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The Retail-Wholesale group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Retail-Wholesale sector should help us answer this question.

Casey's General Stores is a member of our Retail-Wholesale group, which includes 183 different companies and currently sits at #8 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Casey's General Stores is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CASY's full-year earnings has moved 2.2% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, CASY has gained about 29.1% so far this year. At the same time, Retail-Wholesale stocks have gained an average of 1%. This shows that Casey's General Stores is outperforming its peers so far this year.

Alliance Laundry Holdings (ALH - Free Report) is another Retail-Wholesale stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 5.4%.

In Alliance Laundry Holdings' case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 4.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Breaking things down more, Casey's General Stores is a member of the Retail - Convenience Stores industry, which includes 2 individual companies and currently sits at #5 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 29.9% so far this year, meaning that CASY is slightly underperforming its industry in terms of year-to-date returns.

Alliance Laundry Holdings, however, belongs to the Retail - Home Furnishings industry. Currently, this 10-stock industry is ranked #162. The industry has moved -6.2% so far this year.

Casey's General Stores and Alliance Laundry Holdings could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Retail-Wholesale stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.

The Zacks Premium service, which provides daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter, makes these more manageable goals. All of the features can help you identify what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.

Also included in Zacks Premium is the Focus List. This is a long-term portfolio of top stocks that have all the traits to beat the market.

Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?

Enter the Zacks Focus List. It's a portfolio made up of 50 stocks that are set to beat the market over the next 12 months; each company selected serves as a foundation for long-term investors looking to create an individual portfolio.

One thing that makes the Focus List even more advantageous is that each pick comes with a full Zacks Analyst Report. This helps explain why each stock was selected and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.

The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.

Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Earnings estimates are expectations of growth and profitability, and are determined by brokerage analysts. Together with company management, these analysts examine every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.

What a company will earn down the road also needs to be taken into consideration, and this is why earnings estimate revisions are so important.

Stocks that receive upward earnings estimate revisions are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. For example, if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they're more likely to do it again this month, and other analysts are likely to do the same.

Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank, which is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions to make it easier to build a winning portfolio.

There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each one of these features is then given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank. Using this data, stocks are classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey's General Stores, Inc. operates convenience stores primarily under the Casey’s and Casey’s General Store brands. As of July 31, 2026, the company operated 2,959 stores across 19 states, primarily in the Midwest. Approximately 71% of its stores were located in communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. 

Since being added to the Focus List on August 20, 2019 at $171.98 per share, shares of CASY have increased 303.38% to $693.73. The stock is currently a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank.

Six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.39 to $21.61. CASY boasts an average earnings surprise of 17.5%.

Moreover, analysts are expecting CASY's earnings to grow 12.8% for the current fiscal year.

Reveal Winning StocksUnlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. You'll quickly identify which stocks to buy, hold and sell, and target today's hottest industries, to help improve the performance of your portfolio. Gain full access now >>

Key Takeaways Retail sales rose 0.8% in September, topping expectations of 0.3% amid steady consumer spending.ANF expects 15.8% earnings growth, while its current-year earnings estimate rose 6.1% in 60 days.FIVE projects 57.6% earnings growth, while KSS expects 29.6% growth for the current year. The retail sector has been growing at a steady pace amid inflationary pressures. Retail sales rose once again in September, surpassing expectations. Although higher gasoline prices were partly responsible for the jump in sales, the sector has shown immense resilience amid concerns over a slowing economy.

Consumers have been spending aggressively despite high prices, which has been giving sales a major boost. Given this situation, it would be ideal to invest in retail stocks with a strong online presence. We have selected four stocks, namely, Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) , Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY - Free Report) , Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) and Kohl's Corporation (KSS - Free Report) .

Retail Sales Rise in SeptemberRetail sales jumped 0.8% in September, surpassing analysts’ expectations of a rise of 0.3%. The jump in September follows a revised 1.3% surge in retail sales in August, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. 

The retail sector has performed exceptionally well this year, with sales falling only in July for the first time in five months. Although gasoline prices played a major role in September’s rise, the overall retail sector did well on higher demand and steady consumer spending.

Gasoline prices rose 7.1% in September. Year over year, retail sales rose 6.3% in September. Total sales for July through September climbed 5.5% from the year-ago levels.

Oil prices have surged over the past six months owing to the Middle East crisis, making goods costlier. However, higher demand for goods has seen consumers spending at an aggressive pace.

Market experts believe consumer spending grew ???nearly 3.4% in the third quarter from year-ago levels after climbing 3.8% in the second quarter, according to a Reuters report.

4 Retail Stocks With Growth PotentialAbercrombie & FitchAbercrombie & Fitch operates as a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel for men, women, and kids through a network of approximately 850 stores across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. ANF's product portfolio includes knit and woven shirts, graphic T-shirts, fleece, jeans and woven pants, shorts, sweaters, outerwear, personal care products and accessories for men, women and kids, under the Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie kids and Hollister brands.

Abercrombie & Fitch’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 15.8%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 6.1% over the past 60 days.

Casey's General StoresCasey's General Stores, Inc. operates convenience stores under the Casey's and Casey's General Store names in 16 states, mainly Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. CASY offers a comprehensive range of products and services to meet the needs of its customers. In addition to fuel, the stores provide a wide variety of merchandise, including groceries, prepared food, snacks, beverages, tobacco products, health and beauty aids, school supplies, housewares, pet supplies and automotive supplies.

Casey’s has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.9% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 1.4% over the last 60 days.

