This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Convenience retailers large and small continue to face a difficult operating environment. Expenses are rising for both retailers and consumers, leaving c-store earnings in flux, and total c-store visits are dropping. Even retail gas prices are expected to decline this year. Shane Wharton, president of Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores since 2019, is well aware of ...

Core Insights - ARKO Corp. has opened a new Handy Mart store in Garner, North Carolina, featuring its fas craves food concept, marking its second New-to-Industry (NTI) store and fifth fas craves location overall [7][8] - The fas craves concept aims to enhance the convenience retail experience by offering high-quality grab-and-go food options tailored for on-the-go customers [9][12] - The new store includes an expanded menu with various food items and beverages, including breakfast sandwiches, chicken wings, and customizable drinks like dirty soda [10][11] Company Overview - ARKO Corp. is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest convenience store operators in the United States, based in Richmond, Virginia [16] - The company operates in four segments: retail, wholesale, fleet fueling, and GPM Petroleum, providing a wide range of products and services [16] Customer Engagement - The company has introduced a free loyalty program, fas REWARDS, which offers savings on fuel and in-store purchases, allowing members to save up to $2.50 per gallon [14][15] - The fas REWARDS program enhances customer experience by providing personalized offers and better pricing for members [15]

Group 1 - ARKO Corporation's subsidiary, ARKO Petroleum Corporation, has launched an initial public offering (IPO) of its Class A shares, offering 10.500 million shares [1] - The IPO price is expected to be in the range of $18 to $20 per share, with an option for underwriters to purchase an additional 1.575 million shares [1] - ARKO Petroleum has applied to list its Class A shares on the Nasdaq under the symbol "APC" [2] Group 2 - ARKO Corporation's stock was up by 2.14% at $5.72 in pre-market trading on the Nasdaq [2]

Core Insights - ARKO Corp. announced preliminary estimated financial results for Q4 and full year 2025, indicating a potential net loss for Q4 and a modest net income for the full year [1][3][4] Financial Performance - Q4 2025 net income is expected to range from a net loss of $1.8 million to a net income of $0.4 million, while Adjusted EBITDA is projected between $63.1 million and $66.1 million [3][5] - For the full year 2025, net income is estimated to be between $19.1 million and $21.3 million, with Adjusted EBITDA expected to range from $246.0 million to $249.0 million [3][5] Comparison with Previous Year - The preliminary results for Q4 2025 and full year 2025 are compared to Q4 2024 and full year 2024, showing a potential decrease in net income from a loss of $2.3 million in Q4 2024 to a loss or slight gain in Q4 2025 [5] - Full year 2024 net income was $20.8 million, indicating a decrease in expected net income for 2025 [5] Upcoming Reporting - The company plans to report detailed financial results for Q4 and full year 2025 later in the quarter, along with an outlook for 2026 [4]

Core Insights - The search for a new CEO at 7-Eleven is critical as the company prepares for an IPO of its North American business in the second half of the year, necessitating strong leadership to drive growth and recovery after recent financial challenges [5][6]. Leadership Overview - Stan Reynolds, the current president of 7-Eleven since 2023, oversees multiple areas including finance, strategy, and the integration of Speedway, but lacks direct involvement in store-level experience [1][2]. - Doug Rosencrans, the COO and interim co-CEO, is focused on strategic plans to enhance growth and profitability for 7-Eleven's 13,000 convenience stores in the U.S. and Canada [3]. Potential Internal Candidates - Ken Wakabayashi, currently leading 7-Eleven's international operations, has extensive experience with the company and could be a strong internal candidate for the CEO position [9][10]. - Raghu Mahadevan, the EVP and chief digital and demand chain officer, has a significant role in overseeing digital operations and could enhance 7-Eleven's digital strategy and store upgrades [12][14]. External Candidates - Ena Williams, currently COO of Casey's General Stores, has a decade of experience at 7-Eleven and has held leadership roles in various capacities, making her a viable candidate [19]. - Greg Franks, associated with BP, has extensive experience in convenience retailing and previously worked at 7-Eleven, which could position him as a strong candidate for the CEO role [22]. - Donna Sanker, a former COO at BP and president at Parkland, is currently a free agent and has a robust background in retail, making her a potential candidate [24]. Board Considerations - Christine Edman, a board member of Seven & i, has retail executive experience and could be considered for the CEO role, although her recent appointment to the board raises some concerns [15][16][17].

