chain sectors in the U.S. [1][5] - Casey's will utilize IntelAgree's full capabilities, including the generative AI assistant Saige Assist, to enhance contract operations across various departments [2][3]. Company Overview - Casey's operates approximately 2,900 convenience stores and is recognized as the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States [5]. - The company focuses on providing freshly prepared foods, quality fuel, and friendly service, with a diverse menu including pizza and bakery items [5]. Technology and Implementation - The implementation of IntelAgree's platform reflects Casey's commitment to operational excellence, automation, and enterprise-wide visibility [2][3]. - IntelAgree's tools will support every stage of the contract lifecycle, offering features such as a centralized contract repository, automated approvals, and real-time dashboards [3][4]. - The platform aims to transform contracts into a strategic advantage for Casey's by simplifying the contract process from end to end [4]. Strategic Alignment - Both companies share a commitment to making a meaningful impact in their communities, with Casey's focusing on delivering value to its guests and team members [3]. - IntelAgree emphasizes the importance of streamlining contract management to allow teams to focus on impactful work rather than busy work [6].

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools and services to help investors achieve long-term success in the stock market [1] - The Zacks Focus List is a curated portfolio of 50 stocks expected to outperform the market over the next 12 months [3][4] Performance Metrics - In 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis, outperforming the S&P 500's return of 9.38% [5] - Cumulatively, the Focus List has returned 2,519.23% from February 1, 1996, to March 31, 2021, compared to the S&P's return of 854.95% during the same period [5] Methodology - The Focus List is based on earnings estimate revisions, which are critical for predicting future growth and profitability [6][7] - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock-rating model, utilizes changes in quarterly earnings expectations to help build a winning portfolio [8] Zacks Rank Components - The Zacks Rank consists of four main pillars: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise, which are recalculated nightly [9] - Stocks in the Focus List are primarily from 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) ranked companies, indicating a bullish earnings consensus among analysts [9] Case Study: Casey's General Stores - Casey's General Stores, added to the Focus List at $171.98 per share, has seen a share price increase of 167.93% to $460.78 [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Casey's earnings has increased to $13.95, with an average earnings surprise of 22.7% [13]

Group 1 - The article discusses the hold rating for Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY) based on its core business performance and market conditions [1] - The investment is considered ideal if it operates in a sector expected to experience structural growth exceeding GDP growth over the next 5-10 years [1] - Sustainable competitive advantages and attractive unit economics are highlighted as essential factors for profitability [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of competent, ethical, and long-term thinking management for the success of the investment [1] - Fair valuation is mentioned as a critical criterion for assessing the investment opportunity [1]

Core Viewpoint - Casey's General Stores is experiencing a positive uptrend, supported by strong FQ3 results that affirm both near and long-term outlooks, leading to a share price increase of over 5% [1][12] Financial Performance - In FQ3 2025, Casey's reported consolidated revenue of $3.9 billion, reflecting a 17.1% year-over-year increase, driven by organic growth and acquisitions, surpassing MarketBeat's consensus by 420 basis points [4] - Inside sales grew by 15%, while gasoline gallons sold improved by 20.4%. On a comparable store basis, inside sales rose by 3.7%, and gasoline gallons increased by 1.8% [4] - The company maintained its comp-store growth target of 3% to 5% and increased its FY EBITDA growth outlook by 100 basis points to 11% [5] Market Sentiment and Analyst Ratings - The 12-month stock price forecast for Casey's is $423.09, indicating a 6.94% upside, with a Moderate Buy rating based on 11 analyst ratings [6] - The stock has risen 37% over the past twelve months, with recent revisions suggesting a potential 7.5% upside, which could lead to new all-time highs [7] - Institutional buying has increased, with Q1 2025 activity reaching a multiyear high, as institutions own over 70% of the stock [8] Balance Sheet and Capital Management - Casey's has suspended share buybacks in preparation for the Fikes acquisition but is expected to resume them soon. Total assets increased by nearly $1.9 billion, about 30%, while liabilities rose by $1.5 billion [10] - Equity increased by 13.2%, and long-term debt leverage remains low at less than 1x equity, ensuring positive cash flow and a safe dividend yield of approximately 0.5% [11]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Diluted EPS was $2.33 per share and net income was $87 million, both flat compared to the prior year [10] - EBITDA increased to $242 million, up 11% from the prior year [27] - Total revenue for the quarter was $3.9 billion, an increase of $574 million or 17.3% from the prior year [17] - Gross profit was $913 million, an increase of $126 million or 16% from the prior year [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Inside same-store sales increased by 3.7% for the quarter, or 8% on a two-year stack basis [12] - Prepared food and dispensed beverage sales rose by $48 million to $397 million, an increase of 13.7% [19] - Grocery and general merchandise sales increased by $138 million to $1 billion, an increase of 15.9% [19] - Same-store prepared food and dispensed beverage sales were up 4.7% or 12.6% on a two-year stack basis [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fuel gallons sold were up over 20% [10] - Same-store gallons sold increased by 1.8% with a fuel margin of $0.364 per gallon [14] - The Mid-Continent region saw a decline of approximately 4% in fuel gallons sold, indicating market share growth [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on accelerating the food business, with strong performance in prepared food innovation [36] - The integration of the Fikes transaction is a key strategic priority, with expectations of achieving $45 million in synergies over three to four years [64] - The company aims to enhance operational efficiency, achieving reduced same-store labor hours for 11 consecutive quarters [40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating a potentially volatile environment due to enhanced capabilities and a resilient business model [49][50] - The company expects to achieve its target leverage ratio of approximately 2 times by the end of the fiscal year [28] - Future guidance includes an expected EBITDA increase of approximately 11% [29] Other Important Information - Operating expenses increased by 17.8% or $101.3 million in the quarter, with 14% attributed to unit growth [24] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 19.2%, down from 24.1% in the prior year [26] - The company generated $91 million of free cash flow, compared to using $27 million in the prior year [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: How has Casey's adapted to a volatile policy backdrop? - Management highlighted improvements in procurement, data analytics, and technology that enhance confidence in navigating volatility [47][48] Question: What are the timelines for improving margins at Fikes? - Management indicated that improvements will come with kitchen installations and product mix optimization, with early positive results from converted stores [52][56] Question: How is the integration of Fikes performing? - Management expressed satisfaction with early performance, noting that the integration is progressing well despite winter weather challenges [62] Question: How does Casey's position itself in a potential recession? - Management noted that Casey's offers essential daily needs at lower price points, making it resilient during economic downturns [75][76] Question: What is the outlook for labor hour reductions? - Management stated that there is still runway for reducing same-store labor hours, with a commitment to a 1% reduction per year [133] Question: How is the wings business performing? - Management confirmed that the wings test is ongoing, with positive early results but no final decision on broader rollout yet [122]

