This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. 3 Big Numbers is a weekly column that looks at a few key details from around the c-store industry. Tariffs, lingering inflation concerns and overall economic and geopolitical uncertainty battered retailers this year. For instance, 79% of consumers in a recent survey by Upside said they’ve changed their shopping habits this year due to tariffs. And while c-stores ...

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Transaction Details - Northern Superior's shareholders will receive 0.0991 of an Iamgold share and 19 cents in cash for each common share, valuing Northern Superior shares at $2.05 based on Iamgold's closing price on October 17 [1] - Iamgold will also distribute all shares in ONGold Resources Ltd. currently held by Northern Superior to its shareholders [1] - Iamgold will acquire Mines D'Or Orbec Inc. in a stock-and-cash deal valued at $17.2 million, with Orbec shareholders receiving 6.25 cents and 0.003466 of an Iamgold share for each share held, equating to a value of 12.5 cents per share [2] Parkland Corp. Financial Performance - Parkland Corp. reported a third-quarter profit of $129 million, an increase from $91 million a year ago, with profit per diluted share rising to 73 cents from 52 cents [4][9] - On an adjusted basis, Parkland earned $1.02 per diluted share compared to 60 cents in the same quarter last year [5] - Sales and operating revenue totaled $7.35 billion, up from $7.13 billion a year earlier [5] Wealthsimple Capital Raise - Wealthsimple is raising up to $750 million in capital to accelerate growth, which will bring its valuation to $10 billion upon completion [8] - The equity round includes a $550 million primary offering and a secondary offering of up to $200 million, co-led by Dragoneer Investment Group and GIC [8][9] - Wealthsimple's assets under administration reached $100 billion, roughly doubling from a year ago [10] Cameco and Brookfield Partnership - Cameco shares rose over 20% following a partnership agreement with Brookfield Asset Management to help build nuclear reactors in the U.S. [11] - The U.S. government will arrange financing and facilitate approvals for at least $80 billion worth of new Westinghouse nuclear reactors [12] - Cameco's CEO highlighted the expected growth in demand for nuclear power and the role of Westinghouse's reactor technologies in expanding nuclear capacity [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The first quarter results reflected a same store gallon decline of 4.2%, impacted by temporal factors such as the non-repeating leap year and storms, accounting for almost half of the decline [8][10] - Retail margins were $0.02 per gallon higher in Q1 compared to the prior year, with retail margins in the Northeast Region up about $0.45 [10][11] - Cash flow from operations was $129 million in Q1, with total cash capital expenditure of $88 million, resulting in free cash flow of $41 million [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Inside store sales were impacted by a 30 basis point headwind due to the absence of a $1 billion jackpot from the previous year, but candy sales were up 15% year-on-year [13][15] - The nicotine category saw a total nicotine contribution margin increase of 2.8% on a same store basis in Q1, with non-combustible nicotine products up over 7% [15][16] - Food and beverage sales at QuickChek were up nearly 1% in the quarter, driven by menu innovation and targeted promotions [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a shift in customer demographics, with growth in middle to high-income customers now representing almost half of the loyalty program membership base [19] - The loyalty programs, Murphy Drive Rewards and QuickChek Rewards, saw membership growth of 1130% in Q1, indicating a shift towards value-seeking behavior among consumers [18][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing store productivity and growth through new store openings, raze and rebuilds, and remodeling activities [28] - The capital structure was strengthened with an increase in the revolving credit facility from $350 million to $750 million, allowing for greater flexibility in executing long-term strategies [23] - The company plans for supply margins to normalize in the second half of 2025, anticipating a return to a more balanced supply-demand environment [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the business model, stating it is inflation-proof and recession-resistant, with a focus on value-oriented customers [5][28] - The company does not foresee pulling back on second-half guidance due to tariffs or supply chain uncertainties, indicating a stable outlook [27] - Management highlighted that the hard data shows a resilient customer base, with lower-income consumers still spending on non-discretionary products [20] Other Important Information - The effective income tax rate for Q1 was 14.1%, lower than the previous year's 19.4%, due to energy tax credits and share-based compensation benefits [24] - The company added eight new stores in Q1, with ongoing construction of 18 new stores and 20 raze and rebuilds [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Trends in Inside Sales - Management noted that non-nicotine categories showed improvement due to digital pricing and promotional effectiveness, while nicotine sales were impacted by a lighter promotional cycle in Q1 [32] Question: Update on Retail Margins - Retail margins in April were $0.28 per gallon, with the marginal retailer facing similar cost headwinds, indicating a structural increase in margins [34] Question: Growth in Middle and High-Income Customers - The increase in higher-income customers is attributed to a broader recognition of the need for value, with similar purchasing behavior across income cohorts [40] Question: In-Store Sales Momentum - QuickChek's food and beverage sales momentum is expected to continue, with promotional intensity remaining competitive throughout the year [44] Question: Operating Expenses and Store Performance - The company is seeing a record number of applications for staff positions, which is positively impacting operating expenses and store performance [72]

Core Insights - Murphy USA reported a revenue of $4.53 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, which is a decrease of 6.6% compared to the same period last year [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $2.63, down from $3.12 in the previous year [1] - The reported revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.77 billion, resulting in a surprise of -5.05% [1] - The company experienced an EPS surprise of -32.04%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $3.87 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Total fuel contribution was 25.4 cents per gallon, below the average estimate of 28.68 cents from three analysts [4] - Retail fuel volume for the chain was 1,131.2 million gallons, compared to the average estimate of 1,151.95 million gallons [4] - Retail fuel margin was reported at 23.7 cents per gallon, lower than the average estimate of 25.82 cents [4] - Operating revenues from petroleum product sales were $3.49 billion, which is an 8.5% year-over-year decline and below the average estimate of $3.67 billion [4] - Merchandise sales generated $999.40 million, slightly below the average estimate of $1.03 billion, representing a year-over-year change of -0.1% [4] - Other operating revenues were reported at $36.20 million, compared to the average estimate of $40.75 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 15.7% [4] Stock Performance - Murphy USA's shares have returned +8% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite increased by +10.6% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]