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Caseys General Stores Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 December 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 lowered, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose 14.0%: Diluted EPS was $5.53 against $4.85. Net income was $206.3 million and EBITDA was $410.1 million, up 17.5%. The company credited higher inside and fuel gross profit, partly offset by higher operating expenses. Source
  • Inside same-store sales up 3.3%: Inside same-store sales rose 3.3% against 4.0% a year earlier, and 7.5% on a two-year stack. Total inside sales rose 13.0%, and inside gross profit rose 13.5% to $703.4 million. Source
  • Prepared food led same-store gains: Prepared food and dispensed beverage same-store sales rose 4.8%, and grocery and general merchandise rose 2.7%. Management named whole pizzas, hot sandwiches and non-alcoholic beverages as drivers. Source
  • Fuel gross profit up 20.9%: Fuel gross profit was $377.4 million, up 20.9%, on total gallons up 16.8% and a fuel margin of 41.6 cents per gallon, against 40.2 cents. Same-store gallons rose 0.8%. Source
  • Operating expenses up 16.7%: Operating expenses were $711.6 million. Management said 236 more stores than a year earlier accounted for about 10.5% of the increase. Source
  • Liquidity about $1.4 billion: Available liquidity was about $1.4 billion at October 31, 2025: about $492 million of cash and about $900 million of borrowing capacity on existing lines. Source
  • EBITDA growth guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 EBITDA growth is now expected at 15% to 17%, up from 10% to 12%. The company cited financial performance to date. Source
  • Inside sales and margin ranges moved: Inside margin is now 41% to 42%, from approximately 41%. Inside same-store sales growth narrowed to 3% to 4% from 2% to 5%. Source

“Casey's delivered a great second quarter highlighted by strong sales and traffic growth across the entire store”

Darren Rebelez, Chairman, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
EBITDA growth Sourcefiscal 202615% to 17%Raised from 10% to 12%
Inside same-store sales growth Sourcefiscal 20263% to 4%
Inside margin Sourcefiscal 202641% to 42%Raised from approximately 41%
Tax rate Sourcefiscal 202624% to 25%Lowered from approximately 24% to 26%
Same-store fuel gallons sold Sourcefiscal 2026negative 1% to positive 1%Kept
Total operating expenses Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 8% to 10% increaseKept
Store openings Sourcefiscal 2026at least 80 storesKept
Net interest expense Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $110 millionKept
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $450 millionKept
Capital expenditure (purchase of property and equipment) Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $600 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: EBITDA growth for fiscal 2026 raised to 15% to 17% from 10% to 12%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Inside margin for fiscal 2026 is now 41% to 42%, from approximately 41%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Tax rate range narrowed to 24% to 25% from 24% to 26%, so the top of the range fell. Source
  • Guidance kept: Fuel gallons, operating expenses, store openings, net interest, depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditure were not updated. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Diluted EPS rose 14.0%: Diluted EPS was $5.53 against $4.85. Net income was $206.3 million and EBITDA was $410.1 million, up 17.5%. The company credited higher inside and fuel gross profit, partly offset by higher operating expenses. Source
  • Six-month earnings also higher: For the six months, diluted EPS was $11.29 against $9.68, and EBITDA was $824.4 million against $694.7 million. Source

Inside sales and margin

  • Inside same-store sales up 3.3%: Inside same-store sales rose 3.3% against 4.0% a year earlier, and 7.5% on a two-year stack. Total inside sales rose 13.0%, and inside gross profit rose 13.5% to $703.4 million. Source
  • Prepared food led same-store gains: Prepared food and dispensed beverage same-store sales rose 4.8%, and grocery and general merchandise rose 2.7%. Management named whole pizzas, hot sandwiches and non-alcoholic beverages as drivers. Source
  • Inside margin reached 42.4%: Inside margin was 42.4% against 42.2%, up about 20 basis points, which the company attributed to a favorable product mix shift. Grocery margin was 36.0% and prepared food margin 58.6%. Source

“On the fuel side, the team did an outstanding job achieving same-store gallon growth while expanding fuel margin.”

Darren Rebelez, Chairman, President and CEO

Fuel sales and margin

  • Fuel gross profit up 20.9%: Fuel gross profit was $377.4 million, up 20.9%, on total gallons up 16.8% and a fuel margin of 41.6 cents per gallon, against 40.2 cents. Same-store gallons rose 0.8%. Source
  • Renewable fuel credit sales rose: Sales of renewable fuel credits (RINs) were $7.2 million in the quarter, up $2.3 million from the same quarter a year earlier. Source

Operating expenses and labor

  • Operating expenses up 16.7%: Operating expenses were $711.6 million. Management said 236 more stores than a year earlier accounted for about 10.5% of the increase. Source
  • Same-store costs rose 4.5%: Same-store operating expenses excluding credit card fees rose 4.5%, against 2.3% a year earlier. Labor rates rose while same-store labor hours were flat. Source
  • Incentive accruals added to costs: Accrued variable incentive compensation contributed about 1% of the increase, which management linked to financial performance. Source

“Overall, the excellent financial results were a combination of strong same-store performance and robust store growth as we are operating nearly 9% more stores than the prior year.”

Darren Rebelez, Chairman, President and CEO

Liquidity, debt and capital returns

  • Liquidity about $1.4 billion: Available liquidity was about $1.4 billion at October 31, 2025: about $492 million of cash and about $900 million of borrowing capacity on existing lines. Source
  • Buybacks of $31 million: The company repurchased about $31 million of shares and had about $233 million left under its authorization, down from about $264 million at July 31, 2025. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.57: The board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.57 per share at its December meeting, the same amount it approved at its September meeting. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow higher: Net cash from operating activities was $719.5 million for the six months, against $552.1 million. Purchases of property and equipment were $281.1 million, against $211.2 million. Source
  • Long-term debt lower than April: Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, net of current maturities, were $2.35 billion at October 31, 2025, against $2.41 billion at April 30, 2025. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance update

  • EBITDA growth guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 EBITDA growth is now expected at 15% to 17%, up from 10% to 12%. The company cited financial performance to date. Source
  • Inside sales and margin ranges moved: Inside margin is now 41% to 42%, from approximately 41%. Inside same-store sales growth narrowed to 3% to 4% from 2% to 5%. Source
  • Tax rate range narrowed: The tax rate is now expected at 24% to 25% for the fiscal year, from 24% to 26% previously. Source
  • Other guidance items held: Fuel gallons, operating expenses, store openings, net interest, depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditure were not updated. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 December 2025

  • Dividend payment date set: The $0.57 quarterly dividend is payable February 13, 2026, to shareholders of record on February 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales (inside same-store) Source3.3%
Gross margin (total company) Source24.9%
Inventory Source$452.1 million at October 31, 2025
Store openings and closings Source16 new construction, 26 acquisitions, 25 closed or divested

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the team is delivering on the strategic plan, with prepared foods and value proposition resonating with guests. 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.