Convenience stores like Casey's General Stores (CASY) and Murphy USA (MUSA) are boosting their offerings, including food and beverage, to drive in-store sales and trips as cigarette sales decline, BofA Securities said in a Friday note.
Relaunching coverage on individual operators, BofA said Casey's is seeing a strong prepared foods business, as well as fuel outperformance regionally. The company comes across one of the few quality food options, with the company's footprint mostly present in rural middle America, according to the note.
Looking at Murphy USA, BofA said it believes that the company's near-term upside will likely be underperforming versus its peers due to the company's dependence on fuel and nicotine.
Positives on Murphy USA included its long-term strategy, lean operational structure, and locations adjacent to Walmart (WMT), BofA said.
BofA rated Casey's as buy with a $700 price target, and Murphy USA as underperform with a $405 price target.
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