Shares of the United States' third-largest convenience store and fifth-largest pizza chain, Casey's General Stores (CASY 6.18%), were up 6% as of 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.Casey's delivered third-quarter earnings that smashed analysts' expectations and showed that its growth prospects remain as bright as ever.Casey's surprisingly good quarter and promising futureFor the third quarter, Casey's reported that earnings before interest, taxes, deprec ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Diluted EPS was $2.33 per share and net income was $87 million, both flat compared to the prior year [10] - EBITDA increased to $242 million, up 11% from the prior year [27] - Total revenue for the quarter was $3.9 billion, an increase of $574 million or 17.3% from the prior year [17] - Gross profit was $913 million, an increase of $126 million or 16% from the prior year [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Inside same-store sales increased by 3.7% for the quarter, or 8% on a two-year stack basis [12] - Prepared food and dispensed beverage sales rose by $48 million to $397 million, an increase of 13.7% [19] - Grocery and general merchandise sales increased by $138 million to $1 billion, an increase of 15.9% [19] - Same-store prepared food and dispensed beverage sales were up 4.7% or 12.6% on a two-year stack basis [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fuel gallons sold were up over 20% [10] - Same-store gallons sold increased by 1.8% with a fuel margin of $0.364 per gallon [14] - The Mid-Continent region saw a decline of approximately 4% in fuel gallons sold, indicating market share growth [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on accelerating the food business, with strong performance in prepared food innovation [36] - The integration of the Fikes transaction is a key strategic initiative, with expectations of achieving $45 million in synergies over three to four years [64] - The company aims to enhance operational efficiency, achieving reduced same-store labor hours for 11 consecutive quarters [40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating a potentially volatile environment due to enhanced capabilities and a resilient business model [49][50] - The company expects to achieve its target leverage ratio of approximately 2 times by the end of the fiscal year [28] - Management anticipates EBITDA growth of approximately 11% for the fiscal year [29] Other Important Information - Operating expenses increased by 17.8% or $101.3 million in the quarter, with 14% attributed to unit growth [24] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 19.2%, down from 24.1% in the prior year [26] - The company maintained its quarterly dividend at $0.50 per share [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: How has Casey's adapted to a volatile environment? - Management highlighted improvements in procurement, data analytics, and guest insights, enhancing confidence in navigating uncertainties [47][48] Question: What are the timelines for improving margins at Fikes? - Management indicated that improvements in prepared food margins will take time, with kitchens being added to stores to enhance product offerings [53][56] Question: How is the integration of Fikes performing? - Early performance is satisfactory, with high-quality stores in attractive geographies, but the first quarter was impacted by winter weather [62] Question: What is the outlook for consumer spending? - Management noted some pressure on lower-income consumers but emphasized that the majority of their customer base remains stable [85] Question: How is the company positioned in a recessionary environment? - Management stated that Casey's has historically performed well during recessions due to its focus on basic daily needs and competitive pricing [75][76] Question: What is the status of the wings business rollout? - The wings business is still in early testing stages, with positive results so far, but no final decision has been made for broader rollout [122] Question: How much EBITDA did Fikes contribute this quarter? - Fikes was EBITDA dilutive this quarter due to integration costs, but it is expected to be modestly positive in the next quarter [113]