RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO) ("ARKO" or the "Company"), a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesalers of fuel in the United States, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year ended December 31, 2025.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Key Highlights (vs. Year-Ago Period) (1,2)
-- Net income for the quarter increased to $1.9 million compared to a net
loss of $2.3 million. For the year, net income increased 9.1% to $22.7
million compared to $20.8 million.
-- Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter increased 15.6% to $65.7 million compared
to $56.8 million. For the year, Adjusted EBITDA was $248.7 million
compared to $248.9 million, and above the mid-point of the Company's
original guidance announced at the beginning of 2025, which was $233.0
million to $253.0 million.
-- Merchandise margin for the quarter increased to 34.4% compared to 33.0%.
For the year, merchandise margin increased to 33.7% compared to 32.8%.
-- Retail fuel margin for the quarter increased to 44.5 cents per gallon
compared to 38.7 cents per gallon. For the year, retail fuel margin
increased to 42.8 cents per gallon compared to 39.6 cents per gallon.
Other Key Highlights
-- On February 13, 2026, the Company's subsidiary, ARKO Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq: APC) completed its initial public offering of 11,111,111 shares of its Class A common stock at a price to the public of $18.00 per share ("APC IPO"). The Company owns 35,000,000 shares of APC's Class B common stock, representing 75.9% of the economic interests in APC (not including the underwriters' currently unexercised overallotment option). APC is the primary operating entity for the Company's wholesale, fleet fueling, and GPMP segments. -- The Company applied the approximately $184 million of proceeds from the APC IPO to reduce debt and enhance financial flexibility. -- As part of the Company's ongoing transformation plan, the Company converted 62 retail stores to dealer locations during the fourth quarter, and 256 store conversions for the year ended December 31, 2025, bringing total conversions since program inception in the middle of 2024 to 409 sites. The Company has approximately 120 additional sites committed either under letter of intent, under contract or already converted since December 31, 2025. The Company expects to complete these conversions, along with additional conversions, by the end of 2026. The Company continues to expect that, at scale, its channel optimization will deliver a cumulative annualized operating income benefit of more than $20 million, before G&A savings. In addition, the Company has identified more than $10 million in expected cumulative G&A savings with an opportunity for upside as the Company continues to execute the site conversion strategy in 2026. -- The Company advanced additional targeted capital allocation toward strategic sub-segments of its retail stores, with the goal of increasing traffic and improving profitability. -- In June of 2025, the Company introduced its new fas craves format designed to elevate the customer experience and better reflect the Company's commitment to foodservice, convenience, efficiency, and value. Since the launch of the flagship location in June 2025, the Company completed several additional remodels. Early results from remodeled stores have shown double-digit increases in merchandise sales and fuel gallons, improved category performance across multiple departments, and positive impact on basket size and traffic. The Company is planning approximately 25 remodels, all which will feature the fas craves food and beverage elements. The Company also plans to expand components of fas craves food and beverage to certain non-remodeled stores. The Company continued to expand its network through new-to-industry (NTI) retail stores, opening two new retail stores and a Dunkin' store in 2025. Three NTI retail stores are expected to open in 2026, of which two opened thus far in 2026, as well as three Dunkin' stores. -- In addition, the Company is targeting 20 NTI fleet fueling locations with target openings during 2026, 10 of which the Company is currently advancing, reflecting the attractive, durable cash flow profile of its fleet fueling business. -- The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share of common stock to be paid on March 20, 2026 to stockholders of record as of March 10, 2026.
(1) See Use of Non-GAAP Measures below.
(2) All figures for fuel costs, fuel contribution and fuel margin per gallon exclude the estimated fixed margin or fixed fee paid to the GPMP segment for the cost of fuel.
"Our strong fourth quarter results demonstrate the material, tangible benefits of the transformative actions we have taken throughout 2025," said Arie Kotler, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ARKO. "Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 16% quarter-over-quarter, merchandise margin expanded 140 basis points, and retail operating expenses declined approximately 16%, reflecting the impact of our conversions of retail sites to dealer locations and improved cost discipline across our retail model. While our customers remain value-focused, we are encouraged by improving trends exiting the year and believe that our transformative actions position us well for 2026 and beyond."
