greeksoup/ stock research

Clean Energy Fuels Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose to $112.2 million: Total revenue was $112.2 million, up from $106.1 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $336.1 million, up from $312.5 million. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $5.7 million: Net loss attributable to Clean Energy was $5.7 million, or $(0.03) per share, against $23.8 million, or $(0.11) per share. Non-GAAP income per share was $0.03, against $0.00. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $27.2 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $27.2 million, compared with $17.3 million a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $59.7 million, against $51.9 million. Source
  • RNG upstream Adjusted EBITDA improved: RNG upstream Adjusted EBITDA was $10,955 thousand, against $(3,316) thousand a year earlier. Net income from RNG upstream was $6,723 thousand, compared with a $(5,682) thousand loss. Source
  • RNG gallons sold rose 9.0%: RNG gallons sold were 66.8 million in the third quarter, up from 61.3 million. Nine-month RNG volume was 197.4 million gallons, against 173.2 million. Source
  • Section 45Z credits cut product cost: Product cost of sales was reduced by $12.7 million from Section 45Z credits: $6.9 million from the consolidated dairy RNG project and $5.8 million from third-party RNG suppliers. Source
  • $30.7 million tax credit sale closed: The sale included the $26.0 million ITC tied to the South Fork Dairy RNG facility in Dimmit, Texas, and all 2025 Section 45Z credits from the dairy RNG portfolio. Source
  • Chief Revenue Officer appointed: Sean Wine was appointed Chief Revenue Officer in the announcement included in this quarter's release. Source

“The value of our dairy RNG investments and station network was underscored by our solid third quarter results.”

Clay Corbus, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA, consolidated Source2026 full year$75 million to $80 millionRaised from $70 million to $75 million
GAAP net loss attributable to Clean Energy Source2026 full year$(55) million to $(50) million
Amazon warrant charges (non-cash) Source2026 full year$44.0 millionLowered from $47 million
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to fuel distribution Source2026 full year$65,000 - 68,000 thousandLowered from $67,000 - 69,900 thousand
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to RNG upstream Source2026 full year$10,000 - 12,000 thousandRaised from $3,000 - 5,100 thousand

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Consolidated 2026 Adjusted EBITDA estimate raised to $75 million to $80 million from $70 million to $75 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Estimated 2026 Amazon warrant charges reduced from $47 million to $44.0 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fuel distribution Adjusted EBITDA estimate for 2026 narrowed to $65.0 million to $68.0 million, from $67.0 million to $69.9 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: RNG upstream Adjusted EBITDA estimate for 2026 raised to $10.0 million to $12.0 million, from $3.0 million to $5.1 million. Source
  • New: Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Financial Officer appointments announced. Source
  • New: Contract awarded for a hydrogen fueling station at the Garden Grove bus base, valued at $27.5 million. Source
  • New: Sale of $30.7 million of federal tax credits closed, described as the largest ITC sale to date. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose to $112.2 million: Total revenue was $112.2 million, up from $106.1 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $336.1 million, up from $312.5 million. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $5.7 million: Net loss attributable to Clean Energy was $5.7 million, or $(0.03) per share, against $23.8 million, or $(0.11) per share. Non-GAAP income per share was $0.03, against $0.00. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $27.2 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $27.2 million, compared with $17.3 million a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $59.7 million, against $51.9 million. Source

Fuel distribution and RNG upstream

  • Fuel distribution EBITDA declined: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to fuel distribution was $16.2 million, down from $20.6 million. The nine-month figure was $52.3 million, against $62.0 million. Source
  • RNG upstream Adjusted EBITDA improved: RNG upstream Adjusted EBITDA was $10,955 thousand, against $(3,316) thousand a year earlier. Net income from RNG upstream was $6,723 thousand, compared with a $(5,682) thousand loss. Source
  • Rimere investment absent this quarter: The Q3 2025 net loss included a loss from the Rimere equity method investment, which was disposed of in December 2025. No such item appears in Q3 2026. Source

“Our priority is to scale production and deliveries to drive sustained earnings growth and long-term shareholder value.”

