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FutureFuel Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 82.2% on volume and price: Total revenue was $32.0 million, up from $17.5 million. Volume growth was 61.6% and average blended price rose 20.6%, driven by higher volumes and targeted price actions in both segments. Source
  • Storm and derivative loss weighed on EBITDA: Management said the storm and the $9.1 million realized derivative loss reduced Adjusted EBITDA by $11.0 million, or $0.25 per share. Excluding them, Adjusted EBITDA improved $12.6 million year over year. Source
  • Plant utilization rose to 54%: Chemicals plant utilization, measured by production volumes, was 54% in the first quarter, against 33% in the prior-year period, with new program wins and energy-related customer activity contributing. Source
  • EPA set record blending mandates: The EPA's final Set 2 rule targets a 60% increase over 2025 and is the highest blending mandate in the program's history. The EPA estimates 5.3 to 5.4 billion gallons of biomass diesel in 2026. Source
  • Winter storm cost about $3.2 million: Weather impacts on gross loss were about $3.2 million: $1.8 million of lost volume, $1.3 million of repairs and $0.5 million of capital expenditure. Batesville resumed normal rates on February 26, 2026. Source
  • Derivative losses of $11.6 million: Net derivative fair-value loss was $11.6 million, including $9.1 million realized. Management said the loss is expected to be offset when the underlying physical positions are sold. Source
  • Cash fell to $22.4 million: Cash was $22.4 million, against $51.3 million at December 31, 2025. The $35 million revolver had no borrowings outstanding. Source

“Within our core Chemicals segment, customers continue to choose FutureFuel as their partner of choice given our proven domestic manufacturing capabilities, deep technical expertise, and ability to produce high-quality, complex formulations at scale,”

Roeland Polet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital spending funded by customers Sourcefull-year 2026more than 65% of capital spending planNew
Customer deposits Source2026more than $27 millionNew
Capital repair costs Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$1.0 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 positive Adjusted EBITDA is stated as an expectation. The prior release gave no such figure. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Quarterly cash dividend reduced from $0.06 to $0.01 per share, effective for the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • New: Existing chemicals customer agreed to fund $25 million of Batesville investment in 2026 and up to $17 million in 2027 for added capacity. Source
  • New: The EPA finalized the Set 2 Renewable Fuel Standard rule in March 2026, after the prior release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 82.2% on volume and price: Total revenue was $32.0 million, up from $17.5 million. Volume growth was 61.6% and average blended price rose 20.6%, driven by higher volumes and targeted price actions in both segments. Source
  • Net loss widened to $20.6 million: Net loss was $20.6 million, or $0.47 per basic and diluted share, against $18.1 million, or $0.41 per share, a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was ($13.8) million versus ($16.1) million. Source
  • Storm and derivative loss weighed on EBITDA: Management said the storm and the $9.1 million realized derivative loss reduced Adjusted EBITDA by $11.0 million, or $0.25 per share. Excluding them, Adjusted EBITDA improved $12.6 million year over year. Source

Chemicals segment

  • Energy customers lifted chemical gross result: Chemicals gross loss narrowed to ($2.5) million from ($6.0) million on revenue of $19.6 million, up from $9.4 million. Management attributed the gain to new product revenue from energy customers, partly offset by storm costs. Source
  • Plant utilization rose to 54%: Chemicals plant utilization, measured by production volumes, was 54% in the first quarter, against 33% in the prior-year period, with new program wins and energy-related customer activity contributing. Source
  • Custom and performance figures differ in text: The narrative gives custom chemical revenue as $5.5 million, but the segment table shows custom at $13.9 million (vs $8.4 million) and performance at $5.8 million (vs $1.0 million). The table figures are used here. Source
  • Chemical capacity up 15% in a year: Management said total chemical production capacity rose 15% over the last twelve months and expects improved operating leverage as production scales from current levels. Source

“In combination, these actions are expected to both drive improved demand and more favorable production economics for our Biofuels segment.”

Roeland Polet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Biofuels segment

  • Biofuel revenue rose 50.7%: Biofuels revenue was $12.3 million, up from $8.2 million. Gross loss was ($13.3) million against ($9.2) million a year earlier, mainly from an unfavorable derivative value change of $11.6 million. Source
  • Gallons sold rose 18.8%: Management said total biofuel gallons sold rose 18.8%, driven by increased project activity and new customer wins. Source
  • Feedstock costs weigh on gross profit per gallon: Soybean oil and other raw material costs remain elevated. Management expects a continued near-term effect on Biofuels gross profit per gallon sold. Source
  • Proposed 45Z rules cut SAF credit: Treasury's proposed 45Z regulations, issued February 4, 2026, reduce the SAF credit from $1.75 to $1.00 per gallon, require North American feedstock, and extend the credit through December 31, 2029. Source
  • Company accrued $1.2 million in 45Z credits: The company accrued $1.2 million of 45Z credits in the first quarter, with none accrued in the same period of 2025. Source

