Significant Accounting Policies | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Operations: Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the "Company") operate 2,658 convenience stores in 17 states, primarily in the Midwest. Many of the stores are located in smaller communities, often with populations of less than 20,000. Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain amounts in prior year have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash equivalents: We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity at purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Included in cash equivalents are money market funds, treasury bills, and credit card, debit card and electronic benefits transfer transactions that process within three days. Receivables : Receivables are primarily comprised of balances outstanding from credit card companies which are not processed within three days and balances outstanding from vendor rebates. The Company records credit card receivables at the time of the related sale to the guest. Vendor rebates are recorded based upon the applicable agreements. Uncollectible accounts were immaterial during the periods presented. Below is a summary of the receivable values at April 30, 2024 and 2023: Years ended April 30, 2024 2023 Vendor rebates $ 87,423 $ 54,979 Credit cards 35,455 46,851 Other 28,915 18,717 Total receivables $ 151,793 $ 120,547 Inventories and cost of goods sold: Inventories, which consist of merchandise and fuel, are stated at the lower of cost or market. For fuel inventories, cost is determined through the use of the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. For merchandise inventories, cost is determined through the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The excess of replacement cost over the stated LIFO value was $151,461 and $138,962 at April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. There were no material LIFO liquidations during the periods presented. Below is a summary of the inventory values at April 30, 2024 and 2023: Years ended April 30, 2024 2023 Fuel $ 121,939 $ 115,095 Merchandise 306,783 260,990 Total inventories $ 428,722 $ 376,085 The Company often receives vendor allowances on the basis of quantitative contract terms that vary by product and vendor or directly on the basis of purchases made. Vendor allowances include rebates and other funds received from vendors to promote their products. These amounts are recognized in the period earned based on the applicable rebate agreement. Reimbursements of an operating expense (e.g., advertising) are recorded as reductions of the related expense. Renewable identification numbers (“RINs”) are assigned to gallons of renewable fuels produced and are used to track compliance with the renewable fuel standard. At times, we purchase fuel components (ethanol, gasoline, biodiesel or diesel) and blend those components into a finished product in a fuel truck. This process enables the Company to take title to the RIN assigned to each gallon of ethanol or biodiesel produced. RINs are recorded as a reduction in cost of goods sold at the contracted sales price, in the period when the Company transfers the RIN. The Company does not record inventories on the balance sheet related to RINs, as they are acquired at no cost to the Company. The Company includes in cost of goods sold the costs incurred to acquire fuel and merchandise, including excise taxes, less vendor allowances and rebates and RINs. Warehousing costs are recorded within operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. Capitalized software implementation costs: The Company capitalizes expenditures related to the implementation of software-as-a-service as incurred. These costs are expensed on a straight-line basis within operating expenses, typically over the contractual life of the related software. The useful lives utilized for capitalized software implementation costs range from 2-13 years. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had recognized $37,619 and $42,495 of capitalized software implementation costs, respectively. The outstanding balance is recognized in other assets, net of amortization on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company has recognized amortization of $14,108 in fiscal 2024, $12,302 in fiscal 2023 and $9,449 in fiscal 2022 within operating expenses on the consolidated statements of income. Goodwill: As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, there was $652,663 and $615,342 of goodwill recognized, respectively. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually. The Company used a qualitative approach to assess the recoverability of goodwill at year-end. Management’s analysis of recoverability completed as of the fiscal year-end indicated no evidence of impairment for the years ended April 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022. Contractual customer relationships : As the result of a prior acquisition, the Company recognized approximately $31,100 of contractual customer relationships. These assets were valued using the multi-period excess earnings method. The contractual customer relationships are amortized on a straight-line basis over a useful life of 15 years and are included within other assets, net of amortization in the consolidated balance sheets as of April 30, 2024. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company has recognized $24,880 and $26,953 of contractual customer relationships, which was net of accumulated amortization of $6,220 and $4,147, respectively. The Company expects to recognize $2,073 of annual amortization expense related to contractual customer relationships over the next 5 years. Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation of property and equipment are computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Buildings 25-40 years Machinery and equipment 3-40 years Finance lease right-of-use assets Lesser of term of lease or life of asset Leasehold improvements Lesser of term of lease or life of asset The Company monitors stores and will accelerate depreciation if the expected life of the asset is reduced due to the expected remaining operation of the store or the Company’s plans. Construction in process is reported at cost and not subject to depreciation until the related asset is placed in service. Store closings and asset impairment: The Company writes down property and equipment of stores it is closing to estimated net realizable value at the time management commits to a plan to close such stores and begins actively marketing the stores. The Company bases the estimated net realizable value of property and equipment on its experience in utilizing and/or disposing of similar assets, as well as estimates provided by its own and/or third-party real estate experts. The Company monitors closed and underperforming stores for an indication that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent carrying value of the assets exceeds their estimated fair value. Fair value is typically based on management’s estimate of the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants. The estimate is derived from offers, actual sale or disposition of assets subsequent to year-end, and other indications of fair value, which are considered Level 3 inputs (see Note 3). In determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets, which for the Company, is generally on a store-by-store basis. The Company incurred impairment charges of $4,057 in fiscal 2024, $3,500 in fiscal 2023, and $1,056 in fiscal 2022. Impairment charges are recognized as a component of operating expenses. Income taxes: The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company calculates its current and deferred tax provision based on estimates and assumptions that could differ from actual results reflected in income tax returns filed in subsequent years. Adjustments based on filed returns are recorded when identified. Revenue recognition: The Company recognizes retail sales of prepared food and dispensed beverage, grocery and general merchandise, fuel and other revenue at the time of the sale to the guest. Sales taxes collected from guests and remitted to the government are recorded on a net basis in the consolidated statements of income. A portion of revenue from sales that include points under our Casey’s Rewards program is deferred. The deferred portion of the sale represents the value of the estimated future redemption of the points. The amounts related to points are deferred until their redemption or expiration. Revenue related to the points issued is expected to be recognized less than one year from the original sale to the guest. