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Casey's (CASY) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Down Y/Y
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Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY - Free Report) reported better-than-expected second-quarter fiscal 2021 results. Markedly, the bottom line increased from the year-ago period. We note that this was the second straight quarter of positive earnings surprise. Management highlighted that ongoing strong fuel profitability and inside sales volume contributed to the quarterly results.
A Closer Look at Results
Casey's reported quarterly earnings of $3.00 per share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.66 and improved significantly from $2.21 in the year-ago period.
Total revenues of $2,215.9 million declined 10.9% year over year but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,197 million. We note that the company had missed the consensus mark for revenues in the preceding quarter. Revenue declines across Fuel and Prepared Food & Fountain categories, were partly offset by increase in Grocery & Other Merchandise category. Markedly, digital sales soared 127% compared with year-ago quarter.
In spite of the decline in the top line, gross profit increased 13.4% year over year to $631.8 million due to fall in cost of goods sold. Further, gross margin expanded to 28.5% from 22.4% in the year-ago period. The company witnessed a decline of 17.9% in cost of goods sold during the reported quarter.
We note that Casey's registered an increase of 9.9% in operating expenses of $410.3 million on account of operating 38 more stores compared with the same period last year, $5 million expenses associated with the ongoing pandemic, and more than $9 million in incremental short and long-term incentive compensation costs. Same store operating expenses, excluding credit card fees, were up 5.4% for the quarter under review.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have advanced 10.3% in the past three months compared with the industry’s gain of 1%.
Caseys General Stores, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
We note that Fuel sales decreased 21.2% to $1,193.5 million on account of decline in average retail price per gallon and the number of gallons sold. We note that average retail price per gallon decreased 16.2%, while total gallons sold fell 5.9% to 577.6 million. Fuel gallons same-store sales fell 8.6% compared with decline of 1.8% in the year-ago quarter hurt by lower guest traffic due to the ongoing pandemic. However, volumes improved on a sequential basis. Impressively, gross profit increased 45% to $204.2 million driven by higher fuel margin. Notably, fuel margin surged to 35.3 cents per gallon from 22.9 cents per gallon in the prior-year period driven in part by the company's centralized retail pricing capability and procurement improvements.
Grocery & Other Merchandise sales rose 8.7% to $718.2 million. Same-store sales rose 6.6% compared with 3.2% in the year-ago quarter, primarily owing to robust sales of alcohol, packaged beverage and tobacco. Notably, Grocery & Other Merchandise margin remained flat 33.3%. Again, gross profit jumped 8.6% to $239 million during the quarter.
Prepared Food & Fountain sales declined 3% to $288.8 million. Same-store sales decreased 3.6% against 1.9% growth witnessed in the year-ago quarter. The metric declined due to pressure in the dispensed beverage and bakery categories, though these categories witnessed improvements in volume on a sequential basis. Further, Prepared Food & Fountain margin shrunk 80 basis points to 60.1%. Increased promotional activity adversely impacted the margin. Gross profit fell 4.3% year over year to $173.7 million.
Store Update
During first-six month of fiscal 2021, the company constructed 14 new stores and closed three. As of Oct 31, the company operated 2,219 stores in 16 Midwest states. The company had four acquisition stores under agreement to purchase and a new store pipeline of 77 sites, including 23 under construction, as of Oct 31, 2020.
The company remains on track to conclude the previously announced acquisition of 94 Bucky’s Convenience Stores by the end of the calendar year. The buyout is a strong strategic fit and is expected to be accretive to fiscal 2022 earnings. Additionally, the company anticipates to complete the construction of about 40 new stores this fiscal year.
Other Financial Aspects
Casey's ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $404.7 million, Long-term debt and finance lease obligations (net of current maturities) of $1,361.9 million and shareholders’ equity of $1,859.9 million. During the quarter, the company did not make any share repurchases and still has $300 million under authorization. Notably, the company’s board of directors raised the quarterly dividend by 6% to 34 cents a share.
TJX Companies (TJX - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.5%.
Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM - Free Report) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 59.5%, on average. It carries a Zacks Rank #2.