Five Below, IncFive Below, Inc. is a specialty value chain retailer that provides a wide range of premium quality and trendy merchandise for $5 or below. FIVE mainly targets teenagers or pre-teen shoppers for its products, which include certain brands and licensed merchandise. Notably, these products belong to categories such as Style, Room, Sports, Tech, Create, Party, Candy and Now.

Five Below’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 57.6%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 15.2% over the past 60 days.

Kohl's CorporationKohl's Corporation offers moderately priced apparel, footwear and accessories for women, men and children, along with beauty and home products. KSS targets value-oriented, moderate-income households and combines national brands with proprietary and exclusive brands.

Kohl's Corporation’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 29.6%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree’s current-year earnings has improved 54.4% over the past 60 days.

A $200,000 dividend portfolio sounds straightforward until the IRS takes its annual cut, and the bracket you sit in determines how much of that income quietly disappears before you ever reinvest a dollar.

At the 24% bracket, the six-stock, $200,000 portfolio below produces about $7,273 a year in dividends. Taxed at the ordinary rate, roughly $1,746 of that goes to the IRS every year. Inside a Roth IRA, qualified distributions are not includible in gross income under 26 U.S.C. § 408A(d)(1), so the full amount stays invested.

Where $1,746 a Year Leaks Out of a Taxable Account The portfolio splits equally, with about $33,333 in each stock, for a combined yield of 3.64%. For 2026, the 24% rate applies to single taxpayers with income over $105,700 and to joint taxpayers over $211,400.

Scenario Gross Income Tax at 24% Net Income Roth IRA $7,273 $0 $7,273 Taxable account $7,273 $1,746 $5,528 The Roth advantage comes to $1,746 a year, or $17,456 over 10 years, assuming no new contributions and no growth.

Six Stocks Driving the Roth Edge Stock Yield Annual Income Tax Avoided at 24% Verizon (NYSE:VZ | VZ Price Prediction) 6.37% $2,124 $510 Concentrix (NASDAQ:CNXC) 5.24% $1,748 $419 Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX) 4.25% $1,417 $340 First Busey (NASDAQ:BUSE) 3.53% $1,176 $282 Fastenal (NASDAQ:FAST) 2.05% $682 $164 Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY) 0.38% $127 $30 Verizon has the biggest dollar delta. It pays $0.7075 a quarter, and second-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.30 beat the $1.27 consensus. Concentrix yields more because shares have fallen 29.39% this year. Its $1.48 forward dividend is well covered by fiscal 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance of $10.97 to $11.09. Paychex lifted its quarterly payout to $1.19 from $1.08. Each raise increases the income that a taxable account would otherwise shrink. First Busey earned $0.69 in diluted EPS last quarter against a $0.26 dividend, so the payout is well covered. Fastenal and Casey’s General Stores bring dividend growth more than current income. On Casey’s, the annual tax saving is just $30. One catch: all six are domestic corporations, so their dividends generally count as qualified dividend income under 26 U.S.C. § 1(h)(11)(B). The 0%, 15%, or 20% rates apply to qualified dividends. The 24% figure is the ceiling, which applies when holding-period rules are missed or the dividend is taxed as ordinary income.

How Your Bracket Changes the Gap Tax Rate After-Tax Income Annual Roth Advantage 15% (qualified) $6,182 $1,091 22% $5,673 $1,600 24% $5,528 $1,746 32% $4,946 $2,327 37% $4,582 $2,691 A taxpayers in the 37% bracket gives up $2,691 a year on the same stocks. The higher your bracket, the more each dollar of yield is worth inside the Roth.

Compounding Turns $1,746 Into $51,981 Reinvest the $1,746 each year at a conservative 4%, and the 24% bracket advantage increases to $20,958 after 10 years and $51,981 after 20. The 20-year total would be $34,912 without reinvestment. These figures assume no price gains and no dividend increases. They show the permanent cost of keeping today’s income stream outside a Roth (if you still have a window from your final paycheck to your first RMD, that is also the cheapest time to convert, something we sized up in a free Roth guide here).

Three Moves Before Your Next Tax Filing Look at last year’s Form 1099-DIV and separate ordinary dividends from qualified ones. That tells you which rate from the table applies to each position. Run the Roth conversion math on Verizon and Concentrix first. Together, they account for about $510 plus $419 of the annual tax drag at 24%. If Casey’s or Fastenal sits in your Roth while higher yielders sit outside it, compare the tax saving per stock above before deciding which shares should hold the Roth space. Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Technical indicators are flashing bullish for the three stocks.

ANKENY, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Casey's annual Cash for Classrooms campaign raised a record $1.8 million this August thanks to the generosity of guests, team members and The Coca-Cola Company who came together to support K-12 education across Casey's Country. Applications for 2027 grants are open today through November 14, 2026. Eligible K-12 public and nonprofit private schools across Casey's Country may apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support physical improvements, material needs, teacher.

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.

The Zacks Premium service, which provides daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter, makes these more manageable goals. All of the features can help you identify what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.

It also includes the Focus List, a long-term portfolio of top stocks that have all the elements to beat the market.

Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?

That's what the Zacks Focus List offers. It's a portfolio of 50 stocks that serve as a starting point for long-term investors to build their individual portfolios. The stocks included in the list are set to outperform the market over the next 12 months.

Additionally, each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, something that makes the Focus List even more valuable. The report explains in detail why each stock was picked and why we believe it's good for the long-term.

The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.

Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Earnings estimates are expectations of growth and profitability, and are determined by brokerage analysts. Together with company management, these analysts examine every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.

Investors also need to look at what a company will earn down the road. This is why earnings estimate revisions are so important.

