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CrossAmerica Partners LP: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow declined: Quarterly net income was $8.8 million against $13.6 million, Adjusted EBITDA $38.7 million against $41.3 million, and Distributable Cash Flow $21.8 million against $27.8 million. Source
  • Lower fuel volume drove the EBITDA decline: Management attributed the Adjusted EBITDA decrease mainly to lower motor fuel volume in both segments, partly offset by higher retail merchandise gross profit and lower operating expenses. Source
  • Retail gross profit declined 2%: Retail gross profit was $78.0 million against $80.0 million. The decline came mainly from motor fuel gross profit, partly offset by higher merchandise and other revenue gross profit. Source
  • Wholesale gross profit down 7%: Wholesale gross profit was $23.1 million against $24.8 million. Motor fuel gross profit fell 9%, or $1.4 million, and rent and other revenue were slightly lower. Source
  • Fifteen sites sold in quarter: Sales of 15 sites brought $10.6 million in proceeds and a net gain of $2.9 million. Source
  • Leverage rose to 3.72 times: Leverage under the Credit Facility was 3.72 times, against 3.56 times a year earlier. The company reported compliance with its financial covenants at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Quarter coverage fell; trailing rose: Distribution coverage for the quarter was 1.09 times against 1.39 times. Trailing twelve-month coverage was 1.32 times against 1.00 times. Source

“While higher fuel prices pressured volumes in the third quarter, our team continued to deliver on the things we can control”

Maura Topper, CEO and President of CrossAmerica

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly distribution per limited partner unit Sourcethird quarter of 2026$0.5250 per limited partner unitKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The quarterly distribution was declared at $0.5250 per unit, the same figure as the prior quarter's release. Source

Results and profit drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow declined: Quarterly net income was $8.8 million against $13.6 million, Adjusted EBITDA $38.7 million against $41.3 million, and Distributable Cash Flow $21.8 million against $27.8 million. Source
  • Lower fuel volume drove the EBITDA decline: Management attributed the Adjusted EBITDA decrease mainly to lower motor fuel volume in both segments, partly offset by higher retail merchandise gross profit and lower operating expenses. Source
  • Operating revenues rose year over year: Operating revenues were $1,194.6 million against $971.8 million. Gross profit was $101.1 million against $104.8 million. Source
  • Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA rose: For the nine months, Adjusted EBITDA was $125.6 million against $102.7 million, and Distributable Cash Flow was $76.9 million against $59.3 million. Source

Retail segment

  • Retail gross profit declined 2%: Retail gross profit was $78.0 million against $80.0 million. The decline came mainly from motor fuel gross profit, partly offset by higher merchandise and other revenue gross profit. Source
  • Retail fuel gross profit fell on volume: Retail motor fuel gross profit fell $3.2 million, or 8%, to $37.6 million. Gallons sold dropped 9%, partly offset by higher margin per gallon. Source
  • Same-store gallons fell; site count shrank: Same-store gallons fell 7%. The average retail site count dropped to 549 from 592, mainly through sales of company operated and commission agent sites under the optimization effort. Source

“Our merchandise business again delivered, with continued growth in merchandise margin percentage reflecting the strength of our convenience store operations and programs”

Maura Topper, CEO and President of CrossAmerica

Wholesale segment

  • Wholesale gross profit down 7%: Wholesale gross profit was $23.1 million against $24.8 million. Motor fuel gross profit fell 9%, or $1.4 million, and rent and other revenue were slightly lower. Source
  • Wholesale gallons fell 8%: Wholesale gallons distributed fell 8%, mainly from a reduction in base business volume. Margin per gallon was $0.088 in both periods. Source
  • Independent dealer sites rose: Independent dealer sites rose to 661 from 645, while lessee dealer sites fell to 310 from 343, mainly through site sales that kept fuel supply. Source

