We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Casey's (CASY) Down 2.1% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
Read MoreHide Full Article
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 2.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Casey's due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Casey's Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Up Y/Y
In spite of a tough retail environment, Casey's General Stores, Inc. reported better-than-expected first-quarter fiscal 2022 results. While the top line improved year over year, the bottom line declined from the year-ago period. Markedly, this was the fourth straight quarter of positive sales and earnings surprises. Strategic sourcing initiatives implemented earlier this year, increased penetration of private label products and improved guest traffic contributed to the company’s performance.
Meanwhile, Casey's concluded the acquisitions of Buchanan Energy and the Oklahoma Circle K stores in the quarter, thus adding 137 new units.
A Closer Look at Results
Casey's posted quarterly earnings of $3.19 per share that comfortably surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.83 but declined from $3.24 reported in the prior-year period. This year-over-year decrease in the bottom line was due to higher depreciation expense from operating 166 additional outlets than the year-ago period.
Total revenues of $3,182 million surged 51.2% year over year and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,081 million. Revenues grew across all the three categories, Fuel, Grocery & General Merchandise and Prepared Food & Dispensed Beverage.
Inside sales jumped 14.1% to $1,143.9 million during the quarter under review. Inside same-store sales increased 8% against 0.4% decline witnessed in the year-ago period. The metric improved on account of sturdy performance in packaged beverages, grocery items such as salty snacks and meat snacks, and a resurgence in pizza slices, driven in part by increased guest traffic. Total Inside sales were trending up low to mid-single digits through August.
Margins & Expenses
Gross profit increased 16.1% year over year to $723.9 million, courtesy of higher revenues. However, gross margin contracted 690 basis points to 22.7%. Inside gross profit grew 16.7% to $463.5 million. Meanwhile, Inside margin improved 90 basis points to 40.5% favorably impacted by mix shift, both within and across categories, and procurement initiatives.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 2.3% year over year to $243.2 million due to higher fuel and inside gross profit from improved guest traffic. This was offset by higher operating expenses owing to the resumption of normal operating hours versus the prior year.
We note that Casey's registered an increase of 24% in operating expenses of $478.9 million due to restoring store operating hours to pre-pandemic levels. The metric also increased on account of operating 166 more stores compared with the same period last year, 39% jump in credit card fees due to the rising retail price of fuel and increased sales volume, and one-time transaction and integration costs related to buyout of the Buchanan Energy and Circle K. Same store operating expenses, excluding credit card fees, were up 17.6% in the quarter under review.
Performance by Categories
We note that Fuel sales surged 81.1% year over year to $1,967.2 million during the quarter. Well, Fuel gallons sold jumped 21.5% to 667.5 million. Same-store gallons sold were favorably impacted by improved guest traffic from lapping coronavirus-induced restrictions that were in place a year ago. Fuel gallons same-store sales rose 9% during the quarter against 14.6% decline in the year-ago period. The average retail price of fuel surged 49% to $2.95 a gallon. Fuel gross profit rose 11.6% to $234.5 million driven by increased volume. However, it was offset by a lower fuel margin environment. The company sold $18.7 million in renewable fuel credits (RINs), reflecting an increase of $15.3 million from the prior-year period. Fuel margin declined to 35.1 cents per gallon from 38.2 cents per gallon in the prior-year period. The company witnessed low single digit positive gallon growth, while fuel margins remain over 30 cents a gallon for the month of August.
Grocery & General Merchandise sales rose 14.2% to $835.5 million. Same-store sales increased 7% compared with 3.6% growth in the year-ago quarter. Private label products reached 4.4% share of the Grocery and General Merchandise category by quarter end. Grocery & General Merchandise margin expanded 80 basis points to 33%. Again, gross profit increased 16.9% to $275.4 million during the quarter.
Prepared Food & Dispensed Beverage sales rose 13.9% to $308.4 million. Same-store sales increased 10.8% against a decline of 9.8% in the year-ago quarter. Sales were up double digits in bakery items and dispensed beverages. Pizza slices sales were up close to 29% in the quarter. Prepared Food & Dispensed Beverage margin improved by 130 basis points to 61%. We note that gross profit jumped 16.4% year over year to $188.1 million.
Store Update
During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the company constructed three new stores, acquired 139 stores and closed five. As of Jul 31, 2021, the company operated 2,380 stores.
Other Financial Aspects
Casey's ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $198.9 million, long-term debt and finance lease obligations (net of current maturities) of $1,682.2 million and shareholders’ equity of $2,030.7 million. The company has the full capacity of $475 million lines of credit. We note that leverage ratio ticked up to 2.4x. During the quarter, the company did not make any share repurchases and still has $300 million under authorization, which expires in April 2022.