Core Insights - Investors should conduct a thorough review of a company's financial background rather than relying solely on real-time trading numbers, especially in a volatile market [1] - The interest coverage ratio is a critical indicator of a company's ability to meet its debt obligations, particularly in a tighter financial environment [2][4] Financial Metrics - Companies like Casey's General Stores, Brinker International, Cardinal Health, and Flowserve have strong interest coverage ratios, indicating their capacity to service debt [3] - The interest coverage ratio is calculated as Earnings before Interest & Taxes (EBIT) divided by Interest Expense, providing insight into a company's financial stability [5] - A ratio below 1 indicates potential default risk, while a higher ratio suggests a company can withstand financial challenges [7] Investment Strategy - A favorable investment strategy includes selecting stocks with an interest coverage ratio above the industry average, a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2, and a VGM Score of A or B [8][11] - Stocks meeting these criteria are likely to outperform in various market conditions [11] Company Highlights - Casey's General Stores has a Zacks Rank of 1, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.1% and projected sales and EPS growth of 8.8% and 18.8%, respectively, leading to a 44.6% stock increase over the past year [10][12] - Cardinal Health holds a Zacks Rank of 2, with a trailing earnings surprise of 9.4% and projected sales and EPS growth of 16.4% and 21.5%, respectively, resulting in a 71.5% stock surge [12][13] - Brinker International, also with a Zacks Rank of 2, has a trailing earnings surprise of 8.2% and projected sales and EPS growth of 7.7% and 18.7%, but its stock has declined by 16.6% [13][14] - Flowserve, with a Zacks Rank of 2, shows a trailing earnings surprise of 10.5% and projected sales and EPS growth of 4.6% and 31.9%, leading to a 26.2% stock increase [14][15]

Core Insights - Casey's General Stores has seen significant activity from institutional investors, with notable increases in holdings and new positions being established in the second and third quarters of the year [1][7] - The company reported strong quarterly earnings, exceeding consensus estimates, with a year-over-year revenue increase of 14.2% [4] - A quarterly dividend has been announced, reflecting a modest payout ratio and providing a yield of 0.4% [5] Institutional Investor Activity - Nvwm LLC acquired a new position worth approximately $32,000 in Casey's General Stores during the second quarter [1] - Rossby Financial LCC increased its holdings by 580.0%, now owning 68 shares valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares [1] - Bogart Wealth LLC raised its holdings by 388.5% in the third quarter, now owning 127 shares worth $72,000 after acquiring 101 additional shares [1] - Institutional investors collectively own 85.63% of the company's stock [1] Insider Transactions - Director Moats Maria Castanon purchased 300 shares at an average cost of $554.66 per share, increasing their position by 59.64% [2] - Following the transaction, the director owns 803 shares valued at approximately $445,391.98 [2] - Corporate insiders own 0.54% of the stock [2] Stock Performance - The stock opened at $606.50, with a 1-year low of $372.08 and a high of $647.99 [3] - The market capitalization stands at $22.48 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.30 and a PEG ratio of 2.16 [3] - The stock's 50-day moving average is $579.60, and the 200-day moving average is $548.48 [3] Earnings Report - The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $5.53, surpassing the consensus estimate of $4.92 by $0.61 [4] - Revenue for the quarter was $4.51 billion, matching the consensus estimate [4] - The net margin was 3.58%, and return on equity was 16.89% [4] Dividend Announcement - A quarterly dividend of $0.57 per share will be paid on February 13th, with a record date of February 1st [5] - This represents an annualized dividend of $2.28 and a payout ratio of 14.02% [5] Analyst Ratings - Zacks Research upgraded the stock from "hold" to "strong-buy" [6] - KeyCorp set a price target of $680.00, while Bank of America initiated coverage with a "buy" rating [6] - The consensus rating is "Moderate Buy" with a price target of $624.09 [6]

This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Holiday Oil named Mike Wagstaff, who had been serving as co-president alongside his brother Scott, as CEO and chairman of the board, the company said in an announcement on Monday. The retailer also promoted Chief Operating Officer James Peterson to president as part of a broader slate of leadership changes. Scott Wagstaff has been appointed vice chai ...

This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Moe Haris, longtime chief financial officer for West Coast convenience retailer H&S Energy, will resign from the company at the end of this week, Haris announced via LinkedIn on Wednesday. Orange, California-based H&S hired Haris as a financial controller in 1999, and he became the company's CFO in 2016, according to his LinkedIn bio. His last day will be Jan. 31, a ...

Group 1 - Oxxo USA has appointed Jaime Longoria as CEO, succeeding Hal Adams, who retired after leading the company's U.S. expansion efforts [6][5] - Longoria has been with FEMSA for about two decades and previously held various positions, including CEO of Oxxo Gas [7][6] - The company's strategy aims to establish a presence from the Southwest to the Southeast U.S., with ambitions to become a significant player in the North American market [4][3] Group 2 - The leadership change is part of FEMSA's strategy for growth and operational continuity in the U.S. market [5][6] - Longoria expressed pride in bringing Oxxo's culture and people-centered approach to the U.S. expansion [8][6] - Oxxo's expansion into the U.S. is a central topic in the convenience store industry [6]