ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCT), a U.S.-based company revolutionizing plastic recycling, announced today the appointment of Valerie Mars to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026. Mars was previously the Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at Mars, Incorporated, a function she led for over 20 years. Mars is a fourth-generation member of the Mars family, which founded Mars, Incorporated in 1911. She joined Mars in 1992 ...

Core Insights - PureCycle Technologies, Inc. has initiated sales of its PureFive™ resin for caps used in spray paint cans, marking a significant step in its partnership with a leading global paint and coatings company [1][2] - The caps and closures market presents a substantial opportunity for PureCycle, with over 300 million polypropylene pieces produced annually in North America [2] - The company expects to continue supplying PureFive™ resin to this customer throughout 2026, indicating a long-term business relationship [2] Company Overview - PureCycle Technologies holds a global license for a patented dissolution recycling technology developed by Procter & Gamble, aimed at transforming polypropylene plastic waste into a renewable resource [3] - The purification process of this technology results in PureFive™ resin, which can be recycled and reused multiple times, enhancing sustainability in plastic usage [3] Market Potential - The partnership with a top paint and coatings manufacturer demonstrates that sustainability goals can be met without compromising product performance when using PureFive™ resin [2] - The company is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable materials in the caps and closures market, which is primarily dominated by polypropylene [2]

Core Insights - The article compiles significant research calls from Wall Street, highlighting upgrades and downgrades of various companies that investors should be aware of [1] Upgrades - Wells Fargo upgraded Merck (MRK) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $125, increased from $90, citing business development and pipeline progress as key factors for revenue growth in the early 2030s [2] - Wolfe Research upgraded Morgan Stanley (MS) to Outperform from Peer Perform with a price target of $198, anticipating accelerated revenue growth from investment banking share gains and organic growth in wealth management [3] - HSBC upgraded Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $228, reduced from $265, viewing the recent share selloff as a buying opportunity [3] - BofA upgraded Booking Holdings (BKNG) to Buy from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $6,000, believing that concerns regarding disintermediation risks from Google and OpenAI are overstated [4] - Wedbush upgraded Carvana (CVNA) to Outperform from Neutral with a price target of $400, increased from $380, suggesting that the recent share pullback is overdone [5] Downgrades - UBS downgraded JFrog (FROG) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $65, up from $48, indicating that while AI-related benefits are significant, the larger revenue impact is likely 12-18 months away [6] - Jefferies downgraded Exact Sciences (EXAS) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $105, up from $90, due to the pending acquisition by Abbott, which is seen as a win for Exact Sciences [6] - Evercore ISI downgraded QuantumScape (QS) to In Line from Outperform with a price target of $12, up from $8, citing valuation concerns as shares have risen 200% year-to-date [6] - UBS downgraded Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ) to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $188, up from $163, stating that the stock appears fairly valued after a strong Phase 3 GEA update and a 25% stock increase [6] - TD Cowen downgraded PureCycle Technologies (PCT) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $9, down from $16, due to delays in orders and growth plans, prompting a more cautious stance [6]

Core Insights - PureCycle Technologies and Churchill Container received the 2025 U.S. Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award for their Run It Back™ product line, which utilizes PureCycle's PureFive™ resin made from postconsumer recycled content [1][3] Company Overview - PureCycle Technologies specializes in a patented dissolution recycling technology that transforms polypropylene plastic waste into a continuously renewable resource, resulting in PureFive™ resin [6] Product Details - The Run It Back™ line includes cups and containers made from up to 100% recycled content, with the Cleveland Browns being the first sports team to utilize these products in their stadium for the 2025 season [2][4] Industry Trends - There is a growing consumer demand for sustainably made products, as highlighted by U.S. Plastics Pact President Jonathan Quinn, indicating a positive trend towards sustainability in various sectors, including sports [4] Collaboration and Future Outlook - The collaboration between PureCycle and Churchill Container is seen as a significant step towards providing circular solutions for food-contact applications, with expectations for continued interest in sustainable products from organizations [3][4]

