Q1 2025 CrossAmerica Partners LP Earnings Call
Yeah.
Okay.
[music].
Operator: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the CrossAmerica Partners first quarter 2025 earnings call. At this time, all lines are in listen only mode.
Speaker Change: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Cross America Partners first quarter 2025 earnings call. At this time all lines are in listen only mode. Following the presentation. We will conduct a question and answer session. If at any time during this call you have.
Operator: Following the presentation, we will conduct a question and answer session. If at any time during this call, you require immediate assistance, please press star zero for the opportunity.
More Topper: Quire immediate assistance. Please press star zero for the operator. This call is being recorded on Thursday may eight 2025, I would now like to turn the call over to more topper Chief Financial Officer. Please go ahead.
Operator: This call is being recorded on Thursday, May 8th, 2025.
Maura Topper: I would now like to turn the call over to Maura Topper, Chief Financial Officer. Please go ahead. Thank you, operator.
Speaker Change: Thank you operator.
Maura Topper: Good morning, and thank you for joining the Crossamerica Partners First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call. With me today is Charles Nifong, CEO and President. We'll start off the call today with Charles providing some opening comments and an overview of Crossamerica's operational performance for the first quarter, and then I will discuss the financial results.
Speaker Change: Morning, and thank you for joining across America partners first quarter 2025 earnings call.
Speaker Change: With me today is Charles my phone.
Speaker Change: And president.
Speaker Change: Well start off the call today are Charles providing some opening comments and an overview of cross Americas operational performance for the first quarter and then I will discuss the financial results.
Maura Topper: We will then open up the call to questions. Today's call will follow presentation slides that are available as part of the webcast and are posted on the Crossamerica website.
Speaker Change: And then open up the call for questions.
Speaker Change: Today's call will follow the presentation slides that are available as part of the webcast and are posted on the Cross America website.
Maura Topper: Before we begin, I would like to remind everyone that today's call, including the question and answer session, may include forward-looking statements regarding expected revenue, future plans, future operational metrics, and opportunities and expectations of the organization. There can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, and projections will be achieved, or that actual results will not differ from expectations. Please see Crossamerica's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for a discussion of important factors that could affect our actual results. Forward-looking statements represent the judgment of CrossAmerica's management as of today's date and the organization disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Speaker Change: Before we begin I would like to remind everyone that todays call, including the question and answer session May include forward looking statements regarding expected revenue future plans future operational metrics and opportunities and expectations at the organization.
Speaker Change: There can be no assurance that management's expectations beliefs and projections will be achieved.
Speaker Change: And that actual results will not differ from expectations.
Speaker Change: Please see cross America's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K.
Speaker Change: <unk> quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of important factors that could affect our actual results.
Speaker Change: Forward looking statements represent the judgment across Americas management as of today's date and the organization disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward looking statements.
Maura Topper: During today's call, we may also provide certain performance measures that do not conform to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAP. We have provided schedules that reconcile these non-GAAP measures with our reported results on a GAAP basis as part of our earnings press release.
Speaker Change: During today's call. We may also provide certain performance measures that do not conform to U S generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP.
Speaker Change: We have provided schedules that reconcile these non-GAAP measures with our reported results on a GAAP basis as part of our earnings press release.
Maura Topper: Today's call is being webcast and a recording of this conference call will be available on the Crossamerica website for a period of 60 days.
Speaker Change: Today's call is being webcast and a recording of this conference call will be available on the Cross America website for a period of 60 days.
Charles Nifong: With that, I will now turn the call over to Charles. Thank you, Maura. Maura and I appreciate everyone joining us this morning, and thank you for making the time to be with us today.
Charles: With that I will now turn the call over to Charles.
Charles: Thank you Maura more and I appreciate everyone. Joining us this morning, and thank you for making the time to be with us today.
Charles Nifong: During today's call, I will go through some of the operating highlights for the first quarter. I will also provide commentary on the market and a few other updates as I typically do on our calls.
Speaker Change: During today's call I will go through some of the operating highlights for the first quarter.
Speaker Change: I'll also provide commentary on the market and a few other updates as I typically do on our calls.
Charles Nifong: Maura will then review in more detail our financial results.
Speaker Change: Or would they review in more detail our financial results.
Charles Nifong: Now, if you turn to slide four, I will briefly review some of our operating results. Overall, it was another difficult start to the year for us and for the industry. While our results on an EBITDA basis were marginally better than the first quarter of the prior year, it was nonetheless a challenging start to the year. Fuel and inside store merchandise demand remains subdued for the first quarter. After many consecutive quarters of us outperforming the market, our retail same-store fuel volume for the first quarter was approximately in line with the overall market, and while our same-store merchandise sales, excluding cigarettes, outperformed the market, they were still under the prior year first quarter result.