Merchandise and product mix

  • Merchandise gross profit up 2%: Merchandise gross profit rose 2% to $32.8 million, despite a 7% decline in average company operated store count. Source
  • Merchandise margin percentage rose: Merchandise gross profit percentage reached 30.3% from 28.9%, attributed to sales mix shifting toward higher-margin food categories and better category margins. Source
  • Same-store merchandise sales flat: Same store merchandise sales excluding cigarettes were $74.6 million against $74.4 million, described as relatively flat. Source
  • Other revenue and rent gross profit: Retail other revenue gross profit was $4.9 million against $4.8 million, and retail rent gross profit was $2.8 million against $2.5 million. Source

“These results, together with solid fuel margins, keep us materially ahead of last year through the first nine months in both Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow”

Maura Topper, CEO and President of CrossAmerica

Operating costs and margins

  • Operating expenses slightly lower: Consolidated operating expenses were $56.3 million against $57.5 million. General and administrative expenses were $6.7 million against $6.5 million. Source
  • Retail operating costs eased slightly: Retail operating expenses were $50.5 million, down $0.2 million, with same store retail operating expenses up 1%, offset by the lower average site count. Source
  • Wholesale operating expenses fell 16%: Wholesale operating expenses fell $1.1 million, or 16%, mainly from a lower average controlled site count following site sales. Source
  • Retail margin per gallon rose: Retail margin per gallon before credit card fees and commissions was $0.404 against $0.384. Before card fees, company operated sites were $0.409 against $0.402. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization declined: Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense was $16.8 million against $20.0 million. Source
  • Excise taxes in revenue declined: Excise taxes included in operating revenues were $75.0 million against $83.0 million. Source

Real estate optimization

  • Fifteen sites sold in quarter: Sales of 15 sites brought $10.6 million in proceeds and a net gain of $2.9 million. Source
  • Nine-month site sales totaled 36: Year to date, 36 sites were sold for $26.0 million in proceeds, with a net gain of $10.3 million. Source
  • Supply kept with divested sites: The company maintained a supply relationship after the sale with substantially all locations divested in the periods. Source
  • Gains on disposals fell year over year: Gains on dispositions and lease terminations, net, were $2.4 million against $7.4 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

Capital, debt and liquidity

  • Credit Facility debt was $674.5 million: Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility were $674.5 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Leverage rose to 3.72 times: Leverage under the Credit Facility was 3.72 times, against 3.56 times a year earlier. The company reported compliance with its financial covenants at September 30, 2026. Source
  • About $237 million available to borrow: After debt covenant restrictions, approximately $237 million was available for future borrowings as of October 30, 2026. Source
  • Capital spending of $7.2 million: Capital expenditures were $7.2 million in the quarter, of which $1.9 million was growth spending. Growth spending was $6.4 million year to date. Source
  • Growth spending targets food renovations: Growth spending focused on renovating company operated retail locations, including expanded food offerings. Source

Cash flow, distributions and coverage

  • Quarter coverage fell; trailing rose: Distribution coverage for the quarter was 1.09 times against 1.39 times. Trailing twelve-month coverage was 1.32 times against 1.00 times. Source
  • Cash flow drivers: sustaining capex, taxes: Distributable Cash Flow fell with Adjusted EBITDA. Sustaining capital expenditures rose to $5.3 million from $1.9 million, and current income tax to $0.8 million from $0.4 million. Source
  • Cash interest expense was lower: Cash interest expense was $10.7 million against $11.3 million in the quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for nine months: Net cash from operating activities was $85.6 million for the nine months, against $62.1 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Distribution payment on November 12: The $0.5250 distribution is to be paid November 12, 2026, to unitholders of record as of November 2, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Retail motor fuel gallons distributed Source128.6M gallons in Q3 2026 against 141.8M
Wholesale motor fuel gallons distributed Source162.8M gallons in Q3 2026 against 177.7M
Total retail sites Source546 at end of period against 586
Total motor fuel distribution sites Source971 at end of period against 988

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Loss of independent dealer contracts, along with base business volume, was cited as reducing wholesale volume. Source
  • External: Management cited greater crude oil price volatility between periods as the driver of the retail margin per gallon increase. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management describes the real estate optimization effort as ongoing, and the release gives no target for it. 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.