Core Insights - GPM Investments, LLC has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Apollo Power to explore solar energy solutions at gas station sites across the U.S. [1][2] - The partnership aims to evaluate the deployment of Apollo Power's flexible solar energy solutions at a minimum of 300 sites, with an estimated project value of approximately $53 million [2][3] - This collaboration marks Apollo Power's significant entry into the U.S. gas station market, leveraging ARKO Corp.'s extensive network of over 3,500 gas stations and convenience stores [3][4] Company Overview - ARKO Corp. is a Fortune 500 company that owns GPM Investments, LLC, and operates in the gas station and convenience store sector in the U.S. [6] - The company operates in four segments: retail, wholesale, fleet fueling, and GPM Petroleum, providing a wide range of products and services [6] Strategic Implications - The MOU is seen as a major milestone for Apollo Power, enhancing its position in the renewable energy sector and providing a strategic platform for further expansion in the U.S. market [4][5] - The technology offered by Apollo Power allows gas station operators to generate solar energy from rooftops that cannot support traditional solar panels, creating additional revenue streams [5]

Group 1: Market Overview - ClearBridge Investments reported that mid-cap stocks experienced growth in Q3 2025, driven by shifting monetary policy, stabilizing earnings, and improved sentiment [1] - The Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates positively impacted small and mid-cap stocks during the quarter [1] - Value stocks outperformed growth stocks, with the Russell Midcap Value Index returning 6.2% compared to the Russell Midcap Growth's 2.8% [1] Group 2: ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy Performance - The ClearBridge Mid Cap Strategy outperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Index, in Q3 2025 [1] - Stock selection in the consumer staples and healthcare sectors contributed significantly to the strategy's outperformance [1] Group 3: Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) Performance - Casey's General Stores, Inc. had a one-month return of -4.71% but gained 31.84% over the last 52 weeks, closing at $534.88 per share with a market capitalization of $19.888 billion on November 12, 2025 [2] - The company benefited from aggressive reinvestment in its stores over the past decade, enhancing its private label brand and product offerings, which improved same-store sales and encouraged repeat traffic [3] Group 4: Hedge Fund Interest and Revenue Growth - Casey's General Stores, Inc. was held by 47 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, an increase from 35 in the previous quarter [4] - The company reported revenue of $4.6 billion in Q1 of fiscal 206, reflecting an 11.5% increase from the prior year [4]

Core Insights - Mercy Medical Center's Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction is organizing a community outreach event to provide free foot care and distribute shoes and socks to the homeless population [1][2][5] Group 1: Event Details - The outreach event will take place on November 25, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Helping Up Mission, located at 1029 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 [1][5] - The initiative aims to address critical health needs of the homeless, particularly foot and ankle complications due to prolonged standing and exposure [2] Group 2: Sponsorship and Contributions - The event is supported by donations from Royal Farms, which contributed $5,000 for footwear purchases, and Dick's Sporting Goods, which is donating up to 100 pairs of Brooks shoes [3][4] - Royal Farms emphasizes its commitment to community support and the importance of providing quality care and dignity to residents in need [4] Group 3: Professional Involvement - Participating surgeons from Mercy include Drs. Clifford Jeng, John Campbell, Rebecca Cerrato, Patrick Maloney, and Vandan Patel, along with four IFAR fellows and professional fitters from D&J Medical for proper shoe fitting [4]

Core Insights - National Retail Solutions (NRS) has integrated with Grubhub to enable independent retailers to offer remote ordering for delivery or in-store pick-up, enhancing their digital capabilities [1][2] Company Overview - NRS operates a leading point-of-sale (POS) terminal-based platform and digital payment processing service for independent retailers across the U.S. [3] - NRS is a subsidiary of IDT Corporation, listed on NYSE [3] Partnership Details - The integration with Grubhub allows NRS retailers, primarily neighborhood convenience stores and bodegas, to compete effectively in the digital marketplace [2] - Key advantages of the integration include streamlined operations, real-time menu and inventory syncing, reduced training requirements, centralized management, and actionable analytics [5] Operational Benefits - Grubhub orders are directly processed through the NRS POS system, simplifying workflows and reducing counter clutter [5] - Price updates and inventory changes in the NRS POS are automatically reflected on Grubhub menus, ensuring order accuracy [5] - Retailers can manage Grubhub menus and store analytics directly from their NRS POS, enhancing operational efficiency [5] Market Impact - The integration is designed to help local businesses thrive in a digital-first environment, unlocking new revenue streams without adding operational complexity [2] - NRS retailers utilizing the Grubhub integration have reported significantly increased profitability and strong returns on investment [2]

Leadership and Military Experience - Leadership skills developed in the military can be effectively transferred to the corporate world, particularly in competitive environments [1] - Fred Smith, founder and former CEO of FedEx, attributes his success to lessons learned in the Marine Corps, emphasizing the importance of wartime logistics and small-unit leadership [1][2] Profiles of CEOs with Military Backgrounds - Darren Rebelez, CEO of Casey's General Stores, served as an infantry officer in the Army and has held leadership roles in various companies, including Exxon Mobil and 7-Eleven [3][4] - Anthony Guzzi, CEO of Emcor, also a West Point graduate, served as a Light Infantry Captain and has been with Emcor since 2004, becoming CEO in 2011 [5] - Bob Frenzel, CEO of Xcel Energy, served in the Navy as a nuclear engineering officer and has a background in consulting and investment banking before joining Xcel [6][7] - Jeffrey Martin, CEO of Sempra Energy, served as an air-cavalry pilot and emphasizes the importance of creating new leaders within organizations [8][9][10] - Avigal Soreq, CEO of Delek US Holdings, served in the Israeli Air Force and has a diverse career in various companies before returning to Delek [11] - Shane O'Kelly, CEO of Advance Auto Parts, served as an infantry officer and has held leadership positions in multiple companies before becoming CEO in 2023 [12]