Stocks that receive upward earnings estimate revisions are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. For example, if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they're more likely to do it again this month, and other analysts are likely to do the same.

Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank, which is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions to make it easier to build a winning portfolio.

Four primary factors make up the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each is given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank, and with this data, stocks are then classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

It can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates, as stock prices respond to revisions. By adding Focus List stocks, there's a great chance you'll be getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, which can lead to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey's General Stores, Inc. operates convenience stores primarily under the Casey’s and Casey’s General Store brands. As of July 31, 2026, the company operated 2,959 stores across 19 states, primarily in the Midwest. Approximately 71% of its stores were located in communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. 

Since being added to the Focus List on August 20, 2019 at $171.98 per share, shares of CASY have increased 273.46% to $642.28. The stock is currently a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank.

Six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.29 to $21.43. CASY boasts an average earnings surprise of 17.5%.

Additionally, CASY's earnings are expected to grow 11.9% for the current fiscal year.

Reveal Winning StocksUnlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. You'll quickly identify which stocks to buy, hold and sell, and target today's hottest industries, to help improve the performance of your portfolio. Gain full access now >>

Key Takeaways Casey's grocery and general merchandise sales rose 4.9% to $1.28 billion, with same-store sales up 2.7%.Energy drink sales climbed 12%, while nicotine alternatives increased 47% as Casey's expanded shelf space.Private-label snacks posted strong growth as national-brand price increases pressured broader snack demand. Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (CASY - Free Report) is strengthening its grocery and general merchandise business through beverage demand, targeted merchandising and value-focused offerings. Non-alcoholic beverages remained a key sales driver, while the company adapted its assortment to changing customer preferences. Its growing emphasis on energy drinks, nicotine alternatives and private-label products helped sustain category growth amid uneven demand across traditional convenience-store staples.

During first-quarter fiscal 2027, grocery and general merchandise sales rose 4.9% year over year to $1.28 billion. Same-store sales increased 2.7%, with non-alcoholic beverages delivering strong performance. On a two-year stacked basis, same-store sales advanced 6.5%. Category gross profit reached $457.8 million, up from $439.5 million in the comparable year-earlier period.

Energy drink sales rose 12% in the quarter, providing a notable boost to beverage performance. Beyond beverages, nicotine alternatives recorded 47% growth as Casey’s expanded space for these products. Management highlighted their attractive economics, with margins roughly double those of combustible cigarettes. This assortment shift offers an opportunity to support profitability as cigarette consumption continues its long-term decline.

The company is also expanding its appeal to value-conscious shoppers through private-label snacks. Management reported strong growth in these offerings as national-brand price increases pressured snack demand. Meanwhile, ready-to-drink cocktail sales grew more than 30%, partially offsetting beer weakness. These trends show how Casey’s is adjusting its merchandise mix to capture demand in faster-growing categories.

For fiscal 2027, Casey’s reiterated guidance for inside same-store sales growth of 2-5% and an inside margin above 42%. The outlook encompasses grocery and general merchandise alongside prepared food and dispensed beverages. Beverage strength, focused merchandising and private-label momentum provide support for achieving these companywide inside-store targets.

Casey's Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Casey’s have lost 18.2% over the past six months compared with the industry’s 13.4% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, CASY is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 1.12, up from the industry average of 0.86. It has a Value Score of B.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Casey's fiscal 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 11.9%, whereas the same for fiscal 2028 indicates an uptick of 10.8%. Estimates for fiscal 2027 and 2028 have been revised upward by 30 cents and 32 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Casey's currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Other Key PicksWe have highlighted three other top-ranked stocks in the retail space, namely Ross Stores Inc. (ROST - Free Report) , Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) and Dollar Tree (DLTR - Free Report) .

Ross Stores operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home accessories. The company also holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 32.7% and 12.8%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ROST delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 11.2%.

Target offers guests fashionable, differentiated merchandise and everyday essentials at discounted prices. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current fiscal-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 37.8% and 5.1%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. TGT delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.5%.

Dollar Tree is an operator of discount variety stores offering a broad assortment of everyday consumables and discretionary merchandise. The company also carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree's current fiscal-year earnings and sales suggests a growth of 36.4% and 6.6%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. DLTR delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 12.2%.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.86% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey's General Stores, Inc. operates convenience stores primarily under the Casey’s and Casey’s General Store brands. As of July 31, 2026, the company operated 2,959 stores across 19 states, primarily in the Midwest. Approximately 71% of its stores were located in communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. 

CASY is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CASY has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 11.9% for the current fiscal year.

Six analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.29 to $21.43 per share. CASY also boasts an average earnings surprise of +17.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CASY should be on investors' short list.

Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) has been on a downward spiral lately with significant selling pressure. After declining 28.5% over the past four weeks, the stock looks well positioned for a trend reversal as it is now in oversold territory and there is strong agreement among Wall Street analysts that the company will report better earnings than they predicted earlier.

We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.

RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.

Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.

So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.

However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.

Here's Why CASY Could Experience a TurnaroundThe RSI reading of 23.45 for CASY is an indication that the heavy selling could be in the process of exhausting itself, so the stock could bounce back in a quest for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.

The RSI value is not the only factor that indicates a potential turnaround for the stock in the near term. On the fundamental side, there has been strong agreement among the sell-side analysts covering the stock in raising earnings estimates for the current year. Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for CASY has increased 1.4%. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Moreover, CASY currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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ANKENY, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Casey's is continuing its partnership with 4-H, America's largest youth development organization, to help create opportunities for young people and strengthen the rural communities both organizations proudly serve. Casey's invites guests to support 4-H programs and pledges to match guest donations up to $150,000. Casey's guests can contribute by: Rounding up in-store purchases from September 30-October 11 Adding donations to online orders from September 30-October.

