EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

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Casey’s General Stores, Inc.

One Convenience Blvd.

Ankeny, IA 50021

        

Nasdaq Symbol CASY

CONTACT Bill Walljasper

(515) 965-6505

Casey’s Reports Solid First Quarter

Ankeny, Iowa, September 3, 2008—Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq symbol CASY) today reported earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.57 for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 ended July 31, 2008. Total sales rose 22.4% from the previous first quarter to $1.6 billion, and gross profit increased 5.7% to $199 million. “The results include a charge of $2.6 million related to flood damages. If these costs were eliminated, our earnings would have exceeded the record high $0.59 we reported a year ago,” said President and CEO Robert J. Myers. “We achieved excellent growth in a challenging economy, and our results give us a solid start toward our fiscal 2009 performance goals.”

Gasoline—Casey’s annual goal is to increase same-store gasoline gallons sold 2% with an average margin of 10.8 cents per gallon. The quarter’s same-store gallons sold were up .5% with an average margin of 15.6 cents per gallon, close to the previous first quarter’s all-time high of 15.8 cents. The average retail price per gallon was $3.77, up 26.1% from the same period a year ago. Myers stated, “Customer counts remained positive, but high retail prices continued to have an impact on gallons sold.” Total gallons sold rose to 317.9 million from 313.4 million; gross profit was $49.6 million compared with $49.5 million.

Grocery & Other Merchandise—The Company’s goal is to increase same-store sales 7% with an average margin of 33.2%. The quarter’s same-store sales were up 4.7%, total sales were up 5.5% to $274 million, and the average margin was above goal at 34%. Gross profit rose 5.7% to $93.3 million. “Despite increased cost pressures, we were able to maintain the margin we achieved the previous first quarter,” said Myers. “We were encouraged by the traffic inside our stores, especially in light of the adverse weather that held back sales in the first part of the quarter.”

Prepared Food & Fountain—The goal is to increase same-store sales 6.8% with an average margin of 61.2%. Same-store sales were up 12.3%, total sales rose 13.4% to $85.6 million, and the average margin was 60.5%. “Casey’s prepared foods are destination items for our customers, and we make sure our warmers are full of the products they want when they want them,” Myers stated. “Higher prices for cheese and other commodities affected our margin; nevertheless, we increased gross profit 11.3% to $51.8 million. We are confident of our core strategies for managing this category. We will continue to test new menu offerings and marketing initiatives throughout the year and use point-of-sale data to assess their impact.”

Operating Expenses—Though credit card fees rose over 34%, the Company held its increase in operating expenses to 8.9%. “Without the flood damages, operating expenses would have been up only 6.8%,” said Myers. “We are pleased that our ongoing focus on containing costs is keeping the increase in single digits.”

Expansion—The goal for fiscal 2009 is to increase the total number of Casey’s stores 4%. By the end of the first quarter, the Company had opened 7 stores. All of the openings were acquisitions of existing stores.


“We know acquisitions are a cost-effective way to grow, and we will continue to pursue these opportunities,” Myers stated. “New-store construction will accelerate in the coming months as we roll out our new store design, developed specifically to accommodate more customer traffic, make our service areas more appealing, and enhance the sale of high-margin items.”

Dividend—At its September meeting, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.075 per share, reflecting the increase approved in June. The dividend is payable November 17, 2008 to shareholders of record on November 3, 2008.

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Casey’s General Stores, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

  

 

     Three months ended July 31,
     2008    2007

Total revenue

   $ 1,565,724    $ 1,279,342

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown separately below)

     1,366,701      1,090,993
             

Gross profit

     199,023      188,349

Operating expenses

     132,579      121,714

Depreciation and amortization

     17,462      16,196

Interest, net

     2,563      2,345
             

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and loss on discontinued operations

     46,419      48,094

Federal and state income taxes

     17,624      18,143
             

Earnings from continuing operations before loss on discontinued operations

     28,795      29,951

Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $7 and $112

     10      175
             

Net earnings

   $ 28,785    $ 29,776
             

Basic

     

Earnings from continuing operations before loss on discontinued operations

   $ .57    $ .59

Loss on discontinued operations

     —        —  
             

Net earnings

   $ .57    $ .59
             

Diluted

     