Federal biofuel rules

  • EPA set record blending mandates: The EPA's final Set 2 rule targets a 60% increase over 2025 and is the highest blending mandate in the program's history. The EPA estimates 5.3 to 5.4 billion gallons of biomass diesel in 2026. Source
  • Renewable diesel RIN advantage narrows: The RIN equivalency factor for renewable diesel falls from 1.7 to 1.6, and then to 1.5 by 2027. The revenue advantage per gallon drops from 13% to 6%. Source
  • Domestic capacity seen reaching peak: Management said existing U.S. biofuel production levels are expected to reach peak capacity to meet the 2027 volume targets. Source

“Winter storm-related disruptions, which impacted operations at our Batesville complex for 30 days during February and March, together with the $9.1 million impact of a realized derivatives loss, impacted first quarter Adjusted EBITDA by ($11.0) million, or ($0.25) per share.”

Roeland Polet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Storm, derivatives and costs

  • Winter storm cost about $3.2 million: Weather impacts on gross loss were about $3.2 million: $1.8 million of lost volume, $1.3 million of repairs and $0.5 million of capital expenditure. Batesville resumed normal rates on February 26, 2026. Source
  • Derivative losses of $11.6 million: Net derivative fair-value loss was $11.6 million, including $9.1 million realized. Management said the loss is expected to be offset when the underlying physical positions are sold. Source
  • Gross loss near prior-year level: Total gross loss was $15.9 million, against $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Demand and customer pipeline

  • New-customer pipeline near record levels: Management said the pipeline of new customer activity approached record levels at quarter end, supported by recurring relationships and new program wins. Source
  • Energy customers lifted segment volumes: Chemicals segment sales volumes rose materially year over year, supported by energy-related customers and new program wins. Source
  • Roadmap to more volume via agreement: Management sees a clear path to additional sales volume through the Batesville customer agreement and more customer program activity. Source

Cash, capital and returns

  • Cash fell to $22.4 million: Cash was $22.4 million, against $51.3 million at December 31, 2025. The $35 million revolver had no borrowings outstanding. Source
  • Operating cash outflow widened to $20.0 million: Operating cash flow was ($20.0) million, against ($5.4) million a year earlier. Management cited the operating loss, derivative losses, storm remediation and higher working capital. Source
  • Capex reported at $7.1 million: Narrative capital expenditure was $7.1 million, up from $4.0 million, for capacity expansion and new programs. The cash flow statement in the same release shows $5.4 million. Source
  • Full $25 million buyback authority remaining: The company reported full authorization remaining under its existing $25 million share repurchase program at March 31, 2026. Source

Strategy and capacity investment

  • Strategy centers on organic and inorganic growth: The multi-faceted strategy targets long-term value creation through organic and inorganic growth in Chemicals and Biofuels, alongside operational discipline and returns-focused capital allocation. Source
  • Operational discipline across plants and procurement: Management cites enhanced operational discipline in plant optimization, procurement and automation as part of the strategy. Source
  • Reshoring trends seen supporting demand: Management believes the company is well-positioned to benefit from reshoring trends, supported by its vertically integrated domestic platform. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 May 2026

  • Batesville capacity expected online: Incremental capacity from the customer-funded Batesville project is expected to come online in early fiscal 2028. Source
  • Biofuel volumes seen improving in second half: Management expects Biofuels sales volumes to improve in the second half of 2026 on improved regulatory clarity. Source
  • Momentum carried into second quarter: Management said business fundamentals improved across the business exiting the first quarter, giving the company good momentum into the second quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Chemicals plant utilization Source54% (33% in prior-year period)
Total volume growth Source61.6%
Biofuel gallons sold growth Source18.8%
Chemical production capacity, last twelve months Source+15%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: An unplanned outage at Batesville from Winter Storm Fern cut facility throughput for 30 days in the first quarter. Source
  • Financial: Derivative losses are recovered only when the underlying physical positions are sold, so the timing of the offset depends on those sales. Source
  • External: Feedstock costs remain above historical levels and affect near-term Biofuels gross profit per gallon sold. Source
  • Regulatory: Management described the RIN factor change as a shift in the competitive and structural landscape of biodiesel. Source
  • Financial: Cash declined on the operating loss, working capital for new programs and capital expenditure. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said these costs are generally intended to be recovered once the underlying physical product is sold, as discussed earlier. 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.