10-KPeriod: FY2019

CASEYS GENERAL STORES INC Annual Report, Year Ended Apr 30, 2019

Filed June 28, 2019For Securities:CASY

Summary

Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) reported its fiscal year 2019 results, showcasing continued expansion and operational performance. The company operates a vast network of convenience stores primarily in Midwestern states, with a strategic focus on smaller communities. During fiscal year 2019, Casey's continued its growth trajectory by constructing 56 new stores, acquiring 24 additional stores, and opening five previously acquired locations, while closing 10 underperforming ones, resulting in a total of 2,146 stores by April 30, 2019. Financially, the company demonstrated revenue growth, driven significantly by fuel sales, which constituted approximately 63% of total revenue. While fuel remains a core revenue driver, the company is also emphasizing higher-margin prepared food and beverage offerings, which contributed substantially to gross profit. Despite a decrease in net income year-over-year, this was largely attributed to a one-time benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the prior year, with underlying operational improvements such as increased fuel margins and positive same-store sales in grocery and prepared foods categories. The company also continued its investment in store remodels and technology, signaling a commitment to enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$9.35B
Gross Profit$1.95B
Operating Expenses$1.39B
Interest Expense$55.66M
Net Income$203.89M
EPS (Basic)$5.55
EPS (Diluted)$5.51
Shares Outstanding (Basic)36.71M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)36.98M

Key Highlights

  • 1Expansion through new store construction (56), acquisitions (24), and integration of previously acquired stores, bringing the total store count to 2,146 by April 30, 2019.
  • 2Total revenue increased by 11.5% to $9.35 billion, largely driven by a 13.7% increase in retail fuel sales, which represented 62.5% of total revenue.
  • 3Revenue less cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased across all categories: Fuel (up to 20.3 cents/gallon), Grocery & other merchandise (32.1%), and Prepared food & fountain (62.2%), indicating improved profitability on sales.
  • 4Same-store sales showed positive trends in inside sales, with Grocery & other merchandise up 3.6% and Prepared food & fountain up 1.9%, although fuel gallons sold decreased by 1.7%.
  • 5Investments were made in capital expenditures, totaling $462.9 million, primarily for store construction, acquisition, and remodeling, with an anticipated $516 million for fiscal 2020.
  • 6The company maintained a strong balance sheet with total assets of $3.73 billion and shareholders' equity of $1.41 billion, supported by a $300 million revolving credit facility.
  • 7Net income decreased from $317.9 million in FY18 to $203.9 million in FY19, primarily due to the absence of the prior year's significant tax benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Casey's General Stores operates convenience stores, primarily under the 'Casey's' and 'Casey's General Store' names, in 16 Midwestern states. A significant portion of their strategy involves serving smaller communities, often with populations under 5,000, by offering a broad selection of products typically found in both convenience and general stores, alongside fuel sales. They also offer freshly prepared foods like pizza and donuts.

In fiscal year 2019, Casey's reported total revenue of $9.35 billion, an increase of 11.5% driven by higher fuel sales. Despite revenue growth, net income decreased to $203.9 million from $317.9 million in the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a significant one-time tax benefit recognized in fiscal year 2018 related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, the company saw improvements in gross profit margins for fuel, grocery, and prepared food items, and positive same-store sales growth for inside store categories.

Key growth drivers included the expansion of its store network through new construction (56 stores) and strategic acquisitions (24 stores), increasing the total store count to 2,146. Capital allocation focused heavily on reinvestment in the business, with $462.9 million spent on property and equipment for construction, acquisitions, and remodels. The company anticipates investing approximately $516 million in fiscal year 2020, indicating a continued commitment to expansion and store modernization.

Casey's management highlighted several key risks, including intense competition in the convenience store and fuel industries, the volatility of wholesale petroleum costs impacting fuel margins, cybersecurity risks related to data protection, potential adverse effects from governmental regulations on tobacco and nicotine products, and general economic conditions impacting consumer spending. They also noted risks associated with implementing their 'value creation plan,' food safety, and reliance on IT systems.