Speaker Change: Now if you turn to slide four I will briefly review some of our operating results.
Speaker Change: Overall, it was another difficult start to the year for us and for the industry.
Speaker Change: While our results on an EBITDA basis were marginally better than the first quarter of the prior year. It was nonetheless, a challenging start to the year.
Speaker Change: Fuel and inside store merchandize demand remained subdued for the first quarter.
Speaker Change: After many consecutive quarters of us outperforming the market our retail same store fuel volume for the first quarter was approximately in line with the overall market and while our same store merchandise sales excluding cigarettes outperformed the market they were still under the prior year first quarter results.
Charles Nifong: Turning to the specific numbers for the first quarter of 2025, our retail segment gross profit increased 16% to $63.2 million compared to $54.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was driven by an increase in both motor fuel and merchandise gross profit. Our retail fuel margin was a relative highlight for the quarter compared to the prior year. For the quarter, our retail fuel margin on a cents per gallon basis increased 10% year over year, as our fuel margin was 33.9 cents per gallon in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 30.8 cents per gallon in the first quarter of 2024.
Speaker Change: Turning to the specific numbers for the first quarter of 2025, our retail segment gross profit increased 16% to $63 $2 million.
Speaker Change: Compared to $54 4 million in.
Speaker Change: In the first quarter of 2020 for the.
Speaker Change: The increase was driven by increase in both motor fuel and merchandise gross profit.
Speaker Change: Our retail fuel margin was a relative highlight for the quarter compared to the prior year.
Speaker Change: For the quarter, our retail fuel margin on a cents per gallon basis increased 10% year over year as our fuel margin was $33.09 per gallon the first quarter of 2025% compared to 38 cents per gallon in the first quarter of 2024.
Charles Nifong: In comparison to the prior year, which saw a steady increase in crude oil prices during the quarter, crude oil prices were more volatile during the first quarter of 2025, and as a result, our retail fuel margins were higher year over year. Our retail fuel margin results reflect this volatility and are not the result of any changes in our pricing strategy towards greater fuel margin at the expense of our volume performance. for volume on a same-store basis, our overall retail volume declined 4% for the quarter year-over-year. In regards to our same-store statistics that we provide, I should note that February 2024 included an additional day with the leap year.
Speaker Change: In comparison to the prior year, which saw a steady increase in crude oil prices during the quarter crude.
Speaker Change: Crude oil prices were more volatile during the first quarter of 2025 and as a result, our retail fuel margins were higher year over year.
Speaker Change: Our retail fuel margin results reflect this volatility and are not the result of any changes in our pricing strategy towards greater fuel margin at the expense of our volume performance.
Speaker Change: Pour volume on a same store basis, our overall retail volume declined 4% for the quarter year over year.
Speaker Change: In regards to our same store statistics that we provide I should note that February 2024 included an additional day with the leap year the.
Charles Nifong: The impact to our first quarter of 2025 same-store numbers was approximately 100 basis points, or 1%. So the 4% decline that it just provided would be 3% when adjusted for the additional day. Based on national demand data available to us, national gasoline demand, unadjusted for the additional day, was also down approximately 4% for the quarter. Our volume performance this quarter was impacted by significant winter weather during the first two months of the quarter, with weather impacting volume in broad geographic segments of our portfolio in both our retail and wholesale segments. Also, Easter was in the quarter last year, as Easter was on March 31st the prior year, so the higher Easter week fuel demand that was in the quarter last year also contributed towards our relatively lower year-over-year volume in this year's first quarter.
Speaker Change: The impact to our first quarter of 2025 same store numbers was approximately 100 basis points or 1%. So the 4% decline that I just provided would be 3% when adjusted for the additional date.
Speaker Change: Based on national demand data available to us national gasoline demand on adjusted for the additional day was also down approximately 4% for the quarter.
Speaker Change: Our volume performance this quarter was impacted by significant winter weather during the first two months of the quarter with weather impacting volume and project graphics segments of our portfolio in both our retail and wholesale segments.
Speaker Change: Also Easter was in the quarter last year as Easter was on March 31st the prior year. So the higher Easter week fuel demand that was in the quarter last year also contributed towards our relatively lower year over year volume in this year's first quarter.
Charles Nifong: In the period since the quarter end, retail same store volume, both company operated and commissioned, has been down slightly less than 2%, performing better than overall national demand, which is down approximately 4% for the same period based on the data available to us. In the same period, retail fuel margins, both company operated and commissioned, have been higher, in part due to the sharp drop in crude oil prices at the start of April. The sharp drop in crude oil prices to start April, where crude oil prices dropped from around $70 a barrel to around $60 a barrel, was of course one of the many financial market reactions that happened in response to tariffs that were announced on April 2nd.
