Quarterly Report for Quarter Ending March 31, 2026 (Form 10-Q)

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

​

BUSINESS UPDATE

​

Similar to other retail formats, the convenience retailing sector we service continues to operate in a challenging operating environment, impacted in part by weaker consumer spending. At the same time, the cost structures for wholesale distributors such as our Company have been impacted by the cumulative impact of inflation over a multi-year period. These inflationary pressures have increased operating costs in all areas of our business such as product costs, fuel, labor and employee benefits, equipment, and insurance.

​

We continue to closely monitor economic conditions, including the impact of recent geopolitical events, tariffs and constraints on global shipping routes and supply chains. Additionally, we remain focused on proposals from regulatory bodies, including the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), which is evaluating potential limitations and/or prohibitions on the sale of certain products sold by our Company such as cigarettes (including menthol cigarettes), e-cigarettes, tobacco, and vaping products.

​

In recent years, the Company has completed a number of forward-looking strategic investments to enhance its overall competitive position. These investments include acquisitions, opening new distribution facilities, facility upgrades, and new investments in our foodservice and technology platforms. Our Company now ranks as the third (3rd) largest Convenience Distributor in the United States as measured by territory. We believe these targeted investments will be a competitive differentiator over time and will set the stage for future growth as major manufacturers and leading convenience store chains are increasingly relying on large distributors who can both cover wide geographic footprints and deploy unique merchandising and technology solutions.

​

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

​

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties and reflect management's current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company and those statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "future," "position," "anticipate(s)," "expect(s)," "believe(s)," "see," "plan," "further improve," "outlook," "should" or similar expressions. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.

​

It should be understood that the following important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this document, could affect the future results of the Company and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Changes in these factors could result in significantly different results. Consequently, future results may differ from management's expectations. Moreover, past financial performance should not be considered a reliable indicator of future performance. Any forward-looking statement contained herein is made as of the date of this document. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or correct any of these forward-looking statements in the future to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of material events or changes in future operating results, financial conditions or business over time.

​

​

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

​

Certain accounting estimates used in the preparation of the Company's condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements ("financial statements") require us to make judgments and estimates and the financial results we report may vary depending on how we make these judgments and estimates. Our critical accounting estimates are set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There have been no significant changes with respect to these estimates and related policies during the six months ended March 2026.

​

SECOND FISCAL QUARTER 2026 (Q2 2026)

​

The following discussion and analysis includes the Company's results of operations for the three and six months ended March 2026 and March 2025:

​

Wholesale Segment

​

Our Wholesale Segment is one of the largest wholesale distributors in the United States, serving approximately 8,500 retail outlets including convenience stores, grocery stores, liquor stores, drug stores, and tobacco shops. We currently distribute over 20,000 different consumer products, including cigarettes and tobacco products, candy and other confectionery products, beverages, groceries, paper products, health and beauty care products, frozen and refrigerated products and institutional foodservice products. We have licenses, and operate, in 34 states, and are the third (3rd) largest convenience store distributor by geographic territory served.

​

Our Wholesale Segment offers retailers the ability to take advantage of manufacturer- and Company-sponsored sales and marketing programs, merchandising and product category management services, and the use of information systems and data services that are focused on minimizing retailers' investment in inventory, while seeking to maximize their sales and profits. In addition, our wholesale distribution capabilities provide valuable services to both manufacturers of consumer products and convenience retailers. Manufacturers benefit from our broad retail coverage, inventory management, efficiency in processing small orders, and frequency of deliveries. Convenience retailers benefit from our distribution capabilities by gaining access to a broad product line, inventory optimization and merchandising expertise, information systems, and accessing trade credit.

​

During Q2 2026, we purchased a distribution facility in Ohio for $8.0 million using borrowings from the Company's revolving credit facilities. Our Wholesale Segment now operates 15 distribution centers located in Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia. These distribution centers, combined with cross-dock facilities, include approximately 1.8 million square feet of permanent floor space. Our principal suppliers include Altria, RJ Reynolds, ITG Brands, Hershey, Kellanova, Kraft Heinz, Mars Wrigley, General Mills, Procter and Gamble, Ferrero and other major Consumer Packaged Goods and Foodservice suppliers. We also work closely with our customer base to source private label products on their behalf in a wide variety of categories. In addition, we market our own private label lines of water, candy products, batteries, and other products. We do not maintain any long-term purchase contracts with our suppliers. However, we do participate in a number of programs with our major vendors to support in-stock positions of our key products.

​

Retail Segment

​

Our Retail Segment, through our Healthy Edge Retail Group subsidiary, is a specialty retailer of natural/organic groceries and operates 15 retail health food stores under the Chamberlin's Natural Foods, Akin's Natural Foods, and Earth Origins Market banners. We operate within the natural products retail industry, which is a subset of the United States grocery industry. This industry includes conventional, natural, gourmet and specialty food markets, mass and discount retailers, warehouse clubs, health food stores, dietary supplement retailers, drug stores, farmers markets, mail order and online retailers, and multi-level marketers. These stores carry over 32,000 different nationally and regionally branded and private label products including high-quality natural, organic, and specialty foods consisting of produce, baked goods, frozen foods, nutritional supplements, personal care items, and general merchandise.

