Latest news with #DarrenRebelez
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This Pizza Chain's Stock Surged 360%--But Is the Slice Still Worth the Price?
Once a turnaround story, Casey's (NASDAQ:CASY) has quietly become one of the market's most impressive retail compounders. Since 2018, shares have climbed more than 360% as the company revamped its strategy under CEO Darren Rebelezcentralizing procurement, streamlining operations, and betting big on fresh food. That bet's paid off. Prepared food now contributes nearly a third of gross profit, well above peers, while private-label items are benefiting from the company's strong reputation. Bloomberg Second Measure data shows Casey's outpacing the broader staples sector in sales growthdriven by pizza, donuts, breakfast burritos, and even a trial menu of wings and fries. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with CASY. But it's not just food that's fueling the run. Casey's has leaned into M&A, targeting small chains that make up over 60% of the 150,000+ U.S. convenience stores. Its biggest deal yetlast year's $1.1 billion acquisition of CEFCOadded nearly 200 stores and a key fuel terminal, extending Casey's reach into high-growth states like Texas and Florida. The company has been adding around 100 stores a year, with a current footprint of about 2,900 locations across 19 states. That's still far behind giants like 7-Eleven or Circle K, but Casey's rural focus gives it pricing power and customer loyalty in markets with limited competition. Still, not every analyst is on board at these levels. The stock closed at $518.28 on Thursday, trading at roughly 35x earningsa premium to convenience store peers and even most pizza chains. BMO's Kelly Bania noted that rising expectations leave little margin for error, while Wells Fargo's Anthony Bonadio flagged that any slowdown in growthor signs of strength from other retailerscould trigger a rotation. Others remain constructive, pointing to Casey's unique traffic drivers: fuel, beer, tobacco, and foodan edge that traditional QSRs can't match. But with the bar set this high, Casey's next chapter will need more than just good pizza. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Axios
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
Casey's skips the Buc-ee's bloat
Bigger isn't always better — at least that's what Casey's is betting on for the time being. The big picture: Gas station companies nationwide are building bigger stores to encourage customers to stay and browse, especially as more electric vehicles hit the roads. State of play: During a Q&A with reporters this month, Casey's CEO Darren Rebelez noted that while EV customers stay at the gas station to charge for 30 minutes — most return to their cars after making their purchases inside. "If we see a trend where people want to spend more time in the actual store, then we'll have the ability to accommodate that," Rebelez said. "But from what we've seen so far, they prefer to actually spend the time in the car." By the numbers: Casey's is already larger than the average gas station because of its kitchen, Rebelez said. The average size of a store is 2,500 to 4,000 square feet, per CSP. Meanwhile, Sheetz on the east coast is expanding its stores, averaging 7,000 square feet and adding drive-thrus, the New York Times reports. QuikTrip, which is expanding in the Midwest, averages 7,000 square feet. Buc-ee's, the southern gas station, has locations as big as 75,000 square feet.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Big Numbers: The many faces of c-store growth
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. 3 Big Numbers is a weekly column that looks at a few key details from around the c-store industry. Growth has been a hot topic for the convenience industry in 2025. From new stores and M&A to expanded technology and loyalty programs, c-store retailers are taking steps to expand their markets. Some companies are trying to make big moves — we're looking at you, Alimentation Couche-Tard — while others are moving more quietly and methodically. In this week's '3 Big Numbers,' we look at expansion plans from Casey's General Stores and Minuteman Food Mart as well as Sunoco's possible acquisition of Parkland Corp. The number of stores Casey's expects to add in fiscal 2026. As part of its fourth quarter and full year earnings announcement this week, Casey's disclosed that it had opened or acquired a record 270 stores in the past 12 months and expects to open about 80 during the upcoming fiscal year. After the massive acquisition of CEFCO Convenience Stores' 198 sites in fiscal 2025, it seems that Casey's is looking to scale back this year, with an emphasis on building its own stores. 'We can lean heavier on the organic side, because we have a pretty developed land bank that gives us that optionality either way,' Casey's President and CEO Darren Rebelez said during the earnings call. Sure, after 270 locations in one year, 80 might seem like small potatoes. But it's worth remembering that if those stores were their own banner instead of part of Casey's, they would be one of the 100 largest c-store chains in the U.S. The number of months between Sunoco's first bid and final deal for Parkland. While many eyes were on the will-they-won't-they saga between Couche-Tard and 7-Eleven's parent company, Seven & i, a different courtship was going on in the background. Sunoco, best known as a major fuel brand in the U.S., announced last month that it had reached a $9.1 billion deal to acquire Parkland Corp., including more than 640 retail sites. A final decision will come on June 24, when Parkland shareholders vote. It turns out Sunoco has been seeking this acquisition for quite a while, according to a recent timeline released by the two companies. Sunoco first made a $38.50 per share bid for the Canadian fuel and retail company in July 2023 — a bid that Parkland turned down for undervaluing its business. Sunoco tried again later that year with an enhanced bid, but that was also nixed. Now, nearly two years later, Sunoco may finally get what it wants. Then we'll just have to see if it sells the bulk of those c-stores, as it's done in the past. The max number of sites Minuteman Food Mart may introduce with its new branding in the coming year. While Casey's is aiming for 80 new stores and Sunoco may pick up over 600, not all growth that happens is at that scale. Minuteman plans to open between five and 10 new stores in the next year. Given that it currently operates 62 locations, 10 new sites would mean an increase of over 16%. That's nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps more interesting, the company is embracing a new logo at these sites. Minuteman was looking for a way to encapsulate what it stood for — something that could be iconically connected to the brand, the way the swoosh is for Nike or Buc-ee the Beaver is for Buc-ee's. Brand recognition for its new stopwatch-themed icon isn't on par with those iconic logos yet, but time will tell. Recommended Reading Casey's to debut 80 new stores during fiscal 2026 Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
CNBC
10-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Post-COVID inflation was a shock to the system, says Casey's CEO Darren Rebelez
Casey's General Stores Chair, President and CEO Darren Rebelez joins 'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer to talk food offerings, store growth, and more.
CNBC
10-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Casey's General Stores CEO Darren Rebelez sits down with Jim Cramer
Mad Money with Jim Cramer Casey's General Stores Chair, President and CEO Darren Rebelez joins 'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer to talk food offerings, store growth, and more.