Speaker Change: In the period since the quarter end retail same store volume both company operated and commission has been down.
Speaker Change: Slightly less than 2% performing better than overall national demand, which is down approximately 4% for the same period based on the data available to us and.
Speaker Change: In the same period retail fuel margins both company operated and commission have been higher in part due to the sharp drop in crude oil prices at the start of April.
Speaker Change: The sharp drop in crude oil prices to start April where crude oil prices dropped from around $70 a barrel to around $60. A barrel was of course, one of the many financial market reactions that happened in response to tariffs that were announced on April 2nd.
Charles Nifong: During the first quarter, earlier tariffs impacted the fuel market in the New England area when Canadian gasoline, which supplies a substantial portion of the market in New England, was temporarily subject to a tariff, the implementation of which was paused and then ultimately exempted from the tariff. In the brief period of time where there was a tariff on Canadian gasoline imports, we saw wholesale gasoline costs in the New England market rise to reflect the cost of a new tariff, as one would expect. The New England fuel market notwithstanding, while we don't generally source directly any of our fuel supply or store merchandise items from outside the country, we do of course carry products in our stores that are produced outside of the United States.
Speaker Change: During the first quarter earlier tariffs impacted the fuel market in the new England area, when Canadian gasoline, which supplies a substantial portion of the market in new England was temporarily subject to tariffs the implementation of which was pause and then ultimately exempted from the tariffs.
Speaker Change: In the brief period of time, where there was a tariff on Canadian gasoline imports, we saw wholesale gasoline costs in the new England market rise to reflect the cost of the new tariffs as one would expect.
Speaker Change: The new England fuel market, notwithstanding while we don't generally sourced directly any of our fuel supply for store merchandize items from outside the country. We do of course carry products in our stores that are produced outside of the United States.
Charles Nifong: At first glance, though, the relative percentage of products in our stores produced outside the United States would appear to be small. However, some products have surprising form components, as I learned recently about a major beverage supplier that produces its beverage syrups outside of the United States. So the impact of all these substantial potential changes due to the tariffs is difficult to know and adds to the overall uncertainty right now, which is reflected by the large number of public companies that have withdrawn their financial guidance for the year this quarter.
Speaker Change: At first glance low the relative percentage of products in our stores produced outside the United States would appear to be small.
Speaker Change: However, some products have surprising foreign components as I learned recently about a major beverage supplier that produces its beverage <unk> outside of the United States.
Speaker Change: So the impact of all these substantial potential changes due to the tariffs it's difficult to know and adds to the overall uncertainty right now which is reflected by the large number of public companies that have withdrawn our financial guidance for the year this quarter.
Charles Nifong: In the meantime, we continue to execute on our business strategies, focusing on what we control and remaining nimble to adjust to the market as circumstances dictate. For inside sales, on a same site basis, our inside sales were down approximately 1.5% compared to the prior year for the first quarter. Inside sales, excluding cigarettes, declined 1% year-over-year on a same-sort basis for the quarter. As with fuel demand, based on national demand data available to us, national demand for inside store sales was weak for the first quarter, down approximately 3% on our overall sales basis year over year.
Speaker Change: In the meantime, we continue to execute on our business strategies, focusing on what we control and remaining nimble to adjust to the market as circumstances dictate.
Speaker Change: For inside sales on a same site basis, our inside sales were down approximately one 5% compared to the prior year for the first quarter.
Speaker Change: Inside sales excluding cigarettes.
Speaker Change: <unk>, 1% year over year on a same store basis for the quarter.
Speaker Change: As with fuel demand based on national demand data available to us national demand for inside store sales was weak for the first quarter down approximately 3% on our overall sales basis year over year. So on a relative basis, our retail segment inside sales outperformed the industry for the quarter.
Charles Nifong: So on a relative basis, our retail second inside sales outperformed the industry for the quarter. On the store merchandise margin front, our merchandise gross profit increased 16% to $24.9 million, driven by our increased sales from the higher store count. store merchandise margin percentage declined slightly for the quarter compared to the prior year. And the period since the quarter end, same-store inside sales have been up 3 to 4 percent compared to the prior year, with a portion of that increase due to the inclusion of Easter and Easter week in this period compared to the prior year where Easter was in the first quarter.
Speaker Change: On the store merchandize margin front, our merchandise gross profit increased 16% to $24 9 million driven by our increased sales for the higher store count.
Speaker Change: The store merchandize margin percentage declined slightly for the quarter compared to the prior year.