Mr. Kotler continued: "With the successful completion of the APC IPO, we have strengthened our balance sheet, and created two focused platforms positioned to drive long-term growth and value. At APC, we have a significant opportunity to capture share in a highly fragmented market through both organic and inorganic growth initiatives, all while maintaining prudent capital allocation."
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Segment Highlights
Retail
For the Three Months For the Year
Ended December 31, Ended December 31,
-------------------- -----------------------
2025 2024 2025 2024
-------- --------- ---------- ----------
(in thousands)
Fuel gallons
sold 218,739 258,856 922,726 1,080,990
Same store
fuel gallons
sold
decrease (%)
(1) (4.1%) (4.4%) (5.4%) (6.1%)
Fuel
contribution
(2) $ 97,436 $ 100,212 $ 394,708 $ 428,216
Fuel margin,
cents per
gallon (3) 44.5 38.7 42.8 39.6
Same store
fuel
contribution
(1,2) $ 95,409 $ 88,535 $ 384,986 $ 383,453
Same store
merchandise
sales
decrease (%)
(1) (3.0%) (4.3%) (4.1%) (5.4%)
Same store
merchandise
sales
excluding
cigarettes
decrease (%)
(1) (1.8%) (2.1%) (2.7%) (3.8%)
Merchandise
revenue $338,116 $ 408,826 $1,482,454 $1,767,345
Merchandise
contribution
(4) $116,247 $ 134,873 $ 499,781 $ 579,569
Merchandise
margin (5) 34.4% 33.0% 33.7% 32.8%
Same store
merchandise
contribution
(1,4) $113,773 $ 114,058 $ 486,069 $ 497,325
Same store
site
operating
expenses
(1) $153,411 $ 152,528 $ 657,534 $ 657,394
(1) Same store is a common metric used in the convenience
store industry. The Company considers a store a same
store beginning in the first quarter in which the
store had a full quarter of activity in the prior
year. Refer toUse of Non-GAAP Measuresbelow for discussion
of this measure.
(2) Calculated as fuel revenue less fuel costs; excludes
the estimated fixed margin or fixed fee paid to the
GPMP segment for the cost of fuel.
(3) Calculated as fuel contribution divided by fuel
gallons sold.
(4) Calculated as merchandise revenue less merchandise
costs.
(5) Calculated as merchandise contribution divided
by merchandise revenue.
Merchandise contribution for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased by $18.6 million, or 13.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, while merchandise margin increased by 140 basis points to 34.4% for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to 33.0% for the prior year period. The decrease in merchandise contribution was due to an $18.7 million decrease related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations in the past year and a $0.3 million decrease in same store merchandise contribution.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, merchandise contribution decreased by $79.8 million, or 13.8%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, while merchandise margin increased to 33.7% for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to 32.8% for the prior year period. The decrease in merchandise contribution was due to a $71.7 million decrease related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations since the middle of 2024 and a $11.3 million decrease in same store merchandise contribution, primarily caused by a decline in customer transactions reflecting the challenging macroeconomic environment as well as severe weather conditions in January and February 2025 in certain of the markets in which the Company operates. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in merchandise contribution of $2.1 million from the SpeedyQ acquisition that closed in April 2024.
Fuel contribution for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased by $2.8 million, or 2.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, primarily due to a $10.0 million decrease in retail fuel contribution related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations in the past year, partially offset by a same store fuel contribution increase of $6.9 million. Fuel margin of 44.5 cents per gallon increased 5.8 cents per gallon compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, fuel contribution decreased by $33.5 million, or 7.8%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to a $37.1 million decrease in retail fuel contribution related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations since the middle of 2024, partially offset by a same store fuel contribution increase of $1.5 million and incremental fuel contribution from the SpeedyQ Acquisition of approximately $1.2 million. Fuel margin of 42.8 cents per gallon increased 3.2 cents per gallon compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, site operating expenses decreased by $29.5 million, or 15.7%, compared to the prior year period primarily due to $31.1 million of reduced expenses related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations, partially offset by an increase in same store operating expenses of $0.9 million, or 0.6%.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, site operating expenses decreased by $105.5 million, or 13.3%, compared to the prior year period primarily due to $111.7 million of reduced expenses related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations, partially offset by $3.7 million of incremental expenses related to the SpeedyQ Acquisition.
