Casey's Third Quarter Results Driven By Strong Inside Sales

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASY) today reported $0.44 in basic earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 ended January 31, 2012 compared to $0.34 for the same period a year ago. Year to date, basic earnings per share are $2.46 versus $1.64 for the same period last year. After adjusting for costs associated with the hostile takeover attempt by Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., basic earnings per share last year would have been $0.37 for the quarter and $1.87 year to date. “The solid third quarter results continue to demonstrate that Casey’s is executing well on our strategic plan,” said President and CEO Robert J Myers. “We are expanding our footprint in our current market as well as the development of new states.”

Gasoline—The Company’s annual goal is to increase same-store gasoline gallons sold by 1% with an average margin of 13.5 cents per gallon. For the third quarter, same-store gallons sold are down 2.4% with an average margin of 13.6 cents per gallon. “Same store gallons continue to be impacted by higher prices at the pump.” said Myers. “However, we are encouraged by the 3.4% increase in our same store customer count.” For the fiscal year, total gallons sold are up 5.4% to 1.1 billion with an average margin of 15.9 cents, while gross profit dollars rose 10.9%. Same-store gallons for the year are down 2.6%.

Grocery & Other Merchandise—Casey’s annual goal is to increase same-store sales 5.8% with an average margin of 32.8%. For the quarter, same-store sales rose 6.3% with an average margin of 31.8%; up 90 basis points from the same period last year. For the sixth consecutive quarter, the Company experienced a double digit sales increase in this category with total sales up 12.7% over the prior third quarter. “Favorable weather comparisons, as well as the increased contribution from our new store design and remodel program helped drive sales in higher-margin items throughout the quarter,” stated Myers. Gross profit dollars increased 16.1% for the quarter and 14.8% year to date. Same-store sales for the year are up 6% with an average margin of 32.3%. Total sales for the year are up 14.6% to slightly over $1 billion.

Prepared Food & Fountain—The goal for fiscal 2012 is to increase same-store sales 7.7% with an average margin of 61.8%. Same-store sales are up 12.6% for the quarter and 14% year to date. The average margin for the quarter was 61.2% down from the same period a year ago, primarily due to a rise in cheese cost. “We are pleased with our ability to increase gross profit in this category nearly 17% for the quarter compared to the same period last year,” said Myers. “We continue to benefit from our remodel program and the addition of kitchens to recent acquisitions. Also, based on the results of prior stores converted to 24 hours, we converted an additional 145 stores this quarter. The Company now has approximately 20% of the store base operating 24 hours-a-day. Year to date, total sales were up 19.9% to $371.4 million compared to the first nine months last year, with an average margin of 60.6%.

Operating Expenses—Year to date, operating expenses increased 12.1% to $512.5 million. For the quarter, operating expenses are up 11.7%. After adjusting for the expenses associated with the unsolicited offer by Couche-Tard in the prior year, expenses increased 13% in the quarter and 16.2% at the nine month mark. “The increase was primarily driven by a rise in expenses related to operating 68 more stores this quarter compared to last year, as well as other initiatives such as major remodels and expanded store hours,” stated Myers. “The rise in credit card fees, while slower relative to previous quarters, was up 14% or $2.2 million.”

Expansion—The annual goal is to increase the total number of stores 4-6%. At the nine month mark, the Company had acquired 33 stores and completed 18 new-store constructions, bringing the total store count to 1,686. “With the combination of acquisitions and new store constructions, we anticipate adding approximately 65 stores this fiscal year,” said Myers. “In addition to this activity, the Company also plans to replace 11 stores by the end of the fiscal year and begin construction on 25 major remodels.”

Dividend—At its March meeting, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable May 15, 2012 to shareholders of record on May 1, 2012.

Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
				Three months ended January 31,							Nine months ended January 31,
				2012			2011				2012			2011
Total revenue			$	1,578,950			1,374,199			$	5,235,300			4,085,745
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown separately below)				1,350,200			1,171,668				4,476,850			3,421,866
Gross profit				228,750			202,531				758,450			663,879
Operating expenses				169,231			151,506				512,479			457,155
Depreciation and amortization				24,616			20,769				70,943			60,373
Interest, net				8,730			8,908				26,441			19,630
Loss on early retirement of debt				----------			----------				----------			11,350
Earnings before income taxes				26,173			21,348				148,587			115,371
Federal and state income taxes				9,474			8,473				54,865			43,518
Net earnings			$	16,699			12,875			$	93,722			71,853
Earnings per common share
Basic			$	.44			.34			$	2.46			1.64
Diluted			$	.43			.34			$	2.44			1.63
Basic weighted average shares outstanding				38,071,742			37,938,394				38,050,676			43,727,582
Plus effect of stock compensation				383,394			305,056				342,826			272,828
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				38,455,136			38,243,450				38,393,502			44,000,410

Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
				January 31,				April 30,
				2012				2011
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			$	46,338			$	59,572
Receivables				17,471				20,154
Inventories				161,942				159,200
Prepaid expenses				1,846				1,180
Deferred income taxes				12,315				10,405
Income taxes receivable				19,803				43,376
Total current assets				259,715				293,887
Other assets, net of amortization				11,985				11,721
Goodwill				104,386				88,042
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $838,547 at January 31, 2012, and $777,342 at April 30, 2011				1,347,536				1,217,305
Total assets			$	1,723,622			$	1,610,955
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Notes payable to bank			$	------------			$	600
Current maturities of long-term debt				5,733				1,167
Accounts payable				185,184				215,675
Accrued expenses				90,586				77,058
Total current liabilities				281,503				294,500
Long-term debt, net of current maturities				673,113				678,680
Deferred income taxes				249,885				203,078
Deferred compensation				13,963				13,858
Other long-term liabilities				19,520				16,943
Total liabilities				1,237,984				1,207,059
Total shareholders' equity				485,638				403,896
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity			$	1,723,622			$	1,610,955

Certain statements in this news release, including any discussion of management expectations for future periods, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by those statements. Casey’s disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Sales and Gross Profit by Product
(Amounts in thousands)
Nine months ended								Grocery & Other					Prepared Food
1/31/12			Gasoline					Merchandise					& Fountain					Other					Total
Sales			$	3,807,642				$	1,034,187				$	371,431				$	22,040				$	5,235,300
Gross profit			$	177,189				$	334,049				$	225,215				$	21,997				$	758,450
Margin				4.7	%				32.3	%				60.6	%				99.8	%				14.5	%
Gasoline gallons				1,116,684
Nine months ended
1/31/11
Sales			$	2,855,413				$	902,181				$	309,754				$	18,397				$	4,085,745
Gross profit			$	159,762				$	291,065				$	194,697				$	18,355				$	663,879
Margin				5.6	%				32.3	%				62.9	%				99.8	%				16.3	%
Gasoline gallons				1,059,146

Gasoline Gallons																								Gasoline Margin
Same-store Sales Growth																								(Cents per gallon, excluding credit card fees)
																			Fiscal																				Fiscal
			Q1				Q2				Q3				Q4				Year								Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4			Year
F2012			-2.7	%			-2.9	%			-2.4	%												F2012			17.2¢			16.7¢			13.6¢
F2011			1.5				3.6				3.5				-1.9	%			1.6	%				F2011			16.4			14.9			13.9			15.6¢			15.2¢
F2010			3.2				-0.7				-2.9				0.2				- 0.1					F2010			15.7			14.3			12.4			13.1			13.9

Grocery & Other Merchandise																								Grocery & Other Merchandise
Same-store Sales Growth																								Margin
																			Fiscal																													Fiscal
			Q1				Q2				Q3				Q4				Year									Q1					Q2					Q3					Q4					Year
F2012			6.2	%			5.8	%			6.3	%												F2012				32.5	%				32.5	%				31.8	%
F2011			2.0				6.9				5.8				4.8	%			4.6	%				F2011				32.8					32.9					30.9					32.1	%				32.2	%
F2010			6.4				1.9				1.7				3.1				3.3					F2010				34.3					34.1					32.7					33.1					33.6

Prepared Food & Fountain																								Prepared Food & Fountain
Same-store Sales Growth																								Margin
																			Fiscal																								Fiscal
			Q1				Q2				Q3				Q4				Year								Q1				Q2				Q3				Q4				Year
F2012			15.3	%			14.2	%			12.6	%												F2012			61.2	%			59.5	%			61.2	%
F2011			2.4				7.2				10.5				11.8	%			7.7	%				F2011			63.8				62.7				62.1				60.2	%			62.2	%
F2010			6.6				3.4				1.4				5.3				4.2					F2010			63.8				64.6				62.8				64.1				63.8

Corporate information is available at this Web site: http://www.caseys.com . Earnings will be reported during a conference call on March 6, 2012. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at 9:30 a.m. CST via the Investor Relations section of our Web site and will be available in an archived format.

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