​

​

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH:

​

​

SALES

​

Changes in sales are primarily driven by:

​

​

​

SALES - Q2 2026 vs. Q2 2025

​

Sales in our Wholesale Segment increased $96.3 million during Q2 2026 as compared to Q2 2025. Significant items impacting sales during Q2 2026 included a $53.9 million increase in sales related to the volume and mix of cigarette cartons sold, a $31.6 million increase in sales related to price increases implemented by cigarette manufacturers, and a $10.8 million increase in sales related to the volume and mix of products in our tobacco, confectionery, foodservice, and other categories ("Other Products"). Sales in our Retail Segment decreased approximately $0.1 million during Q2 2026 as compared to Q2 2025, primarily due to lower sales volumes in our existing stores.

​

GROSS PROFIT - Q2 2026 vs. Q2 2025

​

Our gross profit does not include fulfillment costs and costs related to the distribution network, which are included in selling, general and administrative costs, and may not be comparable to those of other entities. Some entities may classify such costs as a component of cost of sales. Cost of sales, a component used in determining gross profit, for the wholesale and retail segments includes the cost of products purchased from manufacturers, less incentives we receive which are netted against such costs.

​

Gross profit in our Wholesale Segment increased $0.8 million during Q2 2026 as compared to Q2 2025. Significant items impacting gross profit during Q2 2026 included an increase of $1.1 million related to the volume and mix of cigarette cartons sold between the comparative periods and a $0.1 million increase related to the mix of volumes and promotions in our Other Products category, partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in gross profit due to the timing and related benefits of cigarette manufacturer price increases. Gross profit in our Retail Segment decreased approximately $0.3 million during Q2 2026 as compared to Q2 2025, primarily due to a decrease in gross profit related to same store sales.

​

OPERATING EXPENSE - Q2 2026 vs. Q2 2025

​

Operating expense includes selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. Selling, general, and administrative expenses primarily consist of costs related to our sales, warehouse, delivery and administrative departments, including purchasing and receiving costs, warehousing costs and costs of picking and loading customer orders. Our most significant expenses relate to costs associated with employees, facility and equipment leases, transportation, fuel, and insurance. Our Q2 2026 operating expenses increased $1.3 million as compared to Q2 2025. Significant items impacting operating expenses during Q2 2026 included a $1.3 million increase in other Wholesale Segment operating costs, a $0.4 million increase in allowance for credit losses, and a $0.1 million increase in health and other insurance costs. These increases in operating expenses were partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease related to employee compensation and benefit costs.

​

INTEREST EXPENSE - Q2 2026 vs. Q2 2025

​

Interest expense decreased in Q2 2026 as compared to Q2 2025, primarily due to lower interest rates and lower average debt balances in the current period.

​

INCOME TAX EXPENSE - Q2 2026 vs. Q2 2025

​

The change in the Q2 2026 income tax rate as compared to Q2 2025 was primarily related to non-deductible expenses in relation to the amount of income (loss) from operations before income tax expense (benefit) and variances in the average effective state income tax rates between the comparative periods.

​

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH:

​

​

SALES - Six months ended March 2026

​

Sales in our Wholesale Segment increased $114.8 million during the six months ended March 2026 as compared to the same prior year period. Significant items impacting sales during the current period included a $60.7 million increase in sales related to price increases implemented by cigarette manufacturers, a $37.5 million increase in sales related to the volume and mix of cigarette cartons sold, and a $16.6 million increase in sales related to the volume and mix of products in our Other Products category. Sales in our Retail Segment increased approximately $0.1 million during the six months ended March 2026 as compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to higher sales volumes in our existing stores.

​

GROSS PROFIT - Six months ended March 2026

​

Gross profit in our Wholesale Segment increased $1.8 million during the six months ended March 2026 as compared to the same prior year period. Significant items impacting gross profit during the current period included an increase of $1.4 million related to the mix of volumes and promotions in our Other Products category, and a $1.0 million increase in gross profit related to the volume and mix of cigarette cartons sold between the comparative periods, partially offset by a $0.6 million decrease in gross profit due to the timing and related benefits of cigarette manufacturer price increases. Gross profit in our Retail Segment decreased approximately $0.2 million during the six months ended March 2026 as compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to a decrease in gross profit related to same store sales.