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Casey's (CASY) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Down Y/Y
Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY - Free Report) reported better-than-expected second-quarter fiscal 2021 results. Markedly, the bottom line increased from the year-ago period. We note that this was the second straight quarter of positive earnings surprise. Management highlighted that ongoing strong fuel profitability and inside sales volume contributed to the quarterly results.
A Closer Look at Results
Casey's reported quarterly earnings of $3.00 per share that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.66 and improved significantly from $2.21 in the year-ago period.
Total revenues of $2,215.9 million declined 10.9% year over year but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,197 million. We note that the company had missed the consensus mark for revenues in the preceding quarter. Revenue declines across Fuel and Prepared Food & Fountain categories, were partly offset by increase in Grocery & Other Merchandise category. Markedly, digital sales soared 127% compared with year-ago quarter.
In spite of the decline in the top line, gross profit increased 13.4% year over year to $631.8 million due to fall in cost of goods sold. Further, gross margin expanded to 28.5% from 22.4% in the year-ago period. The company witnessed a decline of 17.9% in cost of goods sold during the reported quarter.
We note that Casey's registered an increase of 9.9% in operating expenses of $410.3 million on account of operating 38 more stores compared with the same period last year, $5 million expenses associated with the ongoing pandemic, and more than $9 million in incremental short and long-term incentive compensation costs. Same store operating expenses, excluding credit card fees, were up 5.4% for the quarter under review.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have advanced 10.3% in the past three months compared with the industry’s gain of 1%.
Caseys General Stores, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Caseys General Stores, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Caseys General Stores, Inc. Quote
Performance by Categories
We note that Fuel sales decreased 21.2% to $1,193.5 million on account of decline in average retail price per gallon and the number of gallons sold. We note that average retail price per gallon decreased 16.2%, while total gallons sold fell 5.9% to 577.6 million. Fuel gallons same-store sales fell 8.6% compared with decline of 1.8% in the year-ago quarter hurt by lower guest traffic due to the ongoing pandemic. However, volumes improved on a sequential basis. Impressively, gross profit increased 45% to $204.2 million driven by higher fuel margin. Notably, fuel margin surged to 35.3 cents per gallon from 22.9 cents per gallon in the prior-year period driven in part by the company's centralized retail pricing capability and procurement improvements.
Grocery & Other Merchandise sales rose 8.7% to $718.2 million. Same-store sales rose 6.6% compared with 3.2% in the year-ago quarter, primarily owing to robust sales of alcohol, packaged beverage and tobacco. Notably, Grocery & Other Merchandise margin remained flat 33.3%. Again, gross profit jumped 8.6% to $239 million during the quarter.
Prepared Food & Fountain sales declined 3% to $288.8 million. Same-store sales decreased 3.6% against 1.9% growth witnessed in the year-ago quarter. The metric declined due to pressure in the dispensed beverage and bakery categories, though these categories witnessed improvements in volume on a sequential basis. Further, Prepared Food & Fountain margin shrunk 80 basis points to 60.1%. Increased promotional activity adversely impacted the margin. Gross profit fell 4.3% year over year to $173.7 million.
Store Update
During first-six month of fiscal 2021, the company constructed 14 new stores and closed three. As of Oct 31, the company operated 2,219 stores in 16 Midwest states. The company had four acquisition stores under agreement to purchase and a new store pipeline of 77 sites, including 23 under construction, as of Oct 31, 2020.
The company remains on track to conclude the previously announced acquisition of 94 Bucky’s Convenience Stores by the end of the calendar year. The buyout is a strong strategic fit and is expected to be accretive to fiscal 2022 earnings. Additionally, the company anticipates to complete the construction of about 40 new stores this fiscal year.
Other Financial Aspects
Casey's ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $404.7 million, Long-term debt and finance lease obligations (net of current maturities) of $1,361.9 million and shareholders’ equity of $1,859.9 million. During the quarter, the company did not make any share repurchases and still has $300 million under authorization. Notably, the company’s board of directors raised the quarterly dividend by 6% to 34 cents a share.
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Target (TGT - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.5%. Currently, it carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
TJX Companies (TJX - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.5%.
Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM - Free Report) has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 59.5%, on average. It carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>