Casey's General Stores, Inc. Just Beat Earnings Expectations: Here's What Analysts Think Will Happen Next

As you might know, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) just kicked off its latest quarterly results with some very strong numbers. Casey's General Stores beat earnings, with revenues hitting US$4.6b, ahead of expectations, and statutory earnings per share outperforming analyst reckonings by a solid 15%. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early.

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Casey's General Stores' twelve analysts is for revenues of US$17.4b in 2026. This reflects a satisfactory 6.0% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to increase 4.8% to US$16.40. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$17.4b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$15.99 in 2026. So the consensus seems to have become somewhat more optimistic on Casey's General Stores' earnings potential following these results.

View our latest analysis for Casey's General Stores

There's been no major changes to the consensus price target of US$568, suggesting that the improved earnings per share outlook is not enough to have a long-term positive impact on the stock's valuation. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Casey's General Stores at US$600 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$490. Even so, with a relatively close grouping of estimates, it looks like the analysts are quite confident in their valuations, suggesting Casey's General Stores is an easy business to forecast or the the analysts are all using similar assumptions.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. We would highlight that Casey's General Stores' revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 8.1% annualised growth rate until the end of 2026 being well below the historical 13% p.a. growth over the last five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 5.0% annually. So it's pretty clear that, while Casey's General Stores' revenue growth is expected to slow, it's still expected to grow faster than the industry itself.

The Bottom Line

The biggest takeaway for us is the consensus earnings per share upgrade, which suggests a clear improvement in sentiment around Casey's General Stores' earnings potential next year. Fortunately, they also reconfirmed their revenue numbers, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Additionally, our data suggests that revenue is expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Casey's General Stores going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here..

It is also worth noting that we have found 2 warning signs for Casey's General Stores that you need to take into consideration.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.