Casey’s General Stores Inc. reported earnings yesterday of $1.04 per share for the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, which ended July 31.

That compares to 73 cents per share for the first quarter a year ago. Casey’s credits the improvement to operating 132 more stores than a year ago, and notes that fiscal 2011 expenses were up from dealing with a takeover attempt by Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Casey’s reported net earnings of $39.4 million, up from $37.3 million a year ago. Sales were $1.9 billion, up from $1.4 billion a year ago.