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized a contract liability of $52,934 and $55,561, respectively, related to the outstanding Casey's Rewards program, which is included in other accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. During fiscal 2024, the digital box top program was discontinued and outstanding digital box tops were converted to points. Gift card related revenue is recognized as the gift cards are used by the guest. Gift card breakage revenue is recognized based on the estimated gift card breakage rate over the pro rata usage of the card. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized a liability of $17,985 and $17,463, respectively, related to outstanding gift cards, which is included in other accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. Net income per common share: Basic earnings per share have been computed by dividing net income by the weighted average shares outstanding during each of the years. Unvested shares under equity awards are treated as common shares within the basic earnings per share calculation when a recipient has met certain requirements in the award agreement. For example, if retirement provisions are satisfied which allow a recipient to avoid forfeiture of the award upon a normal retirement from the Company, it is included in the basic earnings per share calculation . The calculation of diluted earnings per share treats unvested restricted stock units with time-based restrictions as potential common shares. The diluted earnings per share calculation does not take into effect any shares that have not met performance or market conditions as of the reporting period. Asset retirement obligations: The Company recognizes the estimated future cost to remove underground storage tanks over the estimated useful life of the storage tank . The Company records a discounted liability for the fair value of an asset retirement obligation with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of a long-lived asset at the time an underground storage tank is installed. The Company depreciates the amount added to property and equipment on a straight-line basis and recognizes accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the remaining life of the tank. The estimates of the anticipated future costs for removal of an underground storage tank are based on our prior experience with removal. Because these estimates are subjective and are currently based on historical costs with adjustments for estimated future changes in the associated costs, we expect the dollar amount of these obligations to change as more information is obtained. The discounted liability was $39,954 and $36,978 at April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and is recorded in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Self-insurance: The Company is primarily self-insured for Team Member healthcare, workers’ compensation, general liability, and automobile claims. The self-insurance claim liability for workers’ compensation, general liability, and automobile claims is determined using actuarial methods at each year end based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. Actuarial projections of the losses are employed due to the potential of variability in the liability estimates. Some factors affecting the uncertainty of the claim liability include the loss development factors, which includes the development time frame and settlement patterns, and expected loss rates, which includes litigation and adjudication direction, and medical treatment and cost trends. The liability is not discounted. The balance of our self-insurance reserves was $57,369 and $61,168 as of April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. See additional discussion in Note 10. Environmental remediation liabilities: The Company accrues for environmental remediation liabilities when it is probable a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. At April 30, 2024 and 2023 we had an accrued liability of $299 and $268, respectively, which is recorded in other accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. Derivative instruments: There were no options or futures contracts as of or during the years ended April 30, 2024, 2023, or 2022. From time to time, we participate in a forward buy of certain commodities. These are not accounted for as derivatives under the normal purchases and sale exclusions within the applicable accounting guidance. Share-based compensation: Share-based compensation is recorded based upon the fair value of the award on the grant date. The cost of the award is recognized ratably in the consolidated statements of income over the vesting period of the award, adjusted for certain retirement provisions. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. Additionally, certain awards include performance and market conditions. Performance-based awards are based on either the achievement of a three-year average return on invested capital (ROIC) or three-year cumulative earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). For these awards, share-based compensation expense is estimated based on the probable outcome of shares to be awarded adjusted as necessary at each reporting period. Additionally, if the Company's relative total shareholder return over the performance period is in the bottom or top quartile of the companies comprising the S&P 500, the performance-based shares included will be adjusted downward by 25%, or upward by 25%, respectively (the "TSR Modifier"). The fair value of these awards is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation as of the date of the grant. For the market-based portion of these awards, the share-based compensation expense will not be adjusted should the target awards vary from actual awards. Segment reporting: As of April 30, 2024, we operated 2,658 stores in 17 states. Our convenience stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, fuel and other products and services designed to appeal to the convenience needs of our guests. We manage the business on the basis of one operating segment and therefore, have only one reportable segment. Our stores sell similar products and services, use similar processes to sell those products and services, and sell their products and services to similar classes of guests. We make specific disclosures concerning the three broad categories of prepared food and dispensed beverage, grocery and general merchandise, and fuel because it allows us to more effectively discuss trends and operational initiatives within our business and industry. Although we can separate revenue and cost of goods sold within these categories (and further sub-categories), the operating expenses associated with operating a store that sells these products are not separable by these three categories. Recent accounting pronouncements: In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-04, Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50). The standard included guidance related to supplier finance programs and requires the buyer in a supplier finance program to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about the program. The new standard was effective for the Company beginning May 1, 2023. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The standard is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant expenses. The amendments will require public entities to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit and loss. The new standard is effective for the Company's annual periods beginning May 1, 2024, and interim periods beginning May 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-07 to determine its impact on our disclosures. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The standard includes amendments that further enhance income tax disclosures, primarily through standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The new standard is effective for the Company's annual periods beginning May 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-09 to determine its impact on our disclosures. |