​

​

OPERATING EXPENSE - Six months ended March 2026

​

Operating expenses increased $2.2 million during the six months ended March 2026 as compared to the same prior year period. Significant items impacting operating expenses during the current period included the impact of a prior year (Q1 2025) reduction in operating expenses related to a $1.5 million contingent liability fair value adjustment, a $1.6 million increase in other Wholesale Segment operating costs, a $0.2 million increase in allowance for credit losses, and a $0.1 million increase in operating expense costs in our Retail Segment. These increases in operating expenses were partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease in health and other insurance costs and a $0.4 million decrease related to employee compensation and benefit costs. The increase in our Retail Segment was primarily due to an increase in costs associated with our existing stores.

​

INTEREST EXPENSE - Six months ended March 2026

​

Interest expense decreased $0.2 million during the six months ended March 2026 as compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to lower interest rates and lower average debt balances in the current period.

​

INCOME TAX EXPENSE - Six months ended March 2026

​

The change in the Company's effective income tax rate during the six-month period ended March 2026 as compared to the respective prior year period was primarily related to non-deductible expenses in relation to the amount of income (loss) from operations before income tax expense (benefit) and variances in the average effective state income tax rates between the comparative periods.

​

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

​

Overview

​

The Company's variability in cash flows from operating activities is dependent on the timing of inventory purchases and seasonal fluctuations. For example, periodically we have inventory "buy-in" opportunities which offer more favorable pricing terms. As a result, we may have to hold inventory for a period longer than the payment terms. This generates a cash outflow from operating activities that we expect to reverse in later periods. Additionally, during our peak time of operations in the warm weather months, we generally carry higher amounts of inventory to ensure high fill rates and customer satisfaction.

​

The Company primarily finances its operations through three credit facility agreements (a) a facility that is an obligation of AMCON Distributing Company (the "AMCON Facility"), (b) a facility that is an obligation of Team Sledd, LLC ("Team Sledd" and, the "Team Sledd Facility") and (c) a facility that is the obligation of Henry's (the "Henry's Facility") (collectively, the "Facilities") and long-term debt agreements with banks. The Team Sledd Facility and the Henry's Facility are non-recourse to AMCON Distributing Company, are not guaranteed by AMCON Distributing Company and have no cross default provisions applicable to AMCON Distributing Company.

​

At March 2026, the Facilities had a total combined borrowing capacity of $305.0 million, including provisions for up to $30.0 million in credit advances for certain inventory purchases, which are limited by accounts receivable and inventory qualifications, and the value of certain real estate collateral. The AMCON Facility matures in June 2027, the Henry's Facility matures in February 2028, and the Team Sledd Facility matures in March 2028, each without a penalty for prepayment. Obligations under the Facilities are collateralized by substantially all of the Company's respective equipment, intangibles, inventories, accounts receivable, and certain real estate. The Facilities each feature an unused commitment fee and springing financial covenants. Borrowings under the Facilities bear interest at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), plus any applicable spreads.

​

The amount available for use from the Facilities at any given time is subject to a number of factors, including eligible accounts receivable and inventory balances that fluctuate day-to-day, as well as the value of certain real estate collateral. Based on the collateral and loan limits as defined in the Facility agreements, the credit limit of the combined Facilities at March 2026 was $234.9 million, of which $137.1 million was outstanding, leaving $97.8 million available.

​

The average interest rate of the Facilities was 5.07% at March 2026. For the six months ended March 2026, the peak borrowings under the Facilities was $193.2 million, and the average borrowings and average availability under the Facilities was $154.6 million and $80.7 million, respectively.

​

Cross Default and Co-Terminus Provisions

​

The Team Sledd Facility and Team Sledd's two notes payable contain cross default provisions. The Henry's Facility and the Henry's note payable also contain cross default provisions. There were no such cross defaults for either Team Sledd or Henry's at March 2026. Additionally, the Team Sledd Facility and the Henry's Facility are non-recourse to AMCON Distributing Company, are not guaranteed by AMCON Distributing Company and have no cross default provisions applicable to AMCON Distributing Company. The Company and its subsidiaries, including Team Sledd and Henry's, were in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the respective Facilities at March 2026.

​

Dividend Payments

​

The Company paid cash dividends on its common stock totaling $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the three- and six-month periods ended March 2026, respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the three- and six-month periods ended March 2025, respectively.

​

See Note 4 of Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for information regarding the Company's March 2026 stock split.

​

Other

​

The Company has issued letters of credit totaling $2.9 million to its workers' compensation insurance carriers as part of its self-insured loss control program.

​

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

​

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

​

Liquidity Risk

​

The Company's liquidity position is significantly influenced by its ability to maintain sufficient levels of working capital. For our Company and our industry in general, customer credit risk and ongoing access to bank credit heavily influence liquidity positions.

​

The Company does not currently hedge its exposure to interest rate risk or fuel costs. Accordingly, significant price movements in these areas can and do impact the Company's profitability.

​

While the Company believes its liquidity position going forward will be adequate to sustain operations in both the short- and long-term, a precipitous change in operating environment could materially impact the Company's future revenue streams as well as its ability to collect on customer accounts receivable or secure bank credit.

​