Casey’s(US:CASY) ZACKS·2024-09-05 16:20Core Insights - Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) reported first-quarter fiscal 2025 results with total revenues of $4,097.7 million, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,112 million, but increased by 5.9% year over year. Earnings per share were $4.83, surpassing the estimate of $4.54 and reflecting a 6.9% increase from $4.52 in the prior-year period [1][2]. Revenue Performance - Total inside sales increased by 7.6% year over year to $1.47 billion, driven by strong performances in prepared food and dispensed beverage categories. Inside same-store sales rose by 2.3%, compared to a 5.4% increase in the previous year [3]. - Prepared Food & Dispensed Beverage sales rose by 8.7% year over year to $405.1 million, while same-store sales increased by 4.4% [7]. - Grocery & General Merchandise sales increased by 7.2% to $1.07 billion, with same-store sales rising by 1.6% [8]. - Fuel sales improved by 5.3% year over year to $2.56 billion, with fuel gallons sold jumping by 8.2% to 772.5 million [9]. Margin and Profitability - Gross profit rose by 8.8% year over year to $955.3 million, with gross margin expanding by 60 basis points to 23.3% [4]. - Inside gross profit increased by 10.4% year over year to $614.3 million, and inside margin increased by 110 basis points to 41.7% [4]. - EBITDA increased by 9.1% year over year to $345.8 million, with EBITDA margin expanding by 20 basis points to 8.4% [5]. Expenses and Financial Position - Operating expenses rose by 8.7% to $609.5 million, which was lower than the estimated increase of 10.2% [5]. - As of the end of the quarter, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $305 million, long-term debt of $1.40 billion, and shareholders' equity of $3.16 billion [10]. Future Guidance - For fiscal 2025, the company expects inside same-store sales to increase by 3-5% and anticipates an inside margin of 41%. It forecasts same-store fuel gallons sold to remain flat, with EBITDA growth expected to be at least 8% [12].