Casey's Posts 28% Increase on Year-To-Date Net Income

ANKENY, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY today reported diluted earnings per share of $0.97 for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 ended January 31, 2016, compared to $1.01 per share for the same quarter a year ago. Year to date, diluted earnings per share were $4.54 versus $3.57 a year ago. "Total inside gross profit was up over 13% in the third quarter, driven primarily by improved margin performance in our prepared food category," stated Chairman and CEO Robert J. Myers. "Our fuel margin per gallon was above our annual goal but still below prior year's strong results, which impacted diluted earnings per share by approximately 30 cents compared to prior year's third quarter."

Fuel - The Company's annual goal for fiscal 2016 is to increase same-store gallons sold 2% with an average margin of 16.7 cents per gallon. For the third quarter, same-store gallons sold were up 1.6% with an average margin of 18.1 cents per gallon. The Company sold 15.2 million renewable fuel credits for $9.2 million during the third quarter. "Fuel margins finished above goal for the third quarter due to elevated RIN values as well as a decline in wholesale fuel costs towards the end of the quarter," said Myers. "Same-store gallons sold dipped slightly below our goal in the third quarter; however year-to-date same store gallons are up 2.7%." Total gallons sold were up 7.1% with an average margin of 20.1 cents per gallon year to date.

Grocery and Other Merchandise - Casey's annual goal for fiscal 2016 is to increase same-store sales 6.2% with an average margin of 32.1%. For the third quarter, same-store sales were up 7.1% with an average margin of 31.2%. "Cigarette sales continue to benefit from lower retail fuel prices, and sales in the entire category performed well in the third quarter," said Myers. "Margin has been slightly impacted by the increased contribution of cigarettes, and performed in line with prior year's third quarter." For the year, total sales were up 10.2% with an average margin of 31.8%. Year to date, same-store sales were up 7.1%.

Prepared Food and Fountain - The goal for fiscal 2016 is to increase same-store sales 10.4% with an average margin of 60.8%. Same-store sales for the third quarter were up 6.0% with an average margin of 62.0%. "The 330 basis point increase in margin from prior year's third quarter was primarily due to lower commodity costs, and we have taken advantage of this favorable environment to lock in cheese costs through December 31, 2016," said Myers. "Challenging weather and strong prior year sales comparisons resulted in same-store sales falling below goal in this quarter. However, gross profit dollars were up over 16% for the category. We remain optimistic about future growth in this category, as we plan to implement pizza delivery in an additional 45 stores and complete 40 major remodels in the fourth quarter." Year to date, total sales were up 13.0% to $662.4 million compared to the first nine months last year, and gross profit dollars were up 19.5% to $415.2 million. Year to date, same-store sales were up 8.5% with an average margin of 62.7%.

Operating Expenses - For the third quarter, operating expenses were up 8.7% to $259.6 million. Year to date, operating expenses also increased 8.7% to $791.2 million."Both the quarter-to-date and year-to-date increases were primarily driven by operating more stores this year compared to the same periods one year ago, and the continued rollout of 24-hour conversions, pizza delivery service, and major remodels," said Myers. "The Company continued to benefit from lower fuel prices during the quarter as the increase in operating expenses was partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in transportation costs due to lower fuel prices."

Expansion - The Company's annual goal is to build or acquire 75 to 113 stores, replace 10 existing locations and complete 100 major remodels. As of the end of the third fiscal quarter, the Company completed 31 new-store constructions and acquired three stores. The Company also completed 11 replacements and 60 major remodels. The Company currently has 22 new stores under construction and another 59 sites under contract for future new builds. "We continue to remain patient with acquisitions, and are excited about our future expansion opportunities as our second distribution center in Terre Haute, Indiana is now operational," said Myers.

Dividend - At its March meeting, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share. The dividend is payable May 16, 2016 to shareholders of record on May 2, 2016.

Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		January 31,						January 31,
		2016			2015			2016			2015
Total revenue		$	1,565,940		$	1,671,961		$	5,539,132		$	6,113,358
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown separately below)		1,194,771			1,320,915			4,313,731			5,020,116
Gross profit		371,169			351,046			1,225,401			1,093,242
Operating expenses		259,625			238,782			791,185			727,881
Depreciation and amortization		43,822			40,431			125,028			113,955
Interest, net		10,132			10,191			30,225			31,057
Income before income taxes		57,590			61,642			278,963			220,349
Federal and state income taxes		19,491			22,323			100,025			81,064
Net income		$	38,099		$	39,319		$	178,938		$	139,285
Net income per common share
Basic		$	0.98		$	1.01		$	4.59		$	3.60
Diluted		$	0.97		$	1.01		$	4.54		$	3.57
Basic weighted average shares		39,033,987			38,795,477			39,003,820			38,701,232
Plus effect of stock compensation		403,421			322,674			397,551			309,125
Diluted weighted average shares		39,437,408			39,118,151			39,401,371			39,010,357

The previously announced revisions to our financial results regarding an immaterial correction of an error for the fiscal 2015 first quarter are reflected in prior period year-to-date results.

Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
		January 31, 2016			April 30, 2015
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	53,563		$	48,541
Receivables		23,940			22,609
Inventories		189,722			197,331
Prepaid expenses		3,669			2,025
Deferred income taxes		18,831			15,531
Income tax receivable		15,001			19,223
Total current assets		304,726			305,260
Other assets, net of amortization		18,290			18,295
Goodwill		127,981			127,046
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,297,852 at January 31, 2016 and $1,185,246 at April 30, 2015		2,219,552			2,019,364
Total assets		$	2,670,549		$	2,469,965
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Notes payable to bank		$	2,800		$	—
Current maturities of long-term debt		15,380			15,398
Accounts payable		206,639			226,577
Accrued expenses		134,933			122,914
Total current liabilities		359,752			364,889
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		830,466			838,245
Deferred income taxes		399,824			354,973
Deferred compensation		17,102			17,645
Other long-term liabilities		20,275			18,984
Total liabilities		1,627,419			1,594,736
Total shareholders' equity		1,043,130			875,229
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	2,670,549		$	2,469,965

Certain statements in this news release, including any discussion of management expectations for future periods, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by those statements. Casey's disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Revenue and Gross Profit by Product (Amounts in thousands)
						Grocery & Other				Prepared Food
Three months ended 1/31/2016		Fuel				Merchandise				& Fountain				Other				Total
Revenue		$	888,744			$	453,388			$	209,595			$	14,213			$	1,565,940
Gross profit		$	85,460			$	141,482			$	130,027			$	14,200			$	371,169
Margin		9.6		%		31.2		%		62.0		%		99.9		%		23.7		%
Fuel gallons		472,259
Three months ended 1/31/2015
Revenue		$	1,056,458			$	412,711			$	190,393			$	12,399			$	1,671,961
Gross profit		$	98,418			$	128,572			$	111,672			$	12,384			$	351,046
Margin		9.3		%		31.2		%		58.7		%		99.9		%		21.0		%
Fuel gallons		446,842
Revenue and Gross Profit by Product (Amounts in thousands)
						Grocery & Other				Prepared Food
Nine months ended 1/31/2016		Fuel				Merchandise				& Fountain				Other				Total
Revenue		$	3,341,721			$	1,496,586			$	662,364			$	38,461			$	5,539,132
Gross profit		$	295,830			$	475,935			$	415,220			$	38,416			$	1,225,401
Margin		8.9		%		31.8		%		62.7		%		99.9		%		22.1		%
Fuel gallons		1,469,654
Nine months ended 1/31/2015
Revenue		$	4,134,353			$	1,358,231			$	586,199			$	34,575			$	6,113,358
Gross profit		$	275,923			$	435,282			$	347,506			$	34,531			$	1,093,242
Margin		6.7		%		32.0		%		59.3		%		99.9		%		17.9		%
Fuel gallons		1,371,796

Fuel Gallons																				Fuel Margin
Same-store Sales Growth																				(Cents per gallon, excluding credit card fees)
		Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4			Fiscal Year								Q1				Q2				Q3				Q4				Fiscal Year
F2016		3.4	%		3.3	%		1.6	%											F2016		17.5		¢		24.7		¢		18.1		¢
F2015		3.0			2.3			2.2			3.5	%		2.6	%					F2015		18.9				19.5				22.0				16.9		¢		19.3		¢
F2014		3.2			4.2			3.8			1.8			3.1						F2014		21.4				16.0				13.6				13.1				16.1
Grocery & Other Merchandise																				Grocery & Other Merchandise
Same-store Sales Growth																				Margin
		Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4			Fiscal Year								Q1				Q2				Q3				Q4				Fiscal Year
F2016		7.0	%		7.5	%		7.1	%											F2016		32.6	%			31.5	%			31.2	%
F2015		7.7			6.6			7.7			9.7	%		7.8	%					F2015		32.5				32.3				31.2				32.1	%			32.1	%
F2014		6.1			10.2			6.5			7.2			7.4						F2014		32.7				32.3				31.1				32.1				32.1
Prepared Food & Fountain																				Prepared Food & Fountain
Same-store Sales Growth																				Margin
		Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4			Fiscal Year								Q1				Q2				Q3				Q4				Fiscal Year
F2016		10.3	%		9.4	%		6.0	%											F2016		62.5	%			63.4	%			62.0	%
F2015		11.1			11.1			14.1			13.5	%		12.4	%					F2015		59.9				59.3				58.7				60.9	%			59.7	%
F2014		11.9			12.3			10.7			12.1			11.8						F2014		61.8				61.8				60.8				60.1				61.1

Corporate information is available at this Web site: http://www.caseys.com. Earnings will be reported during a conference call on March 8, 2016. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at 9:30 a.m. CST via the Investor Relations section of our Web site and will be available in an archived format.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160307006417/en/