Speaker Change: And the period since the quarter and same store inside sales have been up 3% to 4% compared to the prior year with a portion of that increase due to the inclusion of Easter and Easter weekend. This period compared to the prior year, where Easter was in the first quarter. Nonetheless.
Charles Nifong: Nonetheless, it is an encouraging sign to see the relative sequential increase to prior months in the April data. In our retail segment, if you look at our company-operated site count for the end of the period, we are up 33 company-operated retail sites from the prior year and 11 company-operated sites from the end of the fourth quarter. The increase in company-operated site count was primarily driven by our conversion of lessee dealer sites to company-operated retail sites. Our commission agent site count at the end of the quarter increased by 31 sites relative to the first quarter of 2024 and five sites relative to the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, as we continue to execute on our strategic class of trade conversions to the retail channel.
Speaker Change: Nonetheless, it is an encouraging sign to see the relative sequential increase to prior months and the April data.
Speaker Change: In our retail segment, if you look at our company operated site count for the end of the period were up 33 company operated retail sites from the prior year and 11 company operated sites from the end of the fourth quarter. The increase in company operated site count was primarily driven by our conversion of lessee dealer sites to company operations.
Speaker Change: Good retail sites.
Speaker Change: Our commission agent site count at the end of the quarter increased by 31 sites relative to the first quarter of 2024 and five sites relative to the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, as we continue to execute on our strategic class of trade conversions to the retail channel.
Charles Nifong: In total, we increased our overall retail site count by 64 sites during the first quarter of 2025, compared to our retail site count at the end of the first quarter of 2024. Based on these numbers, you can see that we were very active during the past 12 months with site conversions and executing on our strategy to increase our exposure to retail fuel margins and the retail business in general.
Speaker Change: In total we increased our overall retail site count by 64 sites during the first quarter of 2025 compared to a retail site count at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Speaker Change: Based on these numbers you can see that we were very active during the past 12 months with site conversions and executing on our strategy to increase our exposure to retail fuel margins and the retail business in general.
Charles Nifong: Overall, it was a challenging first quarter for the retail segment, reflecting a difficult operating environment. A highlight of the quarter was the relative strength of our retail fuel margins and the continued relative outperformance of our same store inside sales to the market. As I just touched on, we continue to add sites to the retail segment, positioning us to grow our motor fuel and merchandise gross profit and overall segment profitability in the future.
Speaker Change: Overall, it was a challenging first quarter for the retail segment, reflecting a difficult operating environment a.
Speaker Change: A highlight of the quarter was the relative strength of our retail fuel margins and the continued relative outperformance of our same store inside sales to the market.
Speaker Change: As I just touched on we continue to add sites for the retail segment positioning us to grow our motor fuel and merchandise gross profit and overall segment profitability in the future.
Charles Nifong: Moving on to the wholesale segment, for the first quarter of 2025, our wholesale segment gross profit declined 1% to $26.7 million compared to $27 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by a decline in fuel volume and rental income. The primary factor for the fuel volume and rental income decline by a significant degree was the conversion of certain lessee dealer sites to company-operated and commission-agent sites, which are now accounted for in the retail segment. Our wholesale motor fuel gross profit increased 8% to $15.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 from $14.6 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Speaker Change: Moving on to the wholesale segment for the first quarter of 2025, our wholesale segment gross profit declined 1% to $26 $7 million.
Speaker Change: Compared to $27 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Speaker Change: The decrease was primarily driven by a decline in fuel volume and rental income.
Speaker Change: The primary factor for the fuel volume and rental income declined by a significant degree was the conversion of certain lessee dealer sites to company operated and commission agent sites, which are now accounted for in the retail segment.
Speaker Change: Our wholesale motor fuel gross profit increased 8% to $15 8 million in the first quarter of 2025.
Speaker Change: From $14 6 million for the first quarter of 2020 for.
Charles Nifong: Our fuel margin increased 23% from 7.9 cents per gallon in the first quarter of 2024 to 9.7 cents per gallon in the first quarter of 2025. The increase in our wholesale fuel margin per gallon was primarily driven by movements in crude oil prices and its impact on our fuel purchase on index pricing under our fuel supply agreement. We have also continued to be successful in our efforts to improve our overall cost of product, which positively impacted our wholesale fuel margin for the first quarter and materially contributed to the year-over-year improvement in our wholesale fuel margin per gallon.
Speaker Change: Our fuel margin increased 23% from seven nine per gallon in the first quarter of 2024.
Speaker Change: Nine seven per gallon in the first quarter of 2025.
Speaker Change: The increase in our wholesale fuel margin per gallon was primarily driven by movements in crude oil prices and its impact on our fuel purchase on index pricing under our fuel supply agreements.