FY22 Outlook
Casey's continues to envision same-store fuel and Inside sales to rise by mid-single digit percentages during fiscal 2022. Management estimates mid-teen percentage increase in total operating expenses driven primarily by adding about 200 units during fiscal 2022, expenses related to adding back operating hours to the stores and likely wage pressures. The company expects to make an investment of roughly $500 million in property and equipment in the fiscal year.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. The consensus estimate has shifted 5.9% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
Currently, Casey's has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Casey's has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Casey's (CASY) Down 2.1% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 2.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Casey's due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Casey's Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Up Y/Y
In spite of a tough retail environment, Casey's General Stores, Inc. reported better-than-expected first-quarter fiscal 2022 results. While the top line improved year over year, the bottom line declined from the year-ago period. Markedly, this was the fourth straight quarter of positive sales and earnings surprises. Strategic sourcing initiatives implemented earlier this year, increased penetration of private label products and improved guest traffic contributed to the company’s performance.
Meanwhile, Casey's concluded the acquisitions of Buchanan Energy and the Oklahoma Circle K stores in the quarter, thus adding 137 new units.
A Closer Look at Results
Casey's posted quarterly earnings of $3.19 per share that comfortably surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.83 but declined from $3.24 reported in the prior-year period. This year-over-year decrease in the bottom line was due to higher depreciation expense from operating 166 additional outlets than the year-ago period.
Total revenues of $3,182 million surged 51.2% year over year and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,081 million. Revenues grew across all the three categories, Fuel, Grocery & General Merchandise and Prepared Food & Dispensed Beverage.
Inside sales jumped 14.1% to $1,143.9 million during the quarter under review. Inside same-store sales increased 8% against 0.4% decline witnessed in the year-ago period. The metric improved on account of sturdy performance in packaged beverages, grocery items such as salty snacks and meat snacks, and a resurgence in pizza slices, driven in part by increased guest traffic. Total Inside sales were trending up low to mid-single digits through August.
Margins & Expenses
Gross profit increased 16.1% year over year to $723.9 million, courtesy of higher revenues. However, gross margin contracted 690 basis points to 22.7%. Inside gross profit grew 16.7% to $463.5 million. Meanwhile, Inside margin improved 90 basis points to 40.5% favorably impacted by mix shift, both within and across categories, and procurement initiatives.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 2.3% year over year to $243.2 million due to higher fuel and inside gross profit from improved guest traffic. This was offset by higher operating expenses owing to the resumption of normal operating hours versus the prior year.
We note that Casey's registered an increase of 24% in operating expenses of $478.9 million due to restoring store operating hours to pre-pandemic levels. The metric also increased on account of operating 166 more stores compared with the same period last year, 39% jump in credit card fees due to the rising retail price of fuel and increased sales volume, and one-time transaction and integration costs related to buyout of the Buchanan Energy and Circle K. Same store operating expenses, excluding credit card fees, were up 17.6% in the quarter under review.
Performance by Categories
We note that Fuel sales surged 81.1% year over year to $1,967.2 million during the quarter. Well, Fuel gallons sold jumped 21.5% to 667.5 million. Same-store gallons sold were favorably impacted by improved guest traffic from lapping coronavirus-induced restrictions that were in place a year ago. Fuel gallons same-store sales rose 9% during the quarter against 14.6% decline in the year-ago period. The average retail price of fuel surged 49% to $2.95 a gallon. Fuel gross profit rose 11.6% to $234.5 million driven by increased volume. However, it was offset by a lower fuel margin environment. The company sold $18.7 million in renewable fuel credits (RINs), reflecting an increase of $15.3 million from the prior-year period. Fuel margin declined to 35.1 cents per gallon from 38.2 cents per gallon in the prior-year period. The company witnessed low single digit positive gallon growth, while fuel margins remain over 30 cents a gallon for the month of August.
Grocery & General Merchandise sales rose 14.2% to $835.5 million. Same-store sales increased 7% compared with 3.6% growth in the year-ago quarter. Private label products reached 4.4% share of the Grocery and General Merchandise category by quarter end. Grocery & General Merchandise margin expanded 80 basis points to 33%. Again, gross profit increased 16.9% to $275.4 million during the quarter.
Prepared Food & Dispensed Beverage sales rose 13.9% to $308.4 million. Same-store sales increased 10.8% against a decline of 9.8% in the year-ago quarter. Sales were up double digits in bakery items and dispensed beverages. Pizza slices sales were up close to 29% in the quarter. Prepared Food & Dispensed Beverage margin improved by 130 basis points to 61%. We note that gross profit jumped 16.4% year over year to $188.1 million.
Store Update
During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the company constructed three new stores, acquired 139 stores and closed five. As of Jul 31, 2021, the company operated 2,380 stores.
Other Financial Aspects
Casey's ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $198.9 million, long-term debt and finance lease obligations (net of current maturities) of $1,682.2 million and shareholders’ equity of $2,030.7 million. The company has the full capacity of $475 million lines of credit. We note that leverage ratio ticked up to 2.4x. During the quarter, the company did not make any share repurchases and still has $300 million under authorization, which expires in April 2022.
FY22 Outlook
Casey's continues to envision same-store fuel and Inside sales to rise by mid-single digit percentages during fiscal 2022. Management estimates mid-teen percentage increase in total operating expenses driven primarily by adding about 200 units during fiscal 2022, expenses related to adding back operating hours to the stores and likely wage pressures. The company expects to make an investment of roughly $500 million in property and equipment in the fiscal year.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. The consensus estimate has shifted 5.9% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
Currently, Casey's has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Casey's has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.