Core Insights - Premarket trading is showing notable activity with significant price movements indicating potential trading opportunities before the market opens [1] Premarket Gainers - Motorsport Games Inc. (MSGM) has seen a substantial increase of 122%, trading at $4.88 [3] - Globus Medical, Inc. (GMED) is up 27%, currently priced at $78.75 [3] - JFrog Ltd. (FROG) has risen by 26%, trading at $59.60 [3] - FIGS, Inc. (FIGS) is up 19%, with a trading price of $8.97 [3] - Organogenesis Holdings Inc. (ORGO) has increased by 18%, trading at $4.59 [3] - PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT) is up 17%, currently priced at $11.31 [3] - Expedia Group, Inc. (EXPE) has risen by 16%, trading at $255.10 [3] - 10x Genomics, Inc. (TXG) is up 13%, currently priced at $14.72 [3] - Abacus Global Management, Inc. (ABL) has increased by 12%, trading at $5.95 [3] - GigaCloud Technology Inc. (GCT) is up 9%, currently priced at $27.80 [3] Premarket Losers - Davis Commodities Limited (DTCK) has experienced a significant decline of 65%, trading at $2.23 [4] - Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ELDN) is down 46%, currently priced at $2.19 [4] - Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. (TMCI) has decreased by 35%, trading at $4.00 [4] - Energys Group Limited (ENGS) is down 30%, currently priced at $2.77 [4] - Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NTLA) has seen a decline of 27%, trading at $8.89 [4] - Fox Factory Holding Corp. (FOXF) is down 24%, currently priced at $16.60 [4] - Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN) has decreased by 24%, trading at $4.94 [4] - AirSculpt Technologies, Inc. (AIRS) is down 21%, currently priced at $8.27 [4] - Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSIX) has seen a decline of 20%, trading at $64.25 [4] - ClearPoint Neuro, Inc. (CLPT) is down 17%, currently priced at $15.00 [4]

Core Viewpoint - ITV is in advanced discussions with Sky regarding a potential sale of its media and entertainment division for £1.6 billion ($2.15 billion) [1] Group 1: Company Developments - ITV is exploring a significant divestiture of its media and entertainment division, indicating a strategic shift in its business focus [1] - The potential sale to Sky, owned by Comcast, highlights ITV's efforts to streamline operations and possibly enhance shareholder value [1] Group 2: Financial Implications - The proposed sale price of £1.6 billion ($2.15 billion) reflects ITV's valuation of its media and entertainment assets in the current market [1] - This transaction could impact ITV's financial position and future investment strategies, depending on the outcome of the discussions [1]