Casey’s General Stores Inc (NASDAQ:CASY) posted upbeat first-quarter results, after the closing bell on Tuesday.

The company posted quarterly earnings of $7.37 per share, beating market estimates of $6.72 per share. The company’s sales came in at $5.678 billion versus expectations of $5.568 billion.

"Guests are responding well to our compelling value proposition on our high-quality prepared food, especially in whole pies. On the fuel side, our team’s robust capabilities helped us navigate a volatile environment and produced strong results," said Darren Rebelez, chairman, president and CEO of Casey’s.

Casey’s expects inside same-store sales to increase between 2% and 5% in fiscal 2027. The company expects same-store fuel gallons sold to be approximately flat, plus or minus 1%.

Casey’s shares gained 0.7% to trade at $633.69 on Thursday.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on Casey’s General Stores following earnings announcement.

Keybanc analyst Bradley B. Thomas maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and lowered the price target from $970 to $780. UBS analyst Mark Carden maintained the stock with a Neutral and cut the price target from $925 to $720. Trending

Considering buying CASY stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Baird Financial Group Inc. cut its stake in Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY – Free Report) by 7.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 97,670 shares of the company’s stock after selling 8,400 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.26% of Casey’s General Stores worth $77,627,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CASY. Fiduciary Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in Casey’s General Stores in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Casey’s General Stores during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc bought a new stake in shares of Casey’s General Stores during the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Caitlin John LLC bought a new stake in shares of Casey’s General Stores during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Casey’s General Stores by 252.4% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 74 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.63% of the company’s stock.

More Casey’s General Stores News Here are the key news stories impacting Casey’s General Stores this week:

Positive Sentiment: Casey’s reported fiscal Q1 2027 adjusted earnings of $7.37 per share, above the $6.78 consensus estimate, while revenue reached approximately $5.68 billion versus expectations of $5.56 billion. EPS increased 27.7% year over year, supported by stronger inside and fuel gross profit. Casey’s Announces First Quarter Results Positive Sentiment: Management maintained its full-year outlook, and analysts continued to defend the long-term investment case. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating with a $975 price target, while Wells Fargo retained an “overweight” rating despite lowering its target to $750. Casey’s is defended by analysts Positive Sentiment: Casey’s declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, payable November 13 to shareholders of record November 1, signaling continued shareholder returns. Neutral Sentiment: UBS described the quarter as effective execution amid an uneven macroeconomic environment. The company’s revenue rose 24.3% year over year, although broader market pressure—including higher oil prices—could weigh on sentiment toward consumer and fuel-related stocks. UBS assessment of Casey’s fiscal Q1 results Negative Sentiment: Inside same-store sales rose only 3.2%, below investor expectations and slower than the prior year. The disappointing key sales metric overshadowed the earnings and revenue beats, raising concerns about decelerating organic growth and the company’s premium valuation. Why Casey’s stock is leading the S&P 500 lower Negative Sentiment: The post-earnings selloff reflects elevated expectations: investors viewed the quarterly beat as insufficient without stronger inside-store sales momentum. Wells Fargo’s reduction of its price target, although still bullish, reinforces the market’s reassessment of Casey’s near-term growth outlook. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages recently issued reports on CASY. BMO Capital Markets raised Casey’s General Stores from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $950.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 29th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Casey’s General Stores from $960.00 to $750.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Northcoast Research raised shares of Casey’s General Stores from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $950.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, July 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Casey’s General Stores from $975.00 to $833.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Finally, Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $975.00 price objective on shares of Casey’s General Stores in a research note on Wednesday. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $911.33. View Our Latest Stock Report on Casey’s General Stores

Casey’s General Stores Price Performance Shares of CASY opened at $629.03 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $23.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.59. Casey’s General Stores, Inc. has a twelve month low of $497.38 and a twelve month high of $927.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The company has a 50 day moving average of $822.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $786.58.

Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 8th. The company reported $7.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.78 by $0.59. Casey’s General Stores had a return on equity of 19.96% and a net margin of 4.14%.The business had revenue of $5.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.56 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $5.77 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 24.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Casey’s General Stores, Inc. will post 21.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Casey’s General Stores Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Investors of record on Sunday, November 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 30th. Casey’s General Stores’s payout ratio is 13.57%.

Insider Activity In related news, insider Katrina Lindsey sold 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $800.00, for a total transaction of $1,600,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 6,668 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,334,400. This represents a 23.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Allison Wing sold 530 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $837.58, for a total value of $443,917.40. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 3,042 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,547,918.36. This trade represents a 14.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 30,243 shares of company stock worth $24,421,877 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.67% of the company’s stock.

(Free Report)

Casey’s General Stores, Inc (NASDAQ: CASY) is a U.S.-based convenience store chain that operates retail fuel stations and food-focused convenience outlets. Founded in 1959 in Boone, Iowa, the company has grown from a single neighborhood store into a regional operator known for combining traditional convenience retailing—fuel, packaged goods and tobacco—with a larger emphasis on fresh and prepared foods.

The company’s stores typically offer gasoline and diesel alongside a range of grocery essentials, grab-and-go items and made-to-order foodservice.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Casey’s General Stores Qualcomm’s Data Center Bet Looks More Real After Amazon’s AI Deal GE Aerospace’s $11.75B Deal Puts Howmet Aerospace in Focus Casey’s Post-Earnings Drop May Give Investors a Better Entry Into a Quality Retailer Sovereign AI: Palantir and Nebius Cut the Cloud Cord Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CASY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY – Free Report).