Wholesale
For the Three
Months Ended For the Year
December 31, Ended December 31,
------------------- ----------------------
2025 2024 2025 2024
-------- --------- ----------- ---------
(in thousands)
Fuel gallons
sold -- fuel
supply
locations 211,406 201,317 836,232 794,796
Fuel gallons
sold --
consignment
agent
locations 37,204 38,563 152,839 154,560
Fuel
contribution
(1) -- fuel
supply
locations $ 13,656 $ 12,004 $ 52,510 $ 47,930
Fuel
contribution
(1) --
consignment
agent
locations $ 10,372 $ 10,270 $ 42,022 $ 42,420
Fuel margin,
cents per
gallon (2)
-- fuel
supply
locations 6.5 6.0 6.3 6.0
Fuel margin,
cents per
gallon (2)
--
consignment
agent
locations 27.9 26.6 27.5 27.4
(1) Calculated as fuel revenue less fuel costs; excludes
the estimated fixed margin or fixed fee paid to the
GPMP segment for the cost of fuel.
(2) Calculated as fuel contribution divided by fuel
gallons sold.
Note: Information disclosed on a "comparable wholesale
sites" basis excludes wholesale sites added through
acquisitions and retail stores converted to dealer
locations, until the first quarter in which these
sites had a full quarter of wholesale activity in
the prior year. Refer to "Use of Non-GAAP Measures"
below.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, wholesale operating income increased by $3.4 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Additional operating income from retail stores converted to dealer locations in the past year more than offset reduced operating income at comparable wholesale sites, which reflected the challenging macroeconomic environment.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, fuel contribution increased by $1.8 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Fuel contribution for the fourth quarter of 2025 at fuel supply locations increased $1.7 million, and fuel margin per gallon increased 0.5 cents per gallon compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, due principally to incremental contribution from retail stores converted to dealer locations in the past year, which was partially offset by lower volumes at comparable fuel supply wholesale sites and decreased prompt pay discounts related to lower fuel costs. Fuel contribution at consignment agent locations increased slightly, and fuel margin per gallon increased 1.3 cents per gallon.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, other revenues, net increased by $7.0 million, and site operating expenses increased by $5.4 million, in each case as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, resulting primarily from retail stores that the Company converted to dealer locations in the past year.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, wholesale operating income increased by $9.6 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Additional operating income from retail stores converted to dealer locations more than offset reduced operating income at comparable wholesale sites, which reflected the challenging macroeconomic environment.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, fuel contribution increased $4.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. At fuel supply locations, fuel contribution for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased by $4.6 million, and fuel margin per gallon increased 0.3 cents per gallon compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, due principally to incremental contribution from retail stores converted to dealer locations, which was partially offset by decreased prompt pay discounts related to lower fuel costs and lower volumes at comparable fuel supply wholesale sites primarily due to the macroeconomic environment and severe weather conditions in January and February 2025 in certain of the markets in which the Company operates. Fuel contribution at consignment agent locations decreased by $0.4 million, while fuel margin per gallon increased 0.1 cents per gallon.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, other revenues, net increased by $23.1 million, and site operating expenses increased by $17.7 million, in each case as compared to the year ended December 31, 2024, resulting primarily from retail stores that the Company converted to dealer locations.