Core Insights - PureCycle Technologies, Inc. reported a quarterly loss of $0.44 per share, which was worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.25, marking a 76.00% earnings surprise [1] - The company generated revenues of $2.43 million for the quarter ended September 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 50.06%, compared to zero revenues a year ago [2] - The stock has underperformed the market, gaining about 0.7% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 15.6% [3] Company Performance - Over the last four quarters, PureCycle Technologies has consistently failed to meet consensus EPS estimates [2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.20 on revenues of $15.3 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$1.21 on revenues of $23.37 million [7] - The estimate revisions trend for PureCycle Technologies was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Waste Removal Services industry, to which PureCycle Technologies belongs, is currently ranked in the top 33% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding company or industry insights [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended the quarter with over $234 million in unrestricted cash and holds about $87 million in revenue bonds planned for future sale [32] - Operational spending was around $37 million, slightly lower than the previous quarter's $39 million, with expectations for increased spending associated with the ramp-up of commercial sales [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ironton produced 7.2 million lbs in Q3, with September being a record month at 3.3 million lbs, while Denver processed 9.4 million lbs of feedstock in Q3 [12][13] - The company plans to add a third shift in Denver, increasing its capacity to approximately $100 million annually [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates initial volume indications from key customers, including Procter & Gamble and QSRs, in the range of $40 million-$50 million annually [10][18] - The sales funnel remains strong, with significant demand expected from large applications, potentially selling out Ironton multiple times over [10][17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on converting large applications into sales rather than just growing the sales funnel, indicating a strategic shift towards operational efficiency [11] - The Antwerp permitting process is on schedule, and the company expects to receive a grant of up to EUR 40 million from the EU Innovation Fund by the end of Q1 [11][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term demand for Ironton, despite challenges in consumer spending and the petrochemical environment [11] - The company is optimistic about its ability to ramp production in the coming quarters, with plans to run facilities at 60-70% rates initially [16] Other Important Information - The company has made significant progress in developing relationships with feedstock providers, which is crucial for operational success [13] - Regulatory developments in the U.S. and Europe are expected to drive demand for the company's products, with several states implementing extended producer responsibility regulations [27][28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Details on QSR interest and feedback - Management noted that recognizable brands are increasingly interested in sustainability, which aligns with the company's offerings [33] Question: CoProduct 2 sales strategy - The company plans to sell separated CoProduct 2 to the market and utilize some in its compounding operations, enhancing revenue and reducing costs [37][38] Question: Value of ISCC credits for customers - ISCC credits are valued at $0.75-$0.80 per pound, and the company believes its products will provide a superior value proposition compared to these credits [40][41] Question: EU Innovation Fund grant process - The company successfully secured the grant after improving project quality over previous submissions, which will reduce overall CapEx [44][45] Question: Thailand feedstock availability and cost - Management indicated strong interest from waste handlers in Thailand, with positive economics expected for feedstock procurement [46][48] Question: Timing for brand approvals - Management is optimistic about converting several large brand opportunities, which could significantly impact production volumes [49][50] Question: Financial impact of Q4 shipments - The company expects to ramp towards full production levels, with a focus on long-term relationships with major brands [55][56] Question: REACH certification and VW collaboration - The REACH certification enables the company to ship products to Europe, and the collaboration with VW demonstrates the product's quality in complex applications [60][64]

Operations - Ironton工厂第三季度生产了720万磅PureFive，创下新的季度记录[6]，9月份产量达到330万磅，创下新的月度记录[6] - 丹佛工厂成功启动第二班，并计划在第四季度增加第三班[6] - Ironton的复配添加剂项目进展顺利[6] - 最终产品复配扩建项目预计在2025年第四季度完成机械竣工，产能约为1亿磅/年[11] Commercial - 首个宝洁应用通过了所有可加工性和性能测试，预计第四季度开始销售[6] - 白色的热成型咖啡盖由PureFive树脂制成，预计第四季度将为全球前五的QSR发货[6] - 销售渠道持续建立，目前与超过100个机会进行不同阶段的合作[6] - 获得了APR回收成分认证[6] - 获得了REACH认证，允许PureFive在欧洲销售，并使欧盟客户能够进行资格认证[6] - PureCycle正在与跨国公司就长期、多地点的全球供应合同进行合作[6] - PureCycle的产品组合覆盖了北美市场74%的领域，主要集中在食品级薄膜（软包装）、QSR杯和盖（热成型包装）以及乳制品等（注塑包装）[18] Growth - 泰国项目在多个里程碑上持续进展[6] - PCT扩大了第二代净化设计，目前预计在2026年上半年完成[6] - 欧洲创新基金提案已被接受，预计在2026年第一季度末签署高达4000万欧元的赠款协议[6] - 正在与当地银行洽谈泰国债务融资[6] - 与16家独立供应商合作，数量可能相当于1号生产线年需求的4倍[51] - 已签署意向书，目标年产量约为1亿磅[51] - 聚丙烯浓度范围为70-95%[51] Finance - 截至2025年9月30日，非限制性现金为23440万美元，低于2025年6月30日的28410万美元，减少了4970万美元[52]