eneral Stores Inc. acquired 20 convenience stores during the first nine months of its 2010 fiscal year, the company reported. According to a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Casey’s bought stores, both one at a time and in groups, at a total expenditure of $28.3 million. On Jan. 31, 2010, the company operated 1,507 Casey’s stores.

The value of the company’s property and equipment increased to $1.35 billion as of Dec. 31, 2009, compared with $1.26 billion a year earlier.

Net earnings for the nine months ended Jan. 31, 2010, were $95 million, compared with $70.1 million for the same period a year earlier. The company had $152.9 million in cash and cash equivalents as of Jan. 31, compared with $127.5 million a year earlier.