10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2011

CASEYS GENERAL STORES INC Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Oct 31, 2010

Filed December 9, 2010For Securities:CASY

Summary

Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) filed its 10-Q for the period ending October 31, 2010, revealing a mixed financial performance impacted by significant one-time events. While total revenue saw a substantial increase driven by higher gasoline prices and volume, along with growth in grocery and prepared food sales, net earnings declined year-over-year. This decline was primarily attributed to a substantial loss on early debt retirement and significant legal and advisory fees incurred due to unsolicited takeover attempts. The company continued its store expansion strategy, opening and acquiring new locations. However, operational performance was impacted by increased operating expenses, partly due to rising credit card fees and transportation costs, and a decrease in gross profit margins across key categories like gasoline, grocery, and prepared foods, despite increased per-gallon gasoline margins. The balance sheet shows increased debt, largely due to financing activities related to a share repurchase program, and a significant increase in goodwill, indicating recent acquisitions.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$1.35B
Cost of Revenue$1.12B
Gross Profit$227.38M
Operating Expenses$153.26M
Interest Expense$8.20M
Net Income$21.69M
EPS (Basic)$0.51
EPS (Diluted)$0.51
Shares Outstanding (Basic)42.28M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)42.57M

Key Highlights

  • 1Total revenue increased by 16.8% for the quarter and 15.7% for the six-month period, driven by higher gasoline prices and increased gallon sales, alongside growth in grocery and prepared food sales.
  • 2Net earnings decreased significantly by 35.4% for the quarter and 24.2% for the six-month period, primarily due to an $11.35 million loss on early debt retirement and approximately $8.08 million in legal and advisory fees related to unsolicited takeover bids.
  • 3Operating expenses rose by 17% for the quarter and 16.1% for the six-month period, largely due to the aforementioned takeover-related fees, increased credit card fees, and higher transportation costs.
  • 4Gross profit margins saw a slight decrease across gasoline, grocery, and prepared food categories, although the gross profit margin per gasoline gallon increased.
  • 5The company repurchased approximately 13.16 million shares of common stock, representing about 25.8% of outstanding shares, funded by new long-term debt issuance.
  • 6Total assets increased to $1.5 billion, with a notable rise in Goodwill to $68.3 million, suggesting recent acquisitions, while total liabilities also increased significantly, driven by new long-term debt.
  • 7The company continued its growth strategy, opening one replacement store, acquiring nine stores, and completing seven new-store constructions in the second quarter, aligning with its goal of 4-6% annual store growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

The substantial decrease in net earnings was primarily driven by a $11.35 million loss recognized from the early retirement of debt and approximately $8.08 million in legal and advisory fees incurred during the quarter due to evaluating unsolicited takeover proposals from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. and 7-Eleven, Inc.

The company significantly increased its long-term debt by issuing $569 million in 5.22% Senior Notes. This debt was primarily used to finance a 'Dutch auction' tender offer to repurchase approximately 13.16 million shares of its common stock (about 25.8% of outstanding shares) and to prepay existing senior notes.

The unsolicited takeover attempts by Couche-Tard and 7-Eleven resulted in significant expenses, including approximately $8.08 million in legal and advisory fees related to evaluating these proposals. The company also experienced a $11.35 million loss on early debt retirement, partly associated with financing activities during this period. While the offers were ultimately rejected, they led to increased operating expenses and financial restructuring.

Total revenue showed strong growth, driven by higher gasoline prices and volumes, and increased sales in grocery and prepared foods. However, gross profit margins declined slightly across gasoline, grocery, and prepared foods, despite an improvement in per-gallon gasoline margins. Operating expenses also rose, partly due to the extraordinary expenses mentioned above, but also due to increased credit card fees and transportation costs.