ARKO Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results and Raises Lower End of the Full Year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance
RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO) (“ARKO” or the “Company”), one of the largest operators of convenience stores in the United States, ranked by store count and one of the largest fuel wholesalers in North America, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, and raised lower end of its full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance.
Third Quarter and 2026 Key Highlights (vs. Year-Ago Period) 1,2
“We delivered solid third quarter results and continued to make meaningful progress transforming ARKO into a more focused, resilient and cash generative business,” said Arie Kotler, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ARKO. “Through the first nine months of 2026, Adjusted EBITDA increased 8.5% to $199 million. Importantly, our retained-store portfolio generated positive merchandise sales, excluding cigarettes, for each quarter this year, while merchandise margins continued to expand year-over-year for the 12 th consecutive quarter. These results reinforce our confidence in our retail transformation and the investments we are making in our core company-operated portfolio.”
Mr. Kotler continued: “Our diversified platform also continues to perform well. Wholesale and Fleet Fueling delivered solid results, and the expected acquisition of USPP’s business would meaningfully expand APC’s scale and its capabilities across the fuel value chain. We believe the combination of continued progress in our retail transformation, disciplined capital allocation and APC’s continued growth positions ARKO to generate stronger and more durable cash flow over time. Based on our year-to-date performance, current business trends and the expected closing of the USPP acquisition, we are raising the low end of our full year Adjusted EBITDA guidance and now expect full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $250 million to $265 million.”
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.
Third Quarter 2026 Segment Highlights
Retail
For the third quarter of 2026, merchandise contribution decreased by $9.5 million, or 7.2%, compared to the third quarter of 2025, while merchandise margin increased by 110 basis points to 34.8% for the third quarter of 2026 compared to 33.7% for the third quarter of 2025. The decrease in merchandise contribution was primarily due to a $10.3 million decrease related to retail stores closed or converted to dealer locations. Same store merchandise contribution increased by $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the third quarter of 2025.
For the third quarter of 2026, same store fuel contribution increased $2.6 million, or 2.7%, with same store fuel margin per gallon for the third quarter of 2026 increasing 4.6 cents per gallon to 48.8 cents per gallon compared to 44.2 for the third quarter of 2025, primarily a result of significant volatility in the fuel market due to the geopolitical environment. Total fuel contribution decreased by $3.9 million, or 3.8%, compared to the third quarter of 2025, primarily due to a $7.3 million decrease in fuel contribution related to retail stores closed or converted to dealer locations compared to the third quarter of 2025, partially offset by the increase in same store fuel contribution.
For the third quarter of 2026, site operating expenses decreased by $12.5 million, or 7.3%, compared to the third quarter of 2025 primarily due to $19.4 million of reduced expenses related to retail stores closed or converted to dealer locations, partially offset by an increase in same store operating expenses of $6.0 million, or 4.0%, primarily due to $3.1 million of higher credit card fees associated with elevated fuel prices, as well as higher personnel costs, utilities and rent.
For the third quarter of 2026, the Company continued execution of its transformation plan, including converting 17 retail stores to dealer locations during the quarter, bringing total conversions to 488 since the dealerization program began in 2024. The Company has an aggregate of approximately 55 additional sites committed under letter of intent, under contract or already converted since quarter end. The Company expects to continue to convert a meaningful number of additional stores and expects to be largely complete by the end of 2027.
The Company continues to invest in its retail stores, including remodels, fas craves food and beverage offerings, retail new-to-industry (“NTI”) stores, technology and automated ordering. Since the launch of its new format fas craves flagship location in June 2025, the Company has been rolling out the new format across its retail store base. In 2026, the Company expects to complete more than 25 store remodels, of which 11 have been completed to date, all which feature the fas craves food and beverage elements. During the first nine months of 2026, the Company opened three NTI retail stores, and plans to open four NTI Dunkin’ stores between now and early 2027.
Wholesale
For the third quarter of 2026, wholesale operating income increased by $1.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2025 primarily as a result of additional operating income from retail sites converted to dealer locations, which was partially offset by reduced operating income at comparable wholesale sites.
