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Green Plains Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose from prior-year loss: Adjusted EBITDA was $49.1 million, against $(18.2) million a year earlier. The figure includes $23.4 million of 45Z value net of discounts and other costs. Source
  • Ethanol volumes lower year over year: Ethanol sold was 178.8 million gallons in the quarter, against 209.5 million a year earlier. Full-year ethanol sold was 764.9 million gallons, against 846.2 million. Source
  • Crush margin rose with 45Z: The consolidated ethanol crush margin was $44.4 million, against $(15.5) million a year earlier. The company's crush margin definition includes 45Z production tax credits. Source
  • 45Z credits booked as tax benefit: The quarter's 45Z value of $27.7 million, net of discounts, was recorded as an income tax benefit. The full-year 45Z tax benefit was $54.2 million, net of a valuation allowance. Source
  • Cash and revolver availability: Cash, including restricted cash, was $230.1 million at year-end, and $325.0 million was available under the committed revolving credit facility. Source
  • Obion sale retired junior mezzanine debt: The Obion, Tennessee plant was sold for $170 million plus working capital, and proceeds were used to eliminate $130.7 million of junior mezzanine debt. Source

“Our continued focus on operational excellence is translating directly into improved financial performance across the company.”

Chris Osowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A 2026 figure was added: at least $188 million of 45Z-related Adjusted EBITDA, net of discounts and applicable operating expenses. The third-quarter release gave no 2026 figure. Source
  • New: The tax credit monetization for the Advantage Nebraska sites was amended on December 10, 2025 to cover three additional facilities. The third-quarter release described this as a term sheet. Source
  • New: The full-year cash flow statement shows $30.0 million of payments for repurchase of common stock. The nine-month statement in the third-quarter release showed no such line. Source
  • New: The company is considering early adoption of ASU 2025-10, effective in the first quarter of 2026, and is still assessing its effect on financial statements and on the presentation of 45Z credits. Source
  • Ended: The operating ethanol plant count fell from nine in the third-quarter release to eight in the fourth-quarter release, after the Obion, Tennessee sale in September 2025. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Quarterly net income positive: Net income attributable to Green Plains was $11.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, against a net loss of $(54.9) million, or $(0.86) per share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose from prior-year loss: Adjusted EBITDA was $49.1 million, against $(18.2) million a year earlier. The figure includes $23.4 million of 45Z value net of discounts and other costs. Source
  • Full-year net loss narrowed to $121 million: Net loss attributable to Green Plains for 2025 was $(121.3) million, or $(1.80) per diluted share, against $(82.5) million in 2024. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA higher: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $94.0 million for 2025, against $18.7 million for 2024. Source
  • Revenue down on lower ethanol volumes: Revenues were $428.8 million, against