TORONTO: Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc says it will focus more on organic growth and boosting its merchandise revenues, as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) were kept out of its latest financial outlook, sending the retailer’s stock price to its highest level since 2024.
The owner of the Circle K convenience store and gas station chain narrowed its forecasts during a strategic update on Wednesday in Toronto. The stock closed at C$82.51 in Toronto, up 3.1%.
From the end of fiscal year 2026 to 2030, the company expects a compounded annual growth rate of 6% to 8% in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, or between US$8bil and US$9bil at the cycle’s end.
In October 2023, it had targeted US$10bil in fiscal year 2028, including more than US$1bil stemming from acquisitions.
“Our approach to M&A has not changed at all,” Couche-Tard chief executive officer Alex Miller said in an interview. “We think it’s important that we grow organically and we wanted to provide visibility into that. M&A, we don’t know when it is going to happen.”
US, European, Latin American and South-East Asian markets are priorities in expansion plans, Miller said. — Bloomberg