Core Viewpoint - The rise of unmanned micro-business spaces, such as unmanned convenience stores and self-service gyms, is reshaping consumer experiences and reducing operational costs through technology and demand-driven models [1][2]. Group 1: Market Overview - The unmanned retail market in China is projected to exceed 50 billion yuan by 2025 [1]. - Unmanned convenience stores typically occupy less than 10 square meters, featuring low rent, minimal staffing, and high efficiency [1]. Group 2: Consumer Demand - These unmanned spaces cater to diverse consumer needs, such as self-service gyms for night-time workouts and unmanned cafes for freelancers, aligning with the younger generation's desire for efficiency and freedom [2]. - The 24-hour operation of self-study rooms allows professionals to utilize their time effectively after work [2]. Group 3: Business Advantages - Unmanned stores offer flexible locations and lower entry barriers, making them suitable for smaller environments like factories and office buildings, where traditional stores may struggle [2]. - A daily revenue of 500 yuan is sufficient for unmanned convenience stores to achieve profitability [2]. Group 4: Operational Challenges - Current challenges include customer service issues, such as limited options for returns and exchanges, and potential technical failures that could trap customers inside [3]. - The integration of advanced technologies like facial recognition and contactless payments is expected to enhance customer experience in the future [3]. Group 5: Future Trends - The unmanned economy represents a deep integration of artificial intelligence and consumer scenarios, aiming not only to reduce costs but also to provide differentiated consumption methods [3]. - A mixed model of "human + unmanned" operations is anticipated, where some convenience stores may switch to unmanned service during night hours to balance safety and efficiency [3].

Core Insights - GPM Investments is shifting its strategy towards a food-focused convenience store model to enhance traffic, profitability, and value proposition in a challenging microeconomic environment [3][6] - The company plans to expand its new store design to an additional 20 to 25 locations following the initial pilot stores [7] Company Strategy - The new store design emphasizes foodservice, moving away from a previous focus on acquisitions to organic growth and improving loyalty programs [3][7] - The Fas Craves program features a variety of grab-and-go food items and beverage offerings, aiming to attract more customers [4][6] Expansion Plans - GPM has opened three pilot stores in the Richmond, Virginia area, with plans for four more by the first half of 2026 [7] - The performance of the opened locations has been positive, leading to plans for further expansion once the initial seven stores are operational [6][7]

This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. When Terry Valdivieso joined Atlantis Management Group in 2015, the company was about a quarter of the size it is today. The Mount Vernon, New York-based convenience store operator now owns 190 locations and is a wholesale supplier to about 150 more. Founded in 2006 with just four stores in the Bronx, Atlantis has gradually expanded its footprint to cover four East Coast sta ...

Core Insights - ARKO Corp. reported a net income of $13.5 million for Q3 2025, an increase from $9.7 million in the same quarter last year, indicating a positive trend in profitability [6] - The company is focused on executing its transformation plan, which includes advancing its dealerization program and improving operational efficiency despite a challenging consumer environment [4][6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $75.2 million, slightly down from $78.8 million year-over-year, reflecting ongoing operational adjustments [6] Financial Performance - Total revenues for Q3 2025 were $2.02 billion, down from $2.28 billion in Q3 2024 [39] - Merchandise revenue decreased to $389.7 million from $469.6 million, while merchandise margin improved to 33.7% from 32.8% [6][39] - Fuel revenue was $1.6 billion, down from $1.78 billion, with a retail fuel margin of 43.6 cents per gallon, up from 41.3 cents per gallon [39] Operational Highlights - The company converted 65 retail stores to dealer sites in Q3 2025, totaling 194 conversions year-to-date, with expectations of over $20 million in annualized operating income benefits from channel optimization [6][9] - ARKO advanced its retail store remodeling pilot program, focusing on enhancing customer experience with improved layouts and food offerings [6] - The company opened new-to-industry locations, including a Dunkin' store and two additional stores, with plans for further expansions in 2026 [6] Capital Management - The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share, to be paid on December 1, 2025, reflecting confidence in cash generation capabilities [21] - The company repurchased approximately 0.9 million shares for $4.2 million during the quarter, with $7.2 million remaining under the share repurchase program [22][21] Liquidity and Debt - As of September 30, 2025, ARKO had total liquidity of approximately $891 million, consisting of $307 million in cash and $584 million in available credit [20] - Outstanding debt was approximately $912 million, resulting in net debt of about $605 million [20] Guidance - For Q4 2025, the company expects Adjusted EBITDA to range between $50 million and $60 million, with full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance updated to between $233 million and $243 million [26]

But you don't listen and you still do it. That was me on the morning of the fires. Everyone on Lincoln Avenue was driving south, evacuating.I was heading north towards the flames. I needed to see if my family business, Georgia's Liquor, was still standing. My parents were calling me, screaming, yelling, telling me not to go.But I had to go. Not for them, but for myself. Thick smoke filled the sky as I drove toward the store, past burning homes and buildings.The store hadn't been hit yet. But the fire was cl ...