Couche-Tard Targets Earnings, Revenue Growth With Strategy Push

By Robb M. Stewart

Alimentation Couche-Tard plans to focus on strengthening its core platforms, which includes chasing targeted investment opportunities, in an effort to drive longer-term growth.

The Canadian convenience-store giant, which last year failed to clinch an attempted $47 billion acquisition of 7-Eleven parent Seven & i, on Wednesday unveiled a strategy dubbed Core + More that aims to position Couche-Tard to win over customers in the years to come.

The push is projected to drive year-over-year adjusted earnings-per-share growth of 10% or more from fiscal 2026 through 2030 and comparable same-store merchandise revenue expansion of between 2% and 3%, the company said. It said it expects total merchandise and service revenue over the period to grow 4% to 5% a year, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization is anticipated to rise 6% to 8%.

For fiscal 2026, the company said it expects free cash flow of more than $2.5 billion.

"This strategy is about turning the full power of our scale, network and people into greater value for our shareholders," President and Chief Executive Alex Miller said.

Couche-Tard operates in 29 countries and territories, with more than 17,300 stores, of which about 13,200 sell gasoline and transportation fuel.

"We believe we have the right recipe to support profitable growth, with targets that are calibrated, measurable, and well understood across the organization," said Chief Financial Officer Filipe Da Silva.

Last July, the company dropped its pursuit of Seven & i, citing a lack of willingness to work on a deal by the Japanese company. A combination of 7-Eleven with its existing chain of Couche-Tard and Circle K outlets would have created a global leader in convenience stores. Seven & i defended its role, and said that the more access and information Couche-Tard obtained the more it understood the clear regulatory challenges that stood in the way of a deal.

Couche-Tard recorded a 2.6% rise in revenue to $17.87 billion for the fiscal second-quarter ended Oct. 12, supported by same-store merchandise-sales growth across its global footprint.

Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 11, 2026 10:23 ET (15:23 GMT)