Speaker Change: We have also continued to be successful in our efforts to improve our overall cost of product, which positively impacted our wholesale fuel margin for the first quarter and materially contributed to the year over year improvement in our wholesale fuel margin per gallon.
Charles Nifong: Our wholesale volume was 162.9 million gallons for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 184 million gallons in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a decline of 11%. decline in volume when compared to the same period in 2024 was primarily due to the conversion of certain lessee dealer sites to our retail class of trade. The gowns from these converted sites are now reflected in our retail segment results. For the quarter, our same-store volume in the wholesale segment was down approximately 3% year-over-year. So the additional approximately 8% drop in volume, the difference between the overall volume decline of 11% and our same-store volume decline of 3% for the segment was largely due to converting sites to the retail segment.
Speaker Change: Our wholesale volume was $162 9 million gallons for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 184 million gallons in the first quarter of 2024.
Speaker Change: Reflecting a decline of 11%.
Speaker Change: The decline in volume when compared to the same period in 2024 was primarily due to the conversion of certain lessee dealer sites to our retail class of trade.
Speaker Change: The gallons from these converted sites are now reflected in our retail segment results.
Speaker Change: For the quarter, our same store volume in the wholesale segment was down approximately 3% year over year.
Speaker Change: So the additional approximately 8% drop in volume the difference between the overall volume decline of 11% and our same store volume decline of 3% for the segment was largely due to converting sites to the retail segment.
Charles Nifong: As mentioned in my retail segment comments, national demand data available to us indicated national fuel demand was down around 4% per quarter, so our same store wholesale volume performance for the first quarter slightly outperformed overall national demand. And the period since the quarter end, wholesale same-store volume has been down around 2%, outperforming national volume demand, which is down approximately 4% year over year for the same period. Regarding our wholesale rent, our base rent for the quarter was $10.1 million compared to the prior year of $12.4 million, a decrease due to the conversion of certain lessee dealer sites to company operated sites, as well as our real estate rationalization efforts.
Speaker Change: As mentioned in my retail segment comments national demand data available to us indicated national fuel demand was down around 4% for the quarter.
Speaker Change: So our same store wholesale volume performance for the first quarter slightly outperformed overall national demand.
Speaker Change: And the period since the quarter end wholesale same store volume has been down around 2% outperforming national volume demand, which is down approximately 4% year over year for the same period.
Speaker Change: Regarding our wholesale rep, our base rent for the quarter was $10 1 million compared to the prior year of $12 4 million.
Speaker Change: A decrease due to the conversion of certain lessee dealer sites to company operated sites as well as our real estate rationalization efforts.
Charles Nifong: As you know by now, the rent dollars from the converted sites, while no longer in the form of rent, are now in our retail segment results through our fuel and store sales margin at these locations, which helped to drive our increase in retail segment operating income for the quarter. We also continue to evaluate our portfolio and look for opportunities to digest biocore property. For the first quarter of 2025, we divested seven sites for $8.6 million in proceeds. We expect this momentum to continue through 2025 as this continues to be an area of focus and effort for us.
Speaker Change: As you know by now the rent dollars from the converted sites while no longer in the form of Brent are now in our retail segment results through our fuel in store sales margin at these locations, which helped to drive our increase in retail segment operating income for the quarter.
Speaker Change: We also continue to evaluate our portfolio and look for opportunities to divest noncore properties.
Speaker Change: For the first quarter of 2025, we divested seven sites for $8 6 million in proceeds.
Speaker Change: We expect this momentum to continue through 2025 as this continues to be an area of focus and effort for us and we expect to outperform our results for 2024 in this area.
Charles Nifong: And we expect to outperform our results for 2024 in this area.
Charles Nifong: As I stated at the beginning of my remarks, the first quarter was a challenging start to the year, from weather impacts to continued inflationary pressures, and after the end of the quarter, the uncertainty on the overall economic environment due to the addition of material tariffs. Despite these challenges, we continued with the execution of our strategy, converting more sites to our retail channel, and continuing to recycle capital out of sites that are not in our long-term plans for the portfolio. Our retail site's volume performance was in line with the overall market for the quarter and has shown signs of returning to outperforming the market since the quarter end.
Speaker Change: As I stated at the beginning of my remarks, but first quarter was a challenging start to the year from weather impacts to continued inflationary pressures.
Speaker Change: And after the end of the quarter the uncertainty on the overall economic environment due to the addition of material tariffs.
Speaker Change: Despite these challenges we continued with the execution of our strategy converting more sites to our retail channel and continuing to recycle capital out of sites that are not in our long term plans for the portfolio.
Speaker Change: Our retail sites volume performance was in line with the overall market for the quarter and is showing signs of returning to outperforming the market since the quarter end and our company operated sites generated strong inside sales relative to the overall market.