Fleet Fueling
For the Three Months For the Year
Ended December 31, Ended December 31,
--------------------- ----------------------
2025 2024 2025 2024
---------- --------- ----------- ---------
(in thousands)
Fuel gallons
sold --
proprietary
cardlock
locations 31,420 32,888 129,459 136,104
Fuel gallons
sold --
third-party
cardlock
locations 3,463 3,239 13,389 12,814
Fuel
contribution
(1) --
proprietary
cardlock
locations $ 15,423 $ 15,823 $ 63,408 $ 62,612
Fuel
contribution
(1) --
third-party
cardlock
locations $ 500 $ 509 $ 2,325 $ 1,677
Fuel margin,
cents per
gallon (2)
--
proprietary
cardlock
locations 49.1 48.1 49.0 46.0
Fuel margin,
cents per
gallon (2)
--
third-party
cardlock
locations 14.4 15.8 17.4 13.1
(1) Calculated as fuel revenue less fuel costs; excludes
the estimated fixed fee paid to the GPMP segment for
the cost of fuel.
(2) Calculated as fuel contribution divided by fuel
gallons sold.
Fuel contribution for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased by $0.4 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. At proprietary cardlocks, fuel contribution decreased by $0.4 million, while fuel margin per gallon increased for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, primarily due to favorable diesel margins. At third-party cardlock locations, fuel contribution remained consistent, while fuel margin per gallon decreased for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, fuel contribution increased by $1.4 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. At proprietary cardlocks, fuel contribution increased by $0.8 million, and fuel margin per gallon also increased for 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to favorable diesel margins. At third-party cardlock locations, fuel contribution increased by $0.6 million, and fuel margin per gallon also increased for 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to the closure of underperforming third-party locations.
Liquidity and Capital Expenditures
As of December 31, 2025, the Company's total liquidity was approximately $888 million, consisting of approximately $305 million of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $583 million of availability under the Company's lines of credit. Outstanding debt was approximately $912 million, resulting in net debt, excluding lease related financing liabilities, of approximately $607 million. The APC IPO in February bolstered the Company's liquidity position, as it used the proceeds to repay approximately $184 million of indebtedness under its Capital One Line of Credit. Capital expenditures were $29.6 million and $127.3 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2025, respectively, including the purchase of 23 fee properties for $23.6 million, investments in NTI retail stores, remodeling of new format stores, EV chargers, upgrades to fuel dispensers and other investments in stores.
Quarterly Dividend and Share Repurchase Program
The Company's ability to return cash to its stockholders through its cash dividend program and share repurchase program is consistent with its capital allocation framework and reflects the Company's confidence in the strength of its cash generation ability and strong financial position.
The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share of common stock to be paid on March 20, 2026 to stockholders of record as of March 10, 2026.
During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company repurchased approximately 1.7 million shares of common stock under its previously announced repurchase program for approximately $7.2 million, or an average price of $4.28 per share. The Company's fourth quarter share repurchases exhausted the remaining availability under its current share repurchase program.
Company-Operated Retail Store Count and Segment Update
The following tables present certain information regarding changes in the retail, wholesale and fleet fueling segments for the periods presented:
For the Three For the Year
Months Ended Ended December
December 31, 31,
----------------- ----------------
Retail Segment 2025 2024 2025 2024
------ -------- ----- --------
Number of sites at
beginning of
period 1,182 1,491 1,389 1,543
Acquired sites -- -- -- 21
Newly opened or
reopened sites -- 1 3 3
Company-controlled
sites converted to
consignment or fuel
supply locations,
net (62) (102) (256) (153)
Sites closed,
divested or
converted to
rentals (2) (1) (18) (25)
----- -------- ----- --------
Number of sites at
end of period 1,118 1,389 1,118 1,389
===== ======== ===== ========
For the Three For the Year
Months Ended Ended December
December 31, 31,
----------------- ----------------
Wholesale Segment
(1) 2025 2024 2025 2024
------ -------- ----- --------
Number of sites at
beginning of
period 2,053 1,832 1,922 1,825
Newly opened or
reopened sites (2) 10 9 26 39
Consignment or fuel
supply locations
converted from
Company-controlled
sites, net 62 102 256 153
Closed or divested
sites (26) (21) (105) (95)
----- -------- ----- --------
Number of sites at
end of period 2,099 1,922 2,099 1,922
===== ======== ===== ========
(1) Excludes bulk and spot purchasers.
(2) Includes all signed fuel supply agreements
irrespective of fuel distribution commencement date.
