Casey’s General Stores has released its fourth quarter and fiscal year results. For the year, sales were up 9% and the company acquired or built a record 270 stores.

For its fourth quarter, Casey’s reported diluted earnings per share, or EPS, of $2.63, up 12.4% from the same period a year ago. Net income was $98.3 million, up 13%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, was $263 million, up 20.1%, from the same period a year ago.

The company reported that fourth-quarter inside same-store sales were up 1.7% compared to the prior year, and 7.4% on a two-year stack basis, with an inside margin of 41.2%. Total inside gross profit increased 12.5% to $582.4 million compared to the prior year.

Outside of the stores, fuel same-store gallons were up 0.1% compared to the prior year with a fuel margin of 37.6 cents per gallon. Total fuel gross profit increased 21.4% to $307.8 million compared to the prior year. In June, Casey’s increased the quarterly dividend 14% to $0.57 per share, marking the 26th consecutive annual increase.

For the fiscal year, which ended April 30, the company’s diluted EPS of $14.64 was up 9% over the prior year. Net income was $546.5 million, up 8.9%, and EBITDA was $1.2 billion, up 13.3%, from the prior year.

Included in the 270 stores Casey’s added was the acquisition of Fikes Wholesale and its 198 CEFCO convenience stores. Casey’s rewards program grew to more than 9 million members.

“Casey’s delivered another record fiscal year as our team continued to execute on our three-year strategic plan, reaching $546.5 million of net income and $1.2 billion in EBITDA,” Darren Rebelez, president and CEO, said in a press release. “Inside same-store sales outperformed the industry, up 2.6%, or 7.1% on a two-year stack basis, led by strong performance in hot sandwiches and bakery as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Our fuel team grew market share and produced a healthy margin, as fuel gross profit increased 10.7% from the prior year.”

For the quarter, total fuel gallons sold increased 17.8% compared to the prior year primarily due to operating more stores, while same-store gallons sold were up 0.1% versus the prior year. Fuel gross profit was up 21.4% versus the prior year. The company sold $4.3 million in renewable fuel credits (RINs) in the fourth quarter, up from $1 million in RINs sold in the same period last year.

Total operating expenses increased 14.5% for the fourth quarter. Operating 246 more stores than the prior year accounted for approximately 12% of the increase, including one-time deal and integration costs of about $4 million from the Fikes acquisition, the company reported. Insurance expenses contributed about 3% of the increase. Same-store employee expense was flat, as the increases in wage rates were substantially offset by a reduction in same-store labor hours.

Looking ahead, Casey’s expects EBITDA to increase 10% to 12%. The company expects inside same-store sales to increase 2% to 5% and inside margin of about 41%. Total operating expenses are expected to increase approximately 8% to 10%.

The company expects to open at least 80 stores in fiscal year 2026, through a mix of mergers and acquisitions and new store construction, bringing the three-year strategic plan period total to about 500 stores.

Net interest expense is expected to be roughly $110 million. Depreciation and amortization is expected to be about $450 million and the purchase of property and equipment is expected to be about $600 million. The tax rate is expected to be about 24% to 26% for the year.

Read more results here.