Charles Nifong: And our company-operated sites generated strong inside sales relative to the overall market, a sign of the successful execution of our retail strategy. Our wholesale segment generated strong fuel margins for the quarter, reflecting the work we have done to improve our product cost.
Speaker Change: Sign of the successful execution of our retail strategy.
Speaker Change: Our wholesale segment generated strong fuel margins for the quarter, reflecting the work we've done to improve our product costs.
Charles Nifong: Still, we are glad to put the first quarter in our rearview mirror and are looking forward to the road ahead into summer and peak driving season.
Speaker Change: Still we are glad to put the first quarter in our rearview mirror. We're looking forward to the road ahead into summer and peak driving season with that I'll turn it over to Laura to further discuss our financial results.
Maura Topper: With that, I'll turn it over to Maura to further discuss our financial results.
Maura Topper: Thank you, Charles. If you would please turn to slide six, I would like to review our first quarter results for the partnership. We reported a net loss of $7.1 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to a net loss of $17.5 million in the first quarter of 2024. As I'll discuss in a moment, our adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was up slightly from the prior year, with the improvement in our net loss position materially being driven by various aspects of our ongoing class of trade conversions and real estate rationalization efforts. Our first quarter of 2024 net loss was burdened by a $15.9 million of lease termination expense as a result of the gap treatment of our acquisition of locations from Applegreen during that quarter.
Laura: Thank you Charles if you would please turn to slide decks I would like to review our first quarter results for the partnership.
Laura: We reported a net loss of $7 1 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to a net loss of $17 $5 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Laura: As I'll discuss in a moment, our adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was up slightly from the prior year with.
Laura: With the improvement in our net loss position materially being driven by various aspects of our ongoing classic trade conversions and real estate rationalization efforts.
Laura: Our first quarter of 2024 net loss was burdened by a $15 $9 million at lease termination expense as a result, and the GAAP treatment of our acquisition of locations from Apple Green during that quarter.
Maura Topper: Our first quarter 2025 results did not have this charge, but did include a net gain of $5 million associated with our ongoing asset sales during the quarter, as well as an $8.5 million non-cash impairment expense related to certain locations moved to assets held for sale during the quarter. Finally, our first quarter of 2025 net loss was impacted by a $2.3 million increase in interest expense year over year. Adjusted EBITDA was $24.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 3% from adjusted EBITDA of $23.6 million for the first quarter of 2024. Our distributable cash flow for the first quarter of 2025 was $9.1 million, a decline from $11.7 million for the first quarter of 2024.
Laura: Our first quarter 2025, adults did not happen charge, but did include a net gain of $5 million associated with our ongoing asset sales during the quarter as.
Laura: As well as an $8 5 million dollar noncash impairment expense related to certain locations moved to assets held for sale during the corner.
Laura: Finally, our first quarter of 2025 net loss was impacted by a $2 $3 million increase in interest expense year over year.
Laura: Adjusted EBITDA was $24 3 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 3% from adjusted EBITDA of $23 6 million for the first quarter of 2024.
Laura: Our distributable cash flow for the first quarter of 2025 with $9 $1 million declined from $11 7 million for the first quarter of 2024.
Maura Topper: The decrease in distributable cash flow was primarily due to our higher cash interest expense and sustaining capital expenditures during the quarter, both of which I will touch on in a few moments. Our distribution coverage for the trailing 12 months for the period ended March 31st, 2025, was 1.04 times. compared to 1.37 times for the same 12-month period ended March 31, 2024. Coverage for the first quarter of 2025 was 0.46 times compared to 0.59 times for the same period of 2024. As we have noted in the past, the first quarter is our seasonally weakest quarter, where we historically have seen our coverage fall below one, one times during the lower activity winter months.
Laura: The decrease in distributable cash flow was primarily due to our higher cash interest expense and sustaining capital expenditures during the quarter.
Laura: Both of which I will touch on in a few months.
Laura: Our distribution coverage for the trailing 12 months for the period ended March 31, 2025 was 1.04 times compared to 137 times for the same 12 month period ended March 31 2024.
Laura: Coverage for the first quarter of 2025 with 0.46 times compared to 0.59 times for the same period of 2024.
Laura: As we have noted in the past the first quarter is our seasonally weakest quarter, where we historically had seen our coverage fall below one <unk>.
Laura: One times during the lower activity winter months.
Maura Topper: During the first quarter of 2025, the partnership paid a distribution of 52.5 cents per unit.
Laura: During the first quarter of 2025, the partnership paid distributions of $52.05 per unit.