For the Three Months For the Year
Ended December 31, Ended December 31,
-------------------- ----------------------
Fleet
Fueling
Segment 2025 2024 2025 2024
---------- -------- --------- -------
Number of
sites at
beginning
of period 288 281 280 298
Acquired
sites 2 -- 2 -
Newly
opened or
reopened
sites 5 -- 16 1
Closed or
divested
sites -- (1) (3) (19)
--------- -------- --------- -------
Number of
sites at
end of
period 295 280 295 280
========= ======== ========= =======
Full Year 2026 Guidance
The Company currently expects full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to range between $245 million and $265 million, with an assumed range of average retail fuel margin from 41.5 to 43.5 cents per gallon.
The Company is not providing guidance on net income at this time due to the unavailability of certain required inputs that are not available without unreasonable efforts, including depreciation and amortization related to its capital allocation as part of its focus on strategic and organic growth.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
The Company will host a conference call today, February 25, 2026, to discuss these results at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the live call can dial 877-605-1792 or 201-689-8728.
A simultaneous, live webcast will also be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://www.arkocorp.com/news-events/ir-calendar. The webcast will be archived for 30 days.
About ARKO Corp.
ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO) is a Fortune 500 company that is one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesalers of fuel in the United States. Based in Richmond, VA, our retail segment operates retail convenience stores under more than 25 regional store brands in the District of Columbia and more than 30 states across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, Northeastern, Southeastern and Southwestern U.S. Our highly recognizable Family of Community Brands offers delicious, prepared foods, beer, snacks, candy, hot and cold beverages, and multiple popular quick serve restaurant brands. Our wholesale segment supplies fuel to independent dealers and consignment agents; our fleet fueling segment includes the operation of proprietary and third-party cardlock locations (unstaffed fueling locations), and commissions from the sales of fuel using proprietary fuel cards that provide customers access to a nationwide network of fueling sites; and our GPMP segment primarily engages in inter-segment transactions related to the wholesale distribution of fuel to substantially all of our sites that sell fuel in the retail, wholesale and fleet fueling segments. In February 2026, we completed the initial public offering of our subsidiary ARKO Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq: APC), which is the primary operating entity for the wholesale, fleet fueling, and GPMP segments. To learn more about GPM stores, visit: www.gpminvestments.com. To learn more about ARKO, visit: www.arkocorp.com. To learn more about APC, visit: www.arkopetroleum.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the Company's expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying its expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as "accretive," "anticipate," "aim," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect, " "guidance," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential, " "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to, among other things, changes in economic, business and market conditions; the Company's ability to maintain the listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market; changes in its strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; expansion plans and opportunities; changes in the markets in which it competes; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including those relating to environmental matters; market conditions and global and economic factors beyond its control; the success of the Company's transformation plan, including the dealerization of retail stores; and the outcome of any known or unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings. Detailed information about these factors and additional important factors can be found in the documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
The Company discloses certain measures on a "same store basis," which is a non-GAAP measure. Information disclosed on a "same store basis" excludes the results of any store that is not a "same store" for the applicable period. A store is considered a same store beginning in the first quarter in which the store had a full quarter of activity in the prior year. The Company believes that this information is useful for its investors, securities analysts, and other interested parties by providing greater comparability regarding its ongoing operating performance. Neither this measure nor those described below should be considered an alternative to measurements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP").
The Company discloses certain measures on a "comparable wholesale sites" basis, which is a non-GAAP measure. Information disclosed on a "comparable wholesale sites" basis excludes wholesale sites added through retail stores converted to dealers until the first quarter in which these sites had a full quarter of wholesale activity in the prior year. The Company believes that this information is useful for its investors, securities analysts, and other interested parties by providing greater comparability regarding its ongoing operating performance.
The Company defines EBITDA as net income including net income attributable to non-controlling interests before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further adjusts EBITDA by excluding the gain or loss on disposal of assets, impairment charges, acquisition and divestiture costs, share-based compensation expense, other non-cash items, certain litigation expenses, and other unusual or non-recurring charges. Both EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures.
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