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Casey's General CASY faces pressure following its Q1 (July) earnings report. The company achieved a significant earnings per share (EPS) increase, with revenue rising 24.3% year-over-year to $5.68 billion, surpassing expectations. Despite this positive performance, the market reaction was negative, likely due to a comparison with the previous quarter, which saw a sharper rise in shares, largely driven by fuel sales rather than internal operations. CASY has, however, maintained its fiscal year 2027 outlook, emphasizing steady expectations for the upcoming months.

Inside Sales: - Inside same-store sales (SSS) grew by 3.2%, aligning with CASY's FY27 target of +2-5%, although this is a decline from +5.5% in Q4. - Prepared food and beverage SSS rose by 4.8% (+6.6% in Q4), primarily due to increased traffic, particularly in whole pizzas. - Grocery and general merchandise SSS increased by 2.7% (+5.1% in Q4), led by sales of non-alcoholic beverages. - The two-year inside SSS stack improved slightly to 7.7% from 7.4% in Q4. Fuel: - Fuel gallons sold increased by 2.5% year-over-year, aided by a larger store base, although same-store gallons saw a slight decline of 0.3%. - Fuel margins expanded significantly to 47.8 cents per gallon from 41.0 cents a year ago, resulting in a 19.6% year-over-year increase in fuel gross profit to $446.9 million. Margins/EBITDA: - Inside margins increased by 30 basis points year-over-year to 42.2%, benefiting from a favorable mix and effective cost of goods sold (COGS) management. - Prepared food and beverage margins rose by 130 basis points to 59.3%, while grocery and general merchandise margins dipped by 30 basis points to 35.6%. - Overall, EBITDA surged by 17.1% year-over-year to $485.1 million, significantly exceeding CASY's FY27 growth target of 8-10%. Outlook: - CASY has upheld its FY27 outlook despite a strong start to the year, consistent with its historical practice. - Management plans to update annual guidance after Q2, following the seasonally busiest period. - August same-store volumes, both inside and outside the store, remained stable compared to Q1 and within annual guidance ranges, while fuel margins moderated to the low-$0.40 range. CASY's Q1 results reflect solid performance, although the nature of the earnings beat was less impressive compared to Q4. Inside sales trends remain robust, with slight improvements in the two-year SSS stack and continued growth in prepared food, driven by positive customer traffic. However, one-year growth has moderated across major categories, and fuel sales contributed more significantly to gross profit, with margins normalizing in August. Encouragingly, August volumes remained consistent with Q1 and within CASY's annual guidance, indicating healthy underlying demand. Management's decision to wait until Q2 to revise annual guidance suggests cautious optimism, as the results indicate no significant downturn in business, although the quarter was softer than expected. Investors will likely look to the Q2 update for insights into potential full-year guidance improvements.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.

Key Takeaways Casey's Q1 EPS rose 27.7% to $7.37 as revenues climbed 24.3% to $5.68 billion.Inside gross profit rose 6.3%, while fuel gross profit climbed 19.6% on stronger margins.Casey's targets at least 400 new stores and roughly $2 billion of free cash flow through fiscal 2029. Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (CASY - Free Report) posted first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings of $7.37 per share, which increased 27.7% year over year and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.60 by 11.7%. Revenues rose 24.3% to $5,678.3 million, beating the $5,624 million consensus mark by 1%.

Higher inside and fuel gross profit supported the quarter, partly offset by increased operating expenses. Inside same-store sales rose 3.2%, while fuel same-store gallons slipped 0.3%.

CASY's Inside Sales Gain on Prepared Food DemandTotal inside sales increased 5.6% year over year to $1,777.5 million. Prepared food and dispensed beverage same-store sales advanced 4.8%, driven mainly by positive traffic led by whole pizzas. Grocery and general merchandise same-store sales increased 2.7%, helped by non-alcoholic beverages.

Inside gross profit rose 6.3% to $749.8 million, while inside margin expanded about 30 basis points to 42.2%. Prepared food and dispensed beverage margin improved to 59.3% from 58%, reflecting favorable mix and cost-of-goods management, while grocery and general merchandise margin eased to 35.6% from 35.9%.

Casey's Fuel Profit Climbs on Margin StrengthTotal fuel gallons sold increased 2.5% to 934.2 million gallons as a larger store base more than offset the modest same-store decline. Fuel gross profit climbed 19.6% to $446.9 million.

Fuel margin, excluding credit card fees, widened to 47.8 cents per gallon from 41 cents a year earlier. Management said its fuel capabilities helped the company navigate a volatile environment and produce strong results during the quarter.

CASY's Costs Rise as Store Base ExpandsOperating expenses increased 8% to $754.1 million. Operating 64 more stores than a year earlier accounted for about 2% of the increase, while higher same-store credit card fees added roughly 1.5%.

Same-store employee expense contributed about 1% of the increase, primarily because of higher labor rates, while labor hours were nearly flat. Insurance accounted for another roughly 1% of the increase.

Casey's Earnings Growth Outpaces Expense IncreaseNet income advanced 27.1% year over year to $273.7 million. EBITDA increased 17.1% to $485.1 million as higher inside and fuel gross profit outweighed part of the cost pressure.

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $384.1 million compared with $372.4 million a year ago. Casey’s spent $194.4 million on property and equipment and ended July with about $1.4 billion of available liquidity, including $524.1 million in cash and cash equivalents.

