Core Insights - Alto Ingredients (ALTO) has faced a consistent decline in sales due to lower average sales prices per gallon and reduced volumes of essential ingredients sold, influenced by weak oil and gasoline prices [1][8] - The company is implementing a turnaround strategy by diversifying into higher-value specialty alcohols and essential ingredients, aiming to reduce earnings volatility and dependence on fuel ethanol pricing [3][8] Sales Performance - ALTO's revenues are highly sensitive to ethanol price movements, corn input costs, and demand from fuel blenders and industrial end markets, with sales declines noted across all major segments [2] - The company has idled or exited underperforming facilities and low-margin contracts to preserve liquidity and stabilize profitability, resulting in revenue contraction [2] Strategic Initiatives - ALTO is expanding carbon dioxide capture and utilization at its facilities, monetizing fermentation-derived CO2 to create a higher-margin revenue stream aligned with sustainability initiatives [3] - The company continues to streamline its cost structure and prioritize capital investments with near-term visibility, although sales are expected to decline in 2025 [4] Peer Comparison - Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) is also experiencing uneven sales due to fluctuating ethanol prices and is reshaping its business mix toward higher-margin products [5] - Gevo, Inc. (GEVO) is generating modest sales as it advances renewable fuel projects, with expectations for sales growth as projects reach commercialization [6] Stock Performance - ALTO's stock has gained 45.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry and the S&P 500 composite [7] - The stock is currently trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 16.63, which is higher than the industry average of 15.95, indicating an expensive valuation [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALTO's fourth-quarter 2025 EPS has not changed in the last 30 days, with expectations for a year-over-year decrease in revenues for 2025 and an increase for 2026 [11][12]

Company Overview - Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI) is an energy infrastructure company based in Houston, Texas, with a market capitalization of $60.5 billion. The company operates pipelines for transporting natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, carbon dioxide, and other products, as well as terminals for storing petroleum products and handling bulk materials like coal and petroleum coke [1]. Earnings Expectations - Analysts anticipate KMI will report a profit of $0.36 per share on a diluted basis for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025, representing a 12.5% increase from $0.32 per share in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the full fiscal year, analysts expect KMI to report an EPS of $1.28, which is an 11.3% increase from $1.15 in fiscal 2024. The EPS is projected to rise by 6.3% year over year to $1.36 in fiscal 2026 [3]. Recent Performance - KMI's stock has underperformed the S&P 500 Index, which gained 14.8% over the past 52 weeks, with KMI shares down slightly during this period. The stock also underperformed the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund, which returned 4.8% in the same timeframe [4]. - On October 22, KMI reported its Q3 results, with shares falling 4.8% in the subsequent trading session. The adjusted EPS was $0.29, meeting Wall Street expectations, while revenue reached $4.1 billion, reflecting a 12.1% year-over-year increase. KMI expects full-year adjusted EPS to be $1.27 [5]. Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on KMI stock is moderately bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 20 analysts covering the stock, 10 recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests a "Moderate Buy," and nine give a "Hold" rating. The average analyst price target for KMI is $31.74, indicating a potential upside of 16.7% from current levels [6].