Alimentation Couche-Tard reports net earnings of US$819.2 million in second quarter

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. says its net earnings for the second quarter were US$819.2 million, up from US$810.4 million a year earlier.

The Laval, Que.-based company says total merchandise and service revenues were US$4.1 billion, up 1% from last year.

Alimentation Couche-Tard says same-store merchandise revenues decreased by 0.1% in the U.S. and 0.2% in Europe but rose 1.6% in Canada.

President and CEO Brian Hannasch says the company saw softening in U.S. same-store sales driven by weakness in the cigarette category and compared with a strong second quarter a year earlier.

Diluted earnings per share were 85 cents US, up from 79 cents US during the same quarter last year.

The company says same-store road transportation fuel volumes decreased by 1.5% in the U.S. and 0.9% in Europe but increased three per cent in Canada.