CASY Expands Store Base and Returns CashCasey’s ended the quarter with 2,959 stores, up from 2,944 at the start of the fiscal year. The company added nine newly constructed stores and 12 acquired locations while closing or divesting six stores.

The company repurchased about $45.6 million of shares during the quarter and had approximately $973 million remaining under its authorization. The board also approved a quarterly dividend of 65 cents per share, payable on Nov. 13, 2026.

Casey's Keeps Fiscal 2027 Outlook UnchangedFor fiscal 2027, Casey’s continues to expect inside same-store sales growth of 2%-5%, with inside margin above 42%. Same-store fuel gallons are projected to range from down 1% to up 1%, while operating expenses are expected to increase 5%-7%.

The company continues to target EBITDA growth of 8%-10% and plans to open at least 120 stores through acquisitions and new construction. Casey’s also expects about $800 million of capital spending and roughly $95 million of net interest expense.

CASY's Three-Year Plan Adds a Longer Growth RunwayCasey’s new three-year plan calls for at least 400 additional stores during fiscal 2027 through fiscal 2029 through a mix of new builds and acquisitions. The investor plan also targets roughly $2 billion of free cash flow over the period and continued inside-store margin expansion.

The strategy pairs unit growth with operating-efficiency initiatives intended to keep operating-expense growth below EBITDA growth. Identified workstreams include store simplification, supply-chain efficiency, kitchen optimization, centralized procurement and a scalable support model as the store network expands.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have fallen 19.9% over the past three months compared with the industry’s decline of 17.2%.

Stocks to ConsiderThe Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) , a leading beverage company that develops, markets and distributes coconut water and other plant-based beverages, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). COCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.9%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

 The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The Vita Coco Company’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share (EPS) calls for growth of 31.6% and 64.7%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

 Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , a general merchandise retailer, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). TGT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.5%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current fiscal-year sales and EPS implies growth of 4.7% and 37.8%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

Laird Superfood, Inc. (LSF - Free Report) is a consumer product company that develops, manufactures and markets plant-based, natural and functional food and beverage products. LSF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

 The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Laird Superfood’s current fiscal-year sales and EPS suggests growth of 188.2% and 104%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. LSF delivered an earnings surprise of 100% in the last reported quarter.

Casey's (CASY) shares sunk toward 52-week lows after reporting an earnings beat. The issue?

Casey's General Stores Today

CASY

Casey's General Stores

$625.35 -108.14 (-14.74%)

As of 02:14 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

$497.38▼

$927.850.42%

32.64

$928.33

Casey’s General Store’s NASDAQ: CASY September stock price plunge is a thing of beauty for buy-and-hold investors. While the near-term pain is obvious, with shares down more than 10% following the first quarter fiscal year 2027 (FY2027) release and roughly 35% from their 2026 peak, the potential for long-term gain is undeniable.

Casey’s is among the best-operated businesses on Wall Street, sustaining a fortress-quality balance sheet while investing in growth and returning capital to shareholders. Its stock price action is supported by growth, margins, margin strength, cash flow, dividends, and share buybacks, all of which are expected to continue in the coming years and point to substantial value gains for investors.

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The details of the Q1 FY2027 report were more of an excuse to sell than a real trigger. While slowing growth and rising costs are a concern, outperformance, wider margins, and cash flow strength were also present, suggesting the bearish reaction is a knee-jerk response likely to be corrected quickly. The more pressing concern is the guidance, but even that provides a catalyst likely to emerge as soon as the subsequent earnings report. Guidance is positive, expecting growth, but it was maintained at the prior level rather than strengthened, which is odd given the Q1 strength. The likely outcome, however, is cautious guidance, continued strength, outperformance in Q2 and eventual improvement.

Casey’s 3-Year Plan Is Already Showing Up in ResultsCasey’s General Stores revealed an ambitious three-year plan earlier this year, and the results are already starting to show. Key takeaways include a focus on food, menu offerings, customer satisfaction, store counts, and technology reminiscent of fast-casual restaurant successes such as Chipotle Mexican Grill NYSE: CMG.

Laugh if you want, but a comparison is warranted. Casey’s is a gas station first and foremost, but it is the inside sales that drive growth, dominated by pizza and food offerings that have elevated it to 5th position in the US pizza market. Chipotle Mexican Grill’s then-CEO, Brian Niccol, accelerated growth and margin expansion with the same tactics he's now using at Starbucks—leaning into digitization for efficiency, consumer reach, and loyalty programs, just as Casey’s is doing.

Casey’s General Store grew revenue by 24.5% to $5.69 billion on the combination of comp-store growth, new stores, and acquisitions. Revenue outpaced MarketBeat’s consensus by more than 250 basis points (bps), driven by better-than-expected comps and a faster-than-expected Fike’s integration. Inside comps grew by 3.2%, down from last year’s 4.3% but ahead of forecasts, underpinned by a 4.8% increase in food. Margin was another strength, with the inside margin improving to 42.2%. Fuel gallons sold declined marginally by 0.3%, but a substantial margin improvement offset the decline, resulting in a nearly 20% increase in segment gross profit.

Margin news is good. Operating costs rose by 8%, trailing the 24.5% top-line advance by a wide margin, leaving net earnings and GAAP earnings per share (EPS) up by 27.1% and 27.7%, respectively. Looking ahead, the company still expects solid results for the year, with inside comps forecasts up 2%-5%, but the lack of improvement helped trigger and amplify the sell-the-news event.

