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Alto Ingredients (ALTO)
NASDAQ:ALTO

Alto Ingredients (ALTO) AI Stock Analysis

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Alto Ingredients

(NASDAQ:ALTO)

Rating:46Neutral
Price Target:
$1.00
▼(-14.53%Downside)
Alto Ingredients faces substantial financial challenges with negative profitability and cash flow issues. Technical indicators are mixed, and the valuation is unattractive with a negative P/E ratio. The recent Nasdaq delisting notice adds significant risk. The company's strategic initiatives and regulatory optimism provide some positive outlook, but overall, the risks currently outweigh the potential rewards.
Positive Factors
Acquisition
The acquisition of a liquid CO2 business is expected to be immediately accretive, providing future earnings upside.
Cost Management
Cost-cutting measures, including reducing headcount and cold idling a facility, are expected to save $8 million annually.
Strategic Initiatives
Management is considering various strategic options to unlock shareholder value beyond selling assets, indicating a proactive approach to improving the company's financial health.
Negative Factors
Financial Performance
Revenues declined by 13.6% year-over-year due to lower ethanol prices, and the company reported a net loss for the quarter.
Global Trade
Global headwinds resulting from reduced exports to China have the potential to impact ethanol demand adversely.
Gross Margins
Depressed crush spreads continued to impact gross margins during the quarter.

Alto Ingredients (ALTO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Alto Ingredients Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAlto Ingredients, Inc. produces and markets specialty alcohols and essential ingredients in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Marketing and Distribution, Pekin Production, and Other Production. It offers specialty alcohols used in mouthwash, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and cleaners for health, home, and beauty markets; grain neutral spirits used in alcoholic beverages, flavor extracts, and vinegar, as well as corn germ used in corn oils and carbon dioxide for food and beverage markets; and essential ingredients include dried yeast, corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, distillers grains, and liquid feed for commercial animal feed and pet food applications. The company also provides fuel-grade ethanol used as transportation fuel and distillers corn oil used as a biodiesel feedstock, as well as fuel-grade ethanol produced by third parties. In addition, it offers transportation, storage, and delivery services through third-party service providers. The company sells ethanol to integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers; essential ingredient feed products to dairies and feedlots; and corn oil to poultry and biodiesel customers. It operates five alcohol production facilities, including three plants in the Midwestern states of Illinois; and two facilities located in the Western states of Oregon and Idaho. The company was formerly known as Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and changed its name to Alto Ingredients, Inc. in January 2021. Alto Ingredients, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Pekin, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyAlto Ingredients generates revenue through the production and sale of its specialty alcohols and essential ingredients. The company operates several production facilities where it converts corn into alcohol and other co-products. Revenue streams include high-grade alcohols for consumer and industrial use, co-products such as distillers' grains sold to the animal feed industry, and corn oil. Additionally, the company benefits from strategic partnerships and distribution agreements that enhance market reach and operational efficiency. Factors such as commodity prices, government regulations on renewable fuels, and market demand for specialty alcohols significantly influence its earnings.

Alto Ingredients Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 36.05%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 11, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mix of positive outcomes such as improved margins, successful acquisitions, and potential regulatory tailwinds from E15, against challenges like lower alcohol premiums, high inventory levels, and operational disruptions. The sentiment is balanced by both highlights and lowlights.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Improved Gross Margin and Adjusted EBITDA
During Q1 2025, gross margin and adjusted EBITDA improved compared to Q1 2024, reflecting operational uptime and carbon optimization initiatives.
Successful Acquisition of Beverage-Grade Liquid CO2 Plant
The acquisition of a beverage-grade liquid CO2 plant has reduced management and staffing costs, enhancing operational coordination and overall productivity.
Cost Savings from Workforce Reduction
A 16% reduction in headcount is expected to save approximately $8 million annually, with the financial benefit starting in Q2.
Solid Demand for ISCC Certified Renewable Fuel
The ISCC certification enabled access to higher-margin sales, partially offsetting domestic market challenges.
Potential Positive Impact of E15 Fuel Waiver
The EPA's E15 fuel waiver is expected to allow blending through the summer, potentially boosting ethanol demand.
Negative Updates
Decline in High-Quality Alcohol Premiums
Premiums on domestic high-quality alcohol were generally lower in Q1 than in the same quarter last year, reflecting increased competition.
Challenges from High Inventory Levels
Despite improved crush margins, high inventory levels with production outpacing demand kept margin expansion in check.
Damage to Pekin Load Out Dock
The Pekin load out dock was damaged due to rapidly rising river levels, negatively impacting production and logistics.
Potential Legal Impact on CO2 Sequestration
Illinois Bill SB1723 could impact CO2 sequestration activities, requiring relocation of storage sites and affecting CCS initiatives.
Net Loss Remains Unchanged
Consolidated net loss was $11.7 million for both Q1 2025 and Q1 2024, indicating ongoing financial challenges.
Company Guidance
During the first quarter of 2025, Alto Ingredients reported improvements in gross margin and adjusted EBITDA compared to the first quarter of 2024, driven by operational uptime and strategic acquisitions, including a beverage-grade liquid carbon dioxide processing plant. The company executed a 16% headcount reduction over Q4 and Q1, anticipating $8 million in annual savings starting in Q2. While net sales declined to $227 million due to various market factors, adjusted EBITDA improved to negative $4.4 million from negative $7.1 million year-over-year. The company sold 89.6 million gallons, a decrease from 99 million gallons in the prior year, and cited challenges with high inventory levels and market competition. Despite these challenges, Alto Ingredients successfully expanded ISCC certified renewable fuel sales and expressed optimism about potential regulatory changes that could boost ethanol demand significantly.