For the third quarter of 2026, fuel contribution increased by $1.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2025. Fuel contribution for the third quarter of 2026 at fuel supply locations increased by $1.4 million compared to the third quarter of 2025, primarily due to $1.5 million of incremental contribution from retail sites converted to dealer locations. Fuel contribution for the third quarter of 2026 at consignment agent locations increased $0.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2025, primarily due to $0.4 million of incremental contribution from retail sites converted to dealer locations.
Fuel margin per gallon at fuel supply locations increased 0.9 cents per gallon compared to the third quarter of 2025, and fuel margin per gallon at consignment agent locations increased 2.8 cents per gallon compared to the third quarter of 2025, both primarily due to increased prompt pay discounts related to higher fuel costs.
For the third quarter of 2026, other revenues, net increased by $3.5 million, and site operating expenses increased by $3.8 million, in each case compared to the third quarter of 2025, resulting primarily from retail stores converted to dealer locations.
Fleet Fueling
For the third quarter of 2026, fuel contribution increased by $0.9 million compared to the third quarter of 2025. At proprietary cardlocks, fuel contribution increased by $0.6 million, and fuel margin per gallon also increased for the third quarter of 2026 compared to the third quarter of 2025. At third-party cardlock locations, fuel contribution increased $0.3 million, and fuel margin per gallon also increased for the third quarter of 2026 compared to the third quarter of 2025. These increases primarily resulted from significant volatility in the fuel market due to the geopolitical environment.
The Company opened five new fleet fueling locations in the first nine months of 2026 and two locations were added in October 2026. Currently, the Company has an additional 16 locations in various stages of planning and development, reflecting the attractive, durable cash flow profile of its fleet fueling business.
ARKO Petroleum Corp. Strategic Acquisition Transaction Announcement Highlights
Additional details regarding the transaction, including the strategic and financial highlights, can be found in a separate press release and investor presentation issued by APC on August 6, 2026, both available on the Investor Relations section of APC's website at www.arkopetroleum.com.
Liquidity and Capital Expenditures
As of September 30, 2026, the Company’s total liquidity was approximately $1.0 billion, consisting of approximately $184 million of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $845 million of availability under the Company's lines of credit. Outstanding debt was approximately $625 million, which after deducting cash and cash equivalents resulted in net debt of approximately $441 million. During the third quarter of 2026, the Company repurchased $62.1 million principal amount of its outstanding 5.125% senior notes as part of its disciplined capital allocation strategy. Capital expenditures were $41.4 million for the third quarter of 2026, including the purchase of fee properties, investments in NTI retail stores and new 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 December 3, 2026 to stockholders of record as of November 20, 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
Based on its performance through the first nine months of 2026, current business trends and the expected closing of the USPP acquisition, the Company is raising the lower end of its full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance. The Company now expects full year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $250 million and $265 million, compared with its previous guidance of $245 million and $265 million. The Company is also increasing its outlook for average annual retail fuel margin to a range of 47.0 cents per gallon to 49.0 cents per gallon, with higher margins expected to offset anticipated lower retail fuel volumes.
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, November 5, 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 1000 company that is one of the largest operators of convenience stores in the United States, ranked by store count, and one of the largest fuel wholesalers in North America. 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 successfully integrate business that it may acquire, including the business of USPP; the Company’s ability to achieve the benefits that it expects to realize as a result of its acquisitions, including the business of USPP; the potential negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations if it fails to achieve the benefits that it expects to realize as a result of its business acquisitions, including the business of USPP; liabilities of the businesses that the Company acquires that are not known to the Company; 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 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 believes 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. 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.
Reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP measures related to the business of USPP following its acquisition included in this press release to the corresponding GAAP financial measures are not included due to variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections, particularly in light of potential changes in USPP’s business following its acquisition, as well as, because certain information is not currently ascertainable or accessible, and because not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures is available to the Company without unreasonable efforts. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, nor can the Company accurately predict all the components of the applicable non-GAAP financial measures and reconciling adjustments thereto; accordingly, the corresponding GAAP measures may be materially different than the non-GAAP measures. Such forward-looking information is also subject to uncertainty and various risks, including those set forth in the risk factors discussed above, and there can be no assurance that any forecasted results or conditions will actually be achieved.
Company and Investor Contact
Priya Trivedi
ARKO Corp.
investors@gpminvestments.com
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Information
Supplemental Disclosures of Segment Information
Retail Segment
Wholesale Segment
Fleet Fueling Segment