Alimentation Couche-Tard earns US$708.8 million in second quarter

Alimentation Couche-Tard says its earnings attributable to shareholders were US$708.8 million in its second quarter.

That's down 13.5% from US$819.2 million a year earlier. 

The Laval, Que.-based company says total revenues were US$17.4 billion, up 6% from US$16.4 billion. 

Earnings per diluted share were 75 cents US, down from 85 cents US during the same quarter last year. 

The company says its adjusted net earnings were reduced primarily due to a lower road transportation fuel gross margin in the U.S. as well as softer consumer traffic and demand and other factors. 

President and CEO Alex Miller says parts of the company's fuel and convenience business continued to feel the effects of careful consumer spending, and the company is confident in its long-term strategic growth plan.