ARKO Corp. Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

Published: 2026-05-07 07:31:05 ET ARKO

Published on 05/07/2026 at 07:31 am EDT

RICHMOND, Va., May 07, 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 first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

First Quarter 2026 Key Highlights (vs. Year-Ago Period) 1,2

Other Key Highlights

1 See Use of Non-GAAP Measures below.2 All figures for fuel costs, fuel contribution and fuel margin per gallon exclude the fixed margin or fixed fee paid to the GPMP segment for the cost of fuel.

“Our first quarter results reflect both strong execution and the structural progress we have been making across the business,” said Arie Kotler, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ARKO. “Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 65% year-over-year, same-store merchandise sales excluding cigarettes returned to growth, and same-store fuel gallon performance was the strongest we have seen in two years. While weather disruptions negatively affected January and early February results, trends improved as the quarter progressed, and March performance was particularly strong. We believe these results reflect the work we have been doing across dealerization, loyalty, fuel pricing, merchandising and cost discipline, while also demonstrating our ability to deliver value in a consumer environment that remains economically pressured and value-focused.”

Mr. Kotler continued: “With APC now public, investors have greater transparency into our wholesale, fleet fueling and GPMP businesses, and we believe the APC structure enhances financial flexibility and highlights the value embedded across our portfolio. As we move through 2026, we remain focused on disciplined capital allocation, continued dealerization, high-return growth opportunities such as cardlocks and retail NTIs, and building long-term value through consistent execution across all segments.”

First Quarter 2026 Segment Highlights

Retail

Merchandise contribution for the first quarter of 2026 decreased by $14.1 million, or 12.0%, compared to the first quarter of 2025, while merchandise margin increased by 70 basis points to 33.9% for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 33.2% for the prior year period. The decrease in merchandise contribution was due to a $13.7 million decrease related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations and a $0.6 million decrease in same store merchandise contribution.

Fuel contribution for the first quarter of 2026 increased by $8.0 million, or 9.4%, compared to the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to a same store fuel contribution increase of $15.3 million, partially offset by a $7.8 million decrease in retail fuel contribution related to retail stores that were closed or converted to dealer locations. Fuel margin of 47.9 cents per gallon increased 10.0 cents per gallon compared to the first quarter of 2025.

For the first quarter of 2026, site operating expenses decreased by $21.4 million, or 12.1%, compared to the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to $26.7 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 $4.8 million, or 3.3%, primarily due to higher personnel costs, credit card fees and rent.

Wholesale

For the first quarter of 2026, wholesale operating income increased by $4.4 million compared to the first quarter of 2025 as a result of additional operating income from retail stores converted to dealer locations combined with increased operating income at comparable wholesale sites.

For the first quarter of 2026, fuel contribution increased by $2.8 million compared to the first quarter of 2025. Fuel contribution for the first quarter of 2026 at fuel supply locations increased by $1.2 million due to incremental contribution from retail stores converted to dealer locations, which was partially offset by lower fuel contribution at comparable wholesale sites. Fuel contribution for the first quarter of 2026 at consignment agent locations increased $1.6 million due to incremental contribution from retail stores converted to dealer locations and higher fuel contribution at comparable wholesale site. Fuel margin per gallon increased, compared to the first quarter of 2025, 0.4 cents per gallon at fuel supply locations and 5.3 cents per gallon at consignment agent locations, primarily as a result of significant volatility in the fuel market due to the geopolitical environment and increased prompt pay discounts related to higher fuel costs.

For the first quarter of 2026, other revenues, net increased by $6.2 million, and site operating expenses increased by $5.2 million, in each case as compared to the first quarter of 2025, resulting primarily from retail stores converted to dealer locations.

Fleet Fueling

Fuel contribution for the first quarter of 2026 increased by $1.4 million compared to the first quarter of 2025. At proprietary cardlocks, fuel contribution increased by $1.2 million, and fuel margin per gallon also increased for the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025. At third-party cardlock locations, fuel contribution increased $0.2 million, and fuel margin per gallon also increased for the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025. These increases were primarily due to favorable diesel margins as a result of significant volatility in the fuel market due to the geopolitical environment.

Liquidity and Capital Expenditures

As of March 31, 2026, the Company’s total liquidity was approximately $1.1 billion, consisting of approximately $272 million of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $794 million of availability under the Company's lines of credit. Outstanding debt was approximately $704 million, resulting in net debt of approximately $432 million. The APC IPO in February 2026 bolstered the Company's liquidity position, as the Company used the proceeds to repay $206.7 million of indebtedness. Capital expenditures were $30.9 million for the first quarter of 2026, including investments in NTI retail stores and fleet fueling locations, remodeling of new format stores, EV chargers, upgrades to fuel dispensers and other investments in stores.

Quarterly Dividend

The Company’s ability to return cash to its stockholders through its cash dividend 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 May 29, 2026 to stockholders of record as of May 18, 2026.

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:

Full Year 2026 Guidance

The Company is not updating its guidance disclosed in February 2026, which expected 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 for the year.

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, May 7, 2026, to discuss these results at 9:00 a.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 the Company 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; the impact of APC operating as a public company; 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 dealer locations 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 (loss) 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.

The Company uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for operational and financial decision-making and believe these measures are useful in evaluating its performance because they eliminate certain items that it does not consider indicators of its operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are also used by many of its investors, securities analysts, and other interested parties in evaluating its operational and financial performance across reporting periods. The Company believes that the presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors by allowing an understanding of key measures that it uses internally for operational decision-making, budgeting, evaluating acquisition targets, and assessing its operating performance.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to any financial measure presented in accordance with GAAP, including net income (loss). These non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation, or as substitutes for the analysis of its results as reported under GAAP. The Company strongly encourages investors to review its financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, same store measures, comparable wholesale sites, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. It therefore may not be possible to compare the Company’s use of these non-GAAP financial measures with those used by other companies.

Company ContactJordan MannARKO [email protected]

Investor ContactSean Mansouri, CFA Elevate IR(720) [email protected]

Supplemental Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Information

Supplemental Disclosures of Segment Information

Retail Segment

Wholesale Segment

Fleet Fueling Segment

GPMP Segment