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]

Core Insights - Casey's General Stores reported strong fiscal 2025 third-quarter results, exceeding analysts' expectations in earnings and revenue, driven by strategic growth initiatives [2][6] Financial Performance - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $2.33, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.00, while revenue reached $3.904 billion, exceeding the expected $3.723 billion [2][3] - Year-over-year revenue growth was 17.3%, with EBITDA increasing by 11.4% to $242 million [3][6] - Fuel gross profit rose by 17.4% to $302 million, and inside gross profit increased by 14.3% to $573 million [3][7] Strategic Initiatives - The company has focused on expanding its store footprint through acquisitions, adding 228 stores and building 21 new locations since the start of the fiscal year [5][8] - Prepared food offerings have been a key driver of growth, with same-store inside sales increasing by 3.7% and sales of prepared foods and beverages rising by 4.7% [7][11] Operational Insights - Operating expenses increased by approximately 18% due to acquisition-related costs, but same-store operating expenses rose only 3.2% when excluding credit card fees [8][11] - The company maintained solid liquidity with $1.3 billion in available resources and did not repurchase shares during the quarter, indicating a strategy to preserve cash reserves [9] Future Outlook - Casey's anticipates an EBITDA growth of roughly 11% for fiscal 2025, with plans to add about 270 new stores throughout the year [10][11] - Continued expansion into less competitive markets and a focus on high-margin products are expected to remain key strategic priorities [11]

Financial Performance - Net income for the third quarter was $87.1 million, flat compared to the prior year, with diluted EPS also flat at $2.33[5] - Total revenue for the third quarter increased by 17.2% to $3.9 billion, driven by a 15.3% rise in inside sales and a 20.4% increase in fuel gallons sold[18] - EBITDA for the third quarter rose 11.4% to $242.4 million, primarily due to higher inside and fuel gross profit[6] - Net income for the nine months ended January 31, 2025, was $448,213 thousand, compared to $414,952 thousand for the same period in 2024, reflecting an increase of 8.0%[22] - Net income for the three months ended January 31, 2025, was $87,097,000, compared to $86,933,000 for the same period in 2024, reflecting a slight increase[27] - EBITDA for the nine months ended January 31, 2025, reached $937,030,000, up from $840,372,000 in 2024, indicating a growth of approximately 11.5%[27] Sales and Revenue Growth - Inside same-store sales increased by 3.7% year-over-year, with prepared food and dispensed beverage same-store sales up 4.7%[7] - Same-store fuel gallons sold increased by 1.8%, with total fuel gross profit up 17.4% to $302.1 million[8] - Revenue for the three months ended January 31, 2025, was $3,903,633 thousand, up from $3,329,247 thousand in the same period of 2024, indicating a growth of 17.2%[24] - Same-store sales growth for prepared food and dispensed beverage was 4.7% for the fiscal year 2025[24] Expenses and Liabilities - Total operating expenses increased by approximately 18%, influenced by operating 254 additional stores and one-time costs from the Fikes acquisition[9] - Total liabilities increased to $4,802,862 thousand as of January 31, 2025, from $3,332,052 thousand on April 30, 2024, an increase of 43.9%[20] - Interest expenses increased to $29,415,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2025, compared to $14,146,000 in 2024, showing a significant rise[27] - Federal and state income taxes for the nine months ended January 31, 2025, totaled $136,578,000, compared to $129,020,000 in 2024, marking an increase of about 5.4%[27] - Depreciation and amortization expenses for the three months ended January 31, 2025, were $105,203,000, up from $88,950,000 in 2024, reflecting a growth of approximately 18.3%[27] Liquidity and Capital - As of January 31, 2025, the company had approximately $1.3 billion in available liquidity, including $395 million in cash[12] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period increased to $394,815 thousand from $177,881 thousand year-over-year, a rise of 121.5%[22] - The company reported a significant increase in payments for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired, totaling $1,211,567 thousand for the nine months ended January 31, 2025, compared to $296,809 thousand in 2024[22] Future Outlook - The company expects fiscal year 2025 EBITDA to increase approximately 11% and plans to add around 270 stores[15][16] - The company is exploring growth opportunities and potential impacts from the Fikes transaction, with expectations for future periods being cautiously optimistic[28] - The company acknowledges risks related to the execution of its strategic plan and the integration of acquired stores, which may affect future performance[28] Corporate Governance - The board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, payable on May 15, 2025[14] - The earnings conference call is scheduled for March 12, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. CDT, providing an opportunity for investors to gain insights into the company's performance[29] - Corporate information and earnings details can be accessed through the company's investor relations website[29] - Investor relations contact is Brian Johnson, reachable at (515) 446-6587, for any inquiries related to financial performance[30]