Alto Ingredients Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Alto Ingredients is experiencing significant financial difficulties, marked by declining revenues, negative profitability margins, and cash flow issues. The low leverage is a positive aspect, but the negative return on equity indicates inefficiencies in generating shareholder returns. Overall, the financial statements reflect a company struggling with operational and financial challenges, which may pose risks for future stability and growth.
Income Statement
40
Negative
Alto Ingredients has experienced a significant decline in revenue from $1,222.94M in 2023 to $965.26M in 2024, marking a revenue growth rate of -21.06%. Additionally, the company has faced notable profitability challenges, with a negative gross profit margin of 1.01% and a net profit margin of -6.24% in 2024. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also negative. These factors indicate struggling operational efficiency and weak profitability.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The company's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.02, reflecting low leverage, which is a positive aspect. However, the return on equity is negative at -26.77%, indicating shareholders are not seeing positive returns. The equity ratio is not available for 2024 due to missing total assets data, but the available data indicates a weakening financial position over time.
Cash Flow
30
Negative
Alto Ingredients has faced significant challenges in cash flow management, with a negative free cash flow of -$14.59M in 2024. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, indicating cash flow issues. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also negative, highlighting ongoing liquidity concerns and raising questions about the company's ability to sustain operations without external financing.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
951.17M965.26M1.22B1.34B1.21B897.02M
Gross Profit
6.98M9.72M15.65M-27.55M67.78M52.86M
EBIT
-53.20M-51.67M-23.85M-61.36M16.52M-18.60M
EBITDA
-24.63M-26.76M2.60M-12.75M61.89M51.15M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-58.94M-58.98M-28.00M-41.60M46.08M-17.28M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
0.0036.21M30.01M36.46M50.61M47.67M
Total Assets
0.00403.05M454.24M478.32M484.95M476.82M
Total Debt
115.63M114.67M105.46M87.27M63.65M108.23M
Net Debt
115.63M79.20M75.44M50.81M13.04M60.57M
Total Liabilities
188.29M176.38M174.68M170.23M139.74M180.58M
Stockholders Equity
213.92M225.06M279.56M308.09M345.21M296.24M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-30.14M-14.59M-7.51M-31.70M10.44M65.20M
Operating Cash Flow
-23.18M-3.52M22.02M6.05M26.82M71.78M
Investing Cash Flow
-15.23M-13.47M-33.03M-37.66M27.12M23.32M
Financing Cash Flow
23.51M7.72M6.96M19.01M-40.00M-66.42M

Alto Ingredients Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price1.17
Price Trends
50DMA
0.92
Positive
100DMA
1.20
Negative
200DMA
1.39
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.05
Negative
RSI
65.90
Neutral
STOCH
82.20
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ALTO, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 1.17 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 0.99, above the 50-day MA of 0.92, and below the 200-day MA of 1.39, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.05 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.90 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 82.20 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ALTO.

Alto Ingredients Risk Analysis

Alto Ingredients disclosed 24 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Alto Ingredients reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Alto Ingredients Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
REREX
72
Outperform
$742.58M14.5710.68%-18.36%-13.81%
KOKOP
65
Neutral
$654.93M27.865.08%0.98%-4.09%-66.97%
52
Neutral
$304.11M-12.34%-19.82%-34.91%
51
Neutral
$2.04B-1.23-21.09%3.96%2.90%-30.45%
50
Neutral
$294.66M-16.11%145.38%-22.02%
46
Neutral
$84.93M-24.43%-17.27%-112.62%
TSTSE
43
Neutral
$120.85M103.25%1.18%-5.28%51.91%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ALTO
Alto Ingredients
1.17
-0.14
-10.69%
GEVO
Gevo
1.28
0.66
106.45%
GPRE
Green Plains
5.58
-9.27
-62.42%
KOP
Koppers Holdings
31.91
-7.15
-18.31%
REX
Rex American
47.00
1.36
2.98%
TSE
Trinseo
3.40
0.62
22.30%

Alto Ingredients Corporate Events

Delistings and Listing ChangesStock Split
Alto Ingredients Faces Nasdaq Delisting Notice
Negative
May 23, 2025

On May 19, 2025, Alto Ingredients, Inc. received a notification from Nasdaq indicating that its stock price had fallen below the minimum required for continued listing. The company has until November 15, 2025, to regain compliance by ensuring its stock price closes at or above $1.00 for at least 10 consecutive business days. If unsuccessful, Alto may qualify for an additional 180-day period to meet the requirements, potentially involving a reverse stock split. Failure to comply could result in delisting, though the company can appeal such a decision.

The most recent analyst rating on (ALTO) stock is a Buy with a $5.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Alto Ingredients stock, see the ALTO Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Alto Ingredients Announces Board Changes in 2025
Neutral
Mar 18, 2025

On March 17, 2025, Alto Ingredients, Inc. entered into a letter agreement with the Radoff/Torok Group, which includes provisions for board member nominations and standstill agreements. As part of this agreement, board members Douglas L. Kieta and Michael D. Kandris announced they would not stand for re-election at the 2025 Annual Meeting, impacting the company’s board composition and governance structure.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.