Maura Topper: Charles provided information in his comments on our volume and merchandise performance during the quarter and how they benefited our adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year. I will now touch on the expense portion of our operation. Operating expenses for the first quarter increased $6.8 million compared to the first quarter of 2024. comprised of an $8.6 million increase in our retail segment offset by a $1.7 million decrease in our wholesale segment. The year-over-year increase in retail segment operating expenses was approximately 20%. Primarily driven by a 17% increase in average segment site count year over year due to our class of trade conversions, specifically the company operated class of trade.
Speaker Change: Charles provided information in his comments on our volume and merchandise performance during the quarter and how they benefited our adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year.
Laura: I will now touch on the expense portion of our operations.
Laura: Operating expenses for the first quarter increased $6 8 million compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Laura: Comprised of an $8 $6 million increase in our retail segment offset by a $1 7 million decrease in our wholesale segment.
Laura: The year over year increase in retail segment operating expenses was approximately 20%.
Laura: Primarily driven by a 17% increase in average segment site count year over year due to a class of trade conversions, specifically the company operated concentrated.
Maura Topper: on a same-store, store-level basis. Operating expenses in our retail segment were up approximately 6% for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024. with approximately 1.5% of that increase due to elevated snow plowing and other weather-related expenses in the areas of repairs and maintenance. Our labor expense increase during the quarter was higher on a percentage basis than prior quarters. but still a moderate percentage overall, and we feel good about our approach and management of labor, our largest single retail segment expense category. We remain focused on efficient expense management at our locations as we move into the summer driving season of 2025.
Laura: On a same store store level basis operating expenses in our retail segment were up approximately 6% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Laura: With approximately one 5% of that increase due to elevated snow plowing and other weather related expenses in the areas of repairs and maintenance.
Laura: Our labor expense increased during the quarter was higher on a percentage basis than prior quarters.
Laura: It's still a moderate percentage overall and we feel good about our approach and management of labor.
Laura: <unk> single retail segment expense category.
Laura: We remain focused on efficient expense management at our at our locations as we move into the summer driving season of 2025.
Maura Topper: ensuring that we are investing in customer facing areas that will drive the long-term health and sustainability of our sites. Operating expenses in our hotel segment declined by $1.7 million, or 19% for the quarter, year-over-year, due to declines in site-level operating expenses and management expenses.
Laura: Ensuring that we are investing in customer facing areas that will drive the long term health and sustainability of our sites.
Laura: Operating expenses in our wholesale segment declined by $1 7 million or 19% for the quarter year over year.
Laura: Due to declines in site level operating expenses and management fees as our wholesale segment average site count declined 12% year over year.
Maura Topper: For more information visit www.FEMA.gov as our wholesale segment average site count declined 12% year over year. Our G&A expenses increased 12% for the quarter year-over-year, primarily driven by higher management fees and equity compensation. partially offset by lower acquisition-related costs. Moving to the next slide, we spent a total of $10.1 million on capital expenditures during the first quarter. with $7.4 million of that total being growth-related capital expenditures and $2.7 million of that total being sustaining capital expenditures. as we have increased our site count in the retail sector. specifically our company-operated location. We had expected to see an increase in our sustaining capital expenditures at these locations.
Laura: Our G&A expenses increased 12% for the quarter year over year, primarily driven by higher management fees and equity compensation expense, partially offset by lower acquisition related costs.
Laura: Moving to the next slide we spent a total of $10 1 million on capital expenditures during the first quarter.
Laura: With $7 $4 million of that total in growth related capital expenditures.
Laura: And $2 $7 million of that total being sustaining capital expenditures.
Laura: As we have increased our site count and the retail segment specifically.
Laura: Specifically our company operated locations, we have expected to see an increase in our sustaining capital expenditures at these locations.
Maura Topper: as our highest investment location. Our increase in sustaining capital spending as we have increased the retail segment site count is in line with our expectations. Moving to our growth capital spending during the quarter, our spend remained focused on our company operated locations and included targeted fuel brand and backcourt refresh projects. oftentimes supported by our wholesale fuel supplier partners. as well as projects to increase food offerings, both our own and QSR's. During the year, we have opened four new QSR locations in our company-operated convenience and continue the expansion of our food and beverage programs at various stores.
Laura: And our highest investment locations.
Laura: Our increase in sustaining capital spending as we have increased our retail segment site count is in line with our expectations.
Laura: Moving to our growth capital spending during the quarter.
Laura: <unk> remained focused on our company operated locations and included targeted fuel brand and backward refreshed product projects.
Laura: Oftentimes supported by our wholesale fuel supplier partners.
Laura: As well as projects to increase food offerings, both our own and <unk>.
Laura: During the year, we have opened four new <unk> locations in our company operated convenience stores and continue the expansion of our food and beverage programs at various stores.