Analysts Remain Constructive After Casey’s Q1 Pullback99th Percentile

Moderate Buy

49.8% Upside

Healthy

Strong

0.87 Selling Shares

10.93%

See Full Analysis

Analysts’ initial responses do not align with the stock price plunge. The few commentaries released praised the results, citing Q1 strengths such as inside sales momentum, fuel margins, and the ability to meet full-year goals, all of which deserve a price premium. As it stands, the 20 analysts MarketBeat tracks rate the stock a Moderate Buy; the data shows a Buy-side bias, no sell ratings and strong price targets. While a few late-summer price target reductions cap upside, they align with the consensus forecast, suggesting a move into the low-$900 range. The current price target of $928.53 indicates nearly 53% upside.

Institutional buyers are likely to buy this stock on the dip. They reflect strong confidence in cash flow and the capital-return outlook, owning more than 85% of the stock. They have accumulated on balance for eight consecutive quarters, ramping activity in early calendar Q3 following the three-year strategy update.

Capital returns are a significant factor, including dividends and share buybacks. The company is a Dividend Achiever, having increased its dividend for more than 25 consecutive years, and has the potential to sustain annual increases for another 25 years. The yield is low at 0.43% but reliable and compounded by growth and buybacks. Buybacks reduce the share count incrementally each quarter, except when the company preserves capital for acquisitions. There are no major acquisitions in sight, only tuck-ins and organic expansions that the company can fund with cash flow.

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Casey's General Stores Inc (NASDAQ:CASY) shares fell around 15% on Wednesday after the convenience-store operator's inside same-store sales growth of 3.2% fell short of expectations, overshadowing a quarter that beat on revenue, earnings and EBITDA.

The company, the third-largest convenience-store retailer in the United States, reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $5.68 billion, ahead of estimates of $5.57 billion.

Earnings per share came in at $7.37, above the $6.75 expected and up 27.7% year over year.

EBITDA reached $485.1 million, topping estimates of $478 million and rising 17.1% from a year earlier.

Casey's affirmed its full-year fiscal 2027 guidance, including EBITDA growth of 8% to 10%, inside same-store sales growth of 2% to 5%, an inside margin above 42%, same-store fuel gallons sold ranging from down 1% to up 1%, and total operating expenses rising 5% to 7%. The company also reiterated plans to spend approximately $800 million on the purchase of property and equipment.

By segment, net revenue was $492.6 million from prepared food and dispensed beverage, $1.28 billion from grocery and general merchandise, $3.72 billion from fuel, and $176.0 million from other sources.

Inside margin was 42.2%, up 30 basis points year over year. Fuel margin came in at 47.8 cents per gallon, while same-store fuel gallons sold declined 0.3%.

Analysts at Jefferies said it was a strong quarter for Casey's, noting that comp growth and margin expansion were solid even as prepared food comps matched expectations and grocery and other categories came in roughly a point below consensus.

The firm said elevated expectations heading into the print, combined with the stock's strong year-to-date performance, left little room for anything short of a standout result.

Jefferies added that higher fuel prices may be limiting consumer budgets, a trend it said it is also observing among Casey's peers.

Casey’s General Stores Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) shares are trading lower Wednesday despite reporting better-than-expected first-quarter earnings on Tuesday after the market closed.

Casey’s shares are sliding. Why is CASY stock falling? Q1 HighlightsCasey’s reported earnings per share of $7.37, beating the consensus estimate of $6.72. In addition, the company reported revenue of $5.678 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $5.568 billion.

Inside same-store sales were up 3.2% year-over-year, down from 4.3% growth in the comparable quarter last year. Fuel same-store gallons sold were down 0.3% on a year-over-year basis. Casey’s repurchased approximately $45.6 million of its common stock during the quarter and exited the period with approximately $1.4 billion in available liquidity, including approximately $524 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $857 million in available borrowing capacity on existing lines of credit.

“Guests are responding well to our compelling value proposition on our high-quality prepared food, especially in whole pies. On the fuel side, our team’s robust capabilities helped us navigate a volatile environment and produced strong results,” said Darren Rebelez, Chairman, President, and CEO of Casey’s.

FY27 GuidanceCasey’s expects inside same-store sales to increase between 2% and 5% in fiscal 2027, with same-store fuel gallons sold expected to be approximately flat, plus or minus 1%. The company plans to open at least 120 stores in fiscal 2027 through a combination of M&A and new store construction.

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Casey’s Shares FallCASY Price Action: At the time of publication, Casey’s shares are trading 10.70% lower at $655.00, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its holdings in shares of Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY – Free Report) by 573.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 61,287 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 52,186 shares during the quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC owned approximately 0.17% of Casey’s General Stores worth $48,669,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in CASY. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Casey’s General Stores by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 760,438 shares of the company’s stock valued at $420,416,000 after buying an additional 52,250 shares in the last quarter. Daiichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Casey’s General Stores during the 2nd quarter worth $1,222,000. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY raised its stake in Casey’s General Stores by 103.5% during the 1st quarter. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY now owns 2,448 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,782,000 after acquiring an additional 1,245 shares in the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board purchased a new stake in Casey’s General Stores in the fourth quarter valued at $720,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in Casey’s General Stores by 52.0% in the first quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 17,079 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,431,000 after acquiring an additional 5,846 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.63% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have issued reports on CASY shares. Zacks Research lowered Casey’s General Stores from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, June 5th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $990.00 target price on shares of Casey’s General Stores in a report on Friday, June 12th. BMO Capital Markets raised Casey’s General Stores from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $950.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, June 29th. Stephens set a $975.00 target price on Casey’s General Stores and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $913.00 price target on shares of Casey’s General Stores in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Casey’s General Stores has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $928.53.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CASY Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO Darren Rebelez sold 19,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $801.46, for a total transaction of $15,227,740.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 89,174 shares in the company, valued at $71,469,394.04. The trade was a 17.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Katrina Lindsey sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $800.00, for a total transaction of $1,600,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 6,668 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,334,400. This trade represents a 23.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 30,243 shares of company stock valued at $24,421,877. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the company’s stock.