Earnings from continuing operations before loss on discontinued operations

   $ .57    $ .59

Loss on discontinued operations

     —        —  
             

Net earnings

   $ .57    $ .59
             


Casey’s General Stores, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     July 31,
2008
   April 30,
2008
Assets      

Current assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 171,470    $ 154,523

Receivables

     20,938      16,662

Inventories

     139,306      124,503

Prepaid expenses

     9,955      9,817

Income taxes receivable

     —        7,751
             

Total current assets

     341,669      313,256
             

Other assets, net of amortization

     9,317      8,898

Goodwill

     49,208      48,308

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $609,957 at July 31, 2008, and of $595,316 at April 30, 2008

     856,748      848,738
             

Total assets

   $ 1,256,942    $ 1,219,200
             
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity      

Current liabilities

     

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 34,932    $ 34,383

Accounts payable

     175,798      163,343

Accrued expenses

     64,038      61,373

Income taxes payable

     4,255      —  
             

Total current liabilities

     279,023      259,099
             

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     169,629      181,443

Deferred income taxes

     108,613      105,959

Deferred compensation

     10,610      10,201

Other long-term liabilities

     15,730      15,026
             

Total liabilities

     583,605      571,728
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     673,337      647,472
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,256,942    $ 1,219,200
             

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)

 

Three months ended

7/31/08

   Gasoline     Grocery & Other
Merchandise
    Prepared Food
& Fountain
    Other     Total  

Sales

   $ 1,199,966     $ 274,049     $ 85,565     $ 6,144     $ 1,565,724  

Gross profit

   $ 49,580     $ 93,288     $ 51,805     $ 4,350     $ 199,023  

Margin

     4.1 %     34.0 %     60.5 %     70.8 %     12.7 %

Gasoline gallons

     317,873          

Three months ended

7/31/07

                              

Sales

   $ 938,019     $ 259,788     $ 75,442     $ 6,093     $ 1,279,342  

Gross profit

   $ 49,477     $ 88,297     $ 46,538     $ 4,037     $ 188,349  

Margin

     5.3 %     34.0 %     61.7 %     66.3 %     14.7 %

Gasoline gallons

     313,385          

 

Gasoline Gallons  
Same-store Sales Growth  
     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Fiscal
Year
 

F2009

   0.5 %        

F2008

   0.3     -1.6 %   -3.9 %   -2.5 %   -2.0 %

F2007

   -2.9     2.7     4.0     2.8     1.4  

 

Grocery & Other Merchandise  
Same-store Sales Growth  
     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Fiscal
Year
 

F2009

   4.7 %        

F2008

   9.1     11.2 %   5.4 %   3.6 %   7.3 %

F2007

   2.3     3.5     6.7     7.3     4.6  

 

Prepared Food & Fountain  
Same-store Sales Growth  
     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Fiscal
Year
 

F2009

   12.3 %        

F2008

   9.5     10.6 %   8.4 %   11.2 %   9.8 %

F2007

   9.5     13.7     11.9     8.5     11.0  

 

Gasoline Margin  

(Cents per gallon, excluding credit card fees)

 

     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Fiscal
Year
 

F2009

   15.6 ¢        

F2008

   15.8     13.6 ¢   13.5 ¢   12.6 ¢   13.9 ¢

F2007

   9.8     9.4     10.5     11.8     10.4  

 

Grocery & Other Merchandise  
Margin  
     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Fiscal
Year
 

F2009

   34.0 %        

F2008

   34.0     33.1 %   31.9 %   33.2 %   33.1 %

F2007

   32.2     32.6     30.8     35.0     32.7  

 

Prepared Food & Fountain  
Margin  
     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Fiscal
Year
 

F2009

   60.5 %        

F2008

   61.7     63.0 %   63.6 %   60.9 %   62.3 %

F2007

   62.9     61.6     62.1     61.6     62.0  

LOGO

Corporate information is available at this Web site: http://www.caseys.com. Earnings will be reported during

a conference call on September 4, 2008. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at 9:30 a.m. CT via the

Investor Relations section of our Web site and will be available in an archived format.