REX American Resources (REX) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, ethanol sales volumes were 70.9 million gallons, down from 74.5 million gallons in Q1 2024, with an average selling price of $1.76 per gallon [10] - Gross profit for Q1 2025 was $14.3 million, slightly down from $14.5 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to lower sales prices for dry distiller grains [11] - Net income attributable to REX shareholders was $8.7 million or $0.51 per diluted share, compared to $10.2 million or $0.58 per diluted share in Q1 2024 [12] - Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at the end of Q1 were $315.9 million, reflecting ongoing capital investments and share repurchases [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Dry distiller grain sales volumes were approximately 153,000 tons with an average selling price of $145.65 per ton [10] - Modified distillery grain volumes totaled approximately 22,000 tons with an average selling price of $73.44 per ton [11] - Corn oil sales volumes were approximately 21.4 million pounds during the quarter with an average selling price of $0.46 per pound [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. ethanol exports through March 2025 were nearly 19% higher than the same period in 2024, with March 2025 exports up 23% compared to March 2024 [16][17] - The company anticipates stable performance in Q2 2025, expecting another profitable result [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on organic growth initiatives, including carbon capture and expansion of ethanol production capacity, with a combined budget range of $220 million to $230 million for both projects [5][9] - REX continues to evaluate potential acquisition opportunities that meet strict operational and financial criteria [5] - The company is committed to delivering consistent value to shareholders through share buybacks, having repurchased approximately 822,000 shares for $32.7 million in Q1 2025 [6][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate uncertain regulatory and market conditions, highlighting the strength of the balance sheet [4] - The company is closely monitoring potential changes to the Inflation Reduction Act and other regulatory developments that could impact future economic decisions [8] - Management remains optimistic about the ethanol sector's favorable market conditions and expects record corn production to boost profits for the rest of the year [29] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a strong financial position with no bank debt [13] - The ongoing technical review of the ethanol facility expansion is expected to enhance long-term operational efficiencies [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drives REX's ability to consistently deliver performance? - Management attributed consistent profitability to strong leadership, effective monitoring of market conditions, and a dedicated team [20][22] Question: What specific deregulation measures would help smooth the runway? - Management noted that regulatory developments are currently in limbo and emphasized the importance of monitoring changes closely [24][27] Question: Thoughts on industry fundamentals and ethanol margins? - Management expects positive trends in ethanol margins due to strong corn production and favorable export conditions, while also monitoring natural gas prices closely [29]