Casey’s General Stores Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ CASY opened at $756.09 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $826.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $786.29. Casey’s General Stores, Inc. has a 1-year low of $497.38 and a 1-year high of $927.85. The company has a market cap of $27.98 billion, a PE ratio of 39.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.59.

Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 9th. The company reported $4.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.31 by $1.06. The company had revenue of $4.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.33 billion. Casey’s General Stores had a net margin of 4.07% and a return on equity of 18.73%. Casey’s General Stores’s revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.63 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Casey’s General Stores, Inc. will post 21.13 EPS for the current year.

(Free Report)

Casey’s General Stores, Inc (NASDAQ: CASY) is a U.S.-based convenience store chain that operates retail fuel stations and food-focused convenience outlets. Founded in 1959 in Boone, Iowa, the company has grown from a single neighborhood store into a regional operator known for combining traditional convenience retailing—fuel, packaged goods and tobacco—with a larger emphasis on fresh and prepared foods.

The company’s stores typically offer gasoline and diesel alongside a range of grocery essentials, grab-and-go items and made-to-order foodservice.

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The convenience store chain said inside same-store sales increased 3.2%, a decline from the year before.

Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $7.37 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.6 per share. This compares to earnings of $5.77 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +11.67%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this convenience store chain would post earnings of $3.36 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.37, delivering a surprise of +30.06%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Casey's, which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Convenience Stores industry, posted revenues of $5.68 billion for the quarter ended July 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.43%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.57 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Casey's shares have added about 36.8% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

What's Next for Casey's?While Casey's has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Casey's was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $6.29 on $5.36 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $21.13 on $20.38 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Retail - Convenience Stores is currently in the top 42% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Darden Restaurants (DRI - Free Report) , another stock in the broader Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector, has yet to report results for the quarter ended August 2026. The results are expected to be released on September 24.

This owner of Olive Garden and other chain restaurants is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.05 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Darden Restaurants' revenues are expected to be $3.2 billion, up 5.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Casey's General Stores delivered solid Q1 results, but valuation remains only fair after a post-earnings decline. CASY's operational performance is healthy, with 24% revenue and 27% EPS growth, but store expansion and SSS are tracking toward the low/mid guidance range. Despite improved margins and compounding potential, the company trades at a premium multiple, offering limited upside at current levels.

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC – Get Free Report) and Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY – Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings and valuation.

Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and Casey’s General Stores, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage 0 1 2 0 2.67 Casey’s General Stores 0 6 14 0 2.70 Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage currently has a consensus price target of $47.00, indicating a potential upside of 68.76%. Casey’s General Stores has a consensus price target of $928.53, indicating a potential upside of 22.81%. Given Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is more favorable than Casey’s General Stores.

Volatility & Risk Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has a beta of 1.3, suggesting that its stock price is 30% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Casey’s General Stores has a beta of 0.59, suggesting that its stock price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500. Insider and Institutional Ownership 32.0% of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 85.6% of Casey’s General Stores shares are held by institutional investors. 58.3% of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Casey’s General Stores shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Valuation and Earnings This table compares Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and Casey’s General Stores”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage $1.33 billion 0.48 $46.44 million $2.06 13.52 Casey’s General Stores $17.56 billion 1.59 $714.45 million $19.16 39.46 Casey’s General Stores has higher revenue and earnings than Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Casey’s General Stores, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability This table compares Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and Casey’s General Stores’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage 3.55% 21.11% 7.03% Casey’s General Stores 4.07% 18.73% 8.29% Dividends Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Casey’s General Stores pays an annual dividend of $2.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage pays out 29.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Casey’s General Stores pays out 13.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Casey’s General Stores has increased its dividend for 24 consecutive years.

Summary Casey’s General Stores beats Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

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Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, retails natural and organic groceries, and dietary supplements in the United States. The company’s stores offer natural and organic grocery products, such as organic produce; private label repackaged bulk products, including dried fruits, nuts, grains, granolas, teas, herbs, and spices, as well as peanut and almond butters; private label products comprising grocery staples, household products, bulk foods, and vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as organic eggs, organic flavored coffee, and organic mustard; dry, frozen, and canned groceries; meat and seafood products; dairy products, dairy substitutes, and eggs; prepared foods; bread and baked products; beverages; and beer, wine, and hard cider products. Its stores also provide name-brand supplements, as well as private label dietary supplements; body care products consisting of cosmetics, skin care, hair care, fragrance, and personal care products containing natural and organic ingredients; pet care and food products; books and handouts; household and general merchandise, including cleaning supplies, paper products, and dish and laundry soaps, as well as other common household products, such as diapers; and books and handouts. The company operates its retail stores under the Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage trademark, as well as Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers and Health Hotline trademarks. The company also offers science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado.

About Casey’s General Stores (Get Free Report)

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. engages in the provision of management and operation of convenience stores and gasoline stations. It provides self-service gasoline, a wide selection of grocery items, and an array of freshly prepared food items. The firm offers food, beverages, tobacco products, health and beauty aids, automotive products, and other non-food items. The company was founded by Donald F. Lamberti in 1968 and is headquartered in Ankeny, IA.

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