REX American Resources (US:REX)2025-05-28 16:02Financial 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 [11] - 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 [12] - 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 [13] - Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at the end of Q1 were $315.9 million, reflecting ongoing capital investments and share repurchases [13][14] 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 [11] - Modified distillery grain volumes totaled approximately 22,000 tons with an average selling price of $73.44 per ton [12] - Corn oil sales volumes were approximately 21.4 million pounds with an average selling price of $0.46 per pound [12] 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 [17] - The company anticipates stable performance in Q2 2025, expecting another profitable result [17] 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 [6][10] - REX continues to evaluate potential acquisition opportunities that meet strict operational and financial criteria [6] - 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 [7][14] 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 [5] - The company is closely monitoring potential changes to the Inflation Reduction Act and other regulatory developments that could impact future economic decisions [9][29] - Management remains optimistic about the ethanol market, citing favorable conditions and expected record corn production due to strong planting and good weather [31] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a strong financial position with no bank debt [14] - The total investment in carbon capture and ethanol expansion projects stands at approximately $122.7 million as of the end of Q1 2025 [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drives REX's ability to consistently deliver performance? - Management attributes consistent profitability to strong leadership, effective communication, and a dedicated team that closely monitors market conditions [20][22][24] Question: What specific deregulation measures would help REX? - Management noted that current regulatory measures are in limbo and emphasized the importance of ongoing communication with contacts in Washington [26][29] Question: Thoughts on industry fundamentals and ethanol margins? - Management expects positive trends in ethanol margins due to anticipated record corn production and favorable export conditions, while also monitoring natural gas prices closely [31][32]