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CrossAmerica Partners LP: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Earnings and cash flow both rose: Net income was $10.7 million against a net loss of $7.1 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $35.1 million against $24.3 million, and distributable cash flow $21.5 million against $9.1 million. Source
  • Fuel margin and merchandise lifted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA rose mainly on higher motor fuel margin per gallon and retail merchandise gross profit, plus lower operating and G&A expenses. Wholesale gross profit partly offset the increase. Source
  • Retail gross profit up 18%: Retail gross profit was $74.3 million against $63.2 million. Motor fuel gross profit rose $8.7 million, or 28%, and merchandise gross profit rose 8%. Source
  • Wholesale gross profit down 13%: Wholesale gross profit was $23.3 million against $26.7 million. Rent gross profit fell 20%, or $1.9 million, from site sales and conversions to retail operations. Source
  • Getty lease reset and reclassified: On January 31, 2026, the 106-site Getty lease was reset to $6.9 million annual rent, with 1.5% annual escalations. The lease is accounted for as a finance lease, adding $56 million of finance lease obligations; $3 million of rent moves to principal and interest. Source
  • Credit facility balance fell to $682.0 million: Credit facility borrowings were $682.0 million at March 31, down from $692.3 million at December 31. Leverage was 3.35 times, against 4.27 times a year earlier. Source
  • Maura Topper named CEO and President: Maura Topper was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President effective March 2, 2026. Source

“generating a record level of Adjusted EBITDA for the Partnership, as our business benefited from the strategic initiatives we have been focused on for the last several years”

Maura Topper, CEO and President of CrossAmerica

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Distribution per limited partner unit SourceQuarter attributable to first quarter of 2026, paid May 14, 2026$0.5250Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Maura Topper became Chief Executive Officer and President, and Jon Benfield Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective March 2, 2026. The February release had been issued under Charles Nifong as President and CEO. Source
  • New: The Getty master lease is accounted for as a finance lease from January 31, 2026, following the lease amendment. Source
  • Guidance kept: The quarterly distribution per limited partner unit stayed at $0.5250, the amount declared in the prior quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Earnings and cash flow both rose: Net income was $10.7 million against a net loss of $7.1 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $35.1 million against $24.3 million, and distributable cash flow $21.5 million against $9.1 million. Source
  • Fuel margin and merchandise lifted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA rose mainly on higher motor fuel margin per gallon and retail merchandise gross profit, plus lower operating and G&A expenses. Wholesale gross profit partly offset the increase. Source
  • Operating income rose to $23.8 million: Operating income was $23.8 million against $2.0 million, and included $6.1 million of net gains on dispositions and lease terminations. Source

Retail segment performance

  • Retail gross profit up 18%: Retail gross profit was $74.3 million against $63.2 million. Motor fuel gross profit rose $8.7 million, or 28%, and merchandise gross profit rose 8%. Source
  • Retail margin per gallon rose: Retail margin per gallon, before credit card fees and commissions, was $0.437 against $0.339; company-operated sites were $0.458 against $0.374. Management attributed the change to crude oil price movements and market volatility. Source
  • Retail fuel volume declined 7%: Retail gallons fell 7%, and same store retail fuel volume also fell 7% from the first quarter of 2025. Source

“We also continued to pay down our credit facility during the quarter, improving our interest expense and leverage”

Maura Topper, CEO and President of CrossAmerica

Wholesale segment performance

  • Wholesale gross profit down 13%: Wholesale gross profit was $23.3 million against $26.7 million. Rent gross profit fell 20%, or $1.9 million, from site sales and conversions to retail operations. Source
  • Wholesale volume and margin both declined: Wholesale volume fell 6% and margin per gallon eased to $0.094 from $0.097, reducing motor fuel gross profit 8%. Source
  • Wholesale operating expenses fell 10%: Wholesale operating expenses were $6.4 million against $7.2 million, a decline of $0.7 million or 10%. Source

Real estate and lease accounting

  • 16 sites sold for $12.7 million: Sold 16 sites during the quarter for $12.7 million of proceeds and a net gain of $6.3 million. Source
  • Getty lease reset and reclassified: On January 31, 2026, the 106-site Getty lease was reset to $6.9 million annual rent, with 1.5% annual escalations. The lease is accounted for as a finance lease, adding $56 million of finance lease obligations; $3 million of rent moves to principal and interest. Source
  • Supply kept on divested sites: Substantially all divested locations kept a supply relationship with CrossAmerica after the sale. Source

“our model and our people are well-suited to navigate this kind of environment”

Maura Topper, CEO and President of CrossAmerica

Operating costs and interest

  • Operating and G&A expenses declined: Operating expenses were $56.4 million against $58.9 million, and general and administrative expenses $6.5 million against $7.7 million. Source
  • Retail operating expenses down 3%: Retail operating expenses were $50.0 million against $51.7 million, down 3%, with same store operating expenses also lower. Source
  • Depreciation charge fell $9.2 million: Depreciation, amortization and accretion was $17.1 million against $26.3 million. Interest expense was $10.8 million, down $2.1 million on a lower average interest rate and lower average debt. Source
  • Income tax moved to expense: Income tax expense was $2.5 million, against a $3.6 million benefit a year earlier. Source

Merchandise and margins

  • Merchandise gross profit percentage rose: Merchandise gross profit percentage was 29.7%, against 27.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Base business drove merchandise gross profit: Management attributed the merchandise gross profit increase to base business sales and a higher gross profit percentage. Source
  • Same store sales excluding cigarettes rose 2%: Same store merchandise sales excluding cigarettes rose 2% compared with the first quarter of 2025. Source

Debt, leverage and cash

  • Credit facility balance fell to $682.0 million: Credit facility borrowings were $682.0 million at March 31, down from $692.3 million at December 31. Leverage was 3.35 times, against 4.27 times a year earlier. Source
  • Distribution coverage ratio rose: Distribution coverage was 1.07 times for the quarter, against 0.46 times, and 1.25 times on a trailing twelve-month basis, against 1.04 times. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $27.9 million: Net cash from operating activities was $27.9 million, against $15.0 million. Capital expenditures were $3.4 million against $10.1 million, and asset sale proceeds were $13.0 million. Source
  • Acquisition cash outlay of $1.8 million: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $1.8 million, with none in the prior-year period. Source

Portfolio optimization and site footprint

  • Average retail site count fell 4%: The average retail site count fell 4% year over year, which management attributed to ongoing portfolio optimization. Company-operated retail sites ended the period at 340, against 376. Source
  • Lessee dealer sites declined: Lessee dealer sites fell as sites were sold, generally with continued fuel supply, or converted to company-operated and commission agent sites. Source
  • Independent dealer sites increased: Independent dealer sites rose as sold sites kept fuel supply. Source

People and leadership

  • Maura Topper named CEO and President: Maura Topper was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President effective March 2, 2026. Source
  • Jon Benfield named interim CFO: Jon Benfield was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer on the same date. Source
  • Prior release cited 2025 divestitures: The February release, under Charles Nifong as President and CEO, reported 2025 divestitures of non-core locations generating over $100 million in proceeds.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Retail motor fuel gallons distributed Source117.7M
Same store motor fuel gallons distributed Source108.5M
Wholesale motor fuel gallons distributed Source153.6M
Average retail fuel sites Source576
Total motor fuel distribution sites Source985
Total retail sites Source568

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said fuel markets were volatile over recent weeks, and cited its execution through that volatility. Source
  • Financial: After covenant limits, about $230 million was available for future borrowings under the Credit Facility as of May 1, 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The distribution was previously announced and will be paid May 14, 2026, to unitholders of record as of May 4, 2026. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.