Clay Corbus, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • RNG gallons sold rose 9.0%: RNG gallons sold were 66.8 million in the third quarter, up from 61.3 million. Nine-month RNG volume was 197.4 million gallons, against 173.2 million. Source
  • Total fuel volume increased: Total fuel volume was 85.1 million GGEs, against 76.6 million. Conventional natural gas was 18.3 million GGEs, against 15.3 million. Source
  • Cummins engine adoption cited: Through the Tourmaline partnership, stations were added in Grande Prairie and Chilliwack. Management tied this to growing adoption of the Cummins X15N engine. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Amazon warrant charges cut revenue: Revenue was decreased by $10.6 million of non-cash Amazon warrant contra-revenue charges, compared with $16.8 million in Q3 2025. Source
  • Section 45Z credits cut product cost: Product cost of sales was reduced by $12.7 million from Section 45Z credits: $6.9 million from the consolidated dairy RNG project and $5.8 million from third-party RNG suppliers. Source
  • Further $9.2 million of credits in equity income: A further $9.2 million of production tax credits was reported as part of income from equity method investments. Source
  • RIN and LCFS revenue increased: RIN and LCFS revenue was $16.0 million, against $11.4 million. Management cited higher price, higher volume and revenue from the consolidated dairy RNG project. Source
  • Zero Now contract gain recorded: Revenue included a $0.3 million unrealized gain on customer fueling contracts for the Zero Now truck financing program, against a $0.3 million loss a year earlier. Source

“Meanwhile, our core recurring RNG and conventional natural gas fuel sales, construction and operating services businesses continued to perform in line with our expectations.”

Clay Corbus, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and the order book

  • Station construction revenue fell: Station construction revenue was $6.2 million, down from $9.9 million in Q3 2025. Source
  • Orange County hydrogen contract awarded: The $27.5 million contract covers design, build, facility upgrades, operations and maintenance, and liquid hydrogen fuel supply at the Garden Grove bus base. Source
  • Western Canada fleet agreements announced: Fueling and maintenance agreements cover refuse, freight, logistics and oilfield services fleets, including Nortrans Freight Management, Mullen Dedicated Logistics, GFL Environmental and Integrity Waste Solutions. Source

Cash, debt and capital

  • Cash and investments were $140.2 million: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $140.2 million at September 30, 2026, against $156.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt reduced by $15 million: Long-term debt was partly repaid by $15 million from available cash and investments. The long-term debt balance was $216.4 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • $30.7 million tax credit sale closed: The sale included the $26.0 million ITC tied to the South Fork Dairy RNG facility in Dimmit, Texas, and all 2025 Section 45Z credits from the dairy RNG portfolio. Source
  • Shares outstanding rose slightly: Shares outstanding were 220,445,015 at September 30, 2026, against 219,331,992 at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy and dairy RNG investments

  • 45Z credits expected through 2029: Management said it expects continued 45Z contributions through at least 2029, after a significant 45Z production tax credit contribution to Adjusted EBITDA this quarter. Source
  • Dairy RNG investments and network valued: Management said the dairy RNG investments and station network were underscored by the quarter's results. Source
  • Scaling production and deliveries: Management named scaling production and deliveries as its priority, aimed at sustained earnings growth and long-term shareholder value. Source

People and leadership

  • Chief Revenue Officer appointed: Sean Wine was appointed Chief Revenue Officer in the announcement included in this quarter's release. Source
  • Chief Financial Officer appointed: JJ Armstrong was appointed Chief Financial Officer in the same announcement. Source
  • Chief Operating Officer named earlier: The previous quarter's release reported the appointment of Bart Frabotta as Chief Operating Officer.

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Garden Grove station completion: Management expects the Garden Grove hydrogen fueling station to be completed in 2028. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Vesting of the Amazon warrant could significantly change the estimated GAAP net loss for 2026. Source
  • External: Diesel and natural gas market changes could produce unrealized gains or losses on customer fueling contracts in the truck financing program. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said in the prior release that it remained on plan through the first half of 2026.
  • On track: Management said core recurring RNG and conventional fuel sales, construction and operating services continued in line with expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The prior 2026 Adjusted EBITDA estimate was increased in this release. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.