Maura Topper: These growth investments have and will contribute to merchandise sales and margin results. and help drive customer traffic onto our lots and into our stores. As of March 31st, 2025, our total credit facility balance was $778 million, and our credit facility defined leverage ratio was 4.27%. We remain focused on the cash flow generation profile of our business. to manage our leverage ratio at approximately four times on a credit facility-defined basis. Our cash interest expense increased from $10.1 million in the first quarter of 2024 to $12.4 million in the first quarter of 2025. During the first quarter of 2024, we benefited from a series of valuable interest rate swaps from the first quarter of 2020, which expired at the end of the first quarter last year.
Laura: These growth investments has and will contribute to merchandise sales and margin results.
Laura: And helped drive customer traffic onto our locks and into our stores.
Laura: As of March 31, 2025, our total credit facility balance was $778 million and our credit facility defined leverage ratio was 427 times.
Laura: We remain focused on the cash flow generation profile of our business to manage our leverage ratio at approximately four times on a credit facility designed basis.
Laura: Our cash interest expense increased $10 $1 million in the first quarter of 2024 to $12 $4 million in the first quarter of 2025.
Laura: During the first quarter of 2024, we benefited from a series of valuable interest rate swaps in the first quarter of 2020.
Laura: Which expired at the end of the first quarter last year.
Maura Topper: Our first quarter of 2025 interest expense increase was primarily due to those advantageous swaps having expired. We benefited from the interest rate drops we entered into during 2023 during the quarter as well. At this time, a little more than 50% of our current credit facility balance is swapped to a fixed rate of approximately 3.4% blended, which remains an advantaged rate in the current rate environment. Our effective interest rate on the total Cap-L credit facility at the end of the first quarter is 6.1 percent.
Laura: Our first quarter of 2025 interest expense increase was primarily due to the advantageous swaps having expired.
Laura: We benefited from the interest rate swaps, we entered into during 2023 during the quarter as well.
Laura: At this time, a little more than 50% of our current credit facility balance is swapped to a fixed rate of approximately three 4% blended which remains an advantaged rate in the current rate environment.
Laura: Our effective interest rate on the total capital credit facility at the end of the first quarter and six 1%.
Maura Topper: In conclusion, as Charles noted, the partnership had a challenging first quarter of 2025, facing headwinds from the macroeconomic demand environment and difficult operating environment. as well as the seasonal challenges from our historically most challenged quarter. We did successfully continue to execute on our strategy of optimizing our class of trade operations by location, as well as our ongoing real estate rationalization activities to generate additional capital to strategically invest in our business. We remain focused as a team and continuing to execute across the business. We're looking forward to the year ahead, maintaining a strong balance sheet, generating value for our unit.
Laura: In conclusion as Charles noted the partnership had a challenging first quarter of 2025 <unk>.
Charles: Facing headwinds from the macroeconomic demand environment and difficult operating environment as well as the seasonal challenges from our historically most challenged quarter.
Charles: We did successfully continue to execute on our strategy of optimizing our classic trade operations by location.
Charles: As well as our ongoing real estate rationalization activities to generate additional capital to strategically invest in our business.
Charles: We remain focused as a team and continuing to execute across the business and are looking forward to the year ahead maintain.
Charles: Maintaining a strong balance sheet generating value for our unit holders.
Maura Topper: With that, we will open it up for questions. Thank you.
Charles: With that we will open it up for questions.
Speaker Change: Thank you ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question and answer session should you have a question. Please press the star button, followed by the number one on you touched on phone you will hear prompt that your hand has been raised should you wish to decline from the polling process. Please.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question and answer session. Should you have a question, please press the star button followed by the number one on your touchtone phone. You will hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. Should you wish to decline from the polling process, please press the star button followed by the number two. If you are using a speakerphone, please lift the handset before pressing any keys. One moment please for your first question.
Charles: The star Button, followed by the number two <unk>.
Charles: If you are using a speaker phone please lift the handset before pressing the any keys.
Charles: Please for your first question.
Operator: It appears there are no questions at this time.
Speaker Change: It appears there are no questions at this time I would now like to turn the call back over the Charles <unk> <unk>.
Charles Nifong: I'd now like to turn the call back over to Charles Nifong, President and CEO, for closing comments. Great, thank you. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us. Otherwise, we thank you for joining us today and hope you have a great day.
Charles: <unk> and CEO for closing comments.
Speaker Change: Great. Thank you should you have any questions. Please feel free to reach out to us otherwise we thank you for joining us today and hope you have a great day.
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes your conference call for today. We thank you for participating and ask that you disconnect your line.
Speaker Change: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes your conference call for today, we thank you for participating and ask that you disconnect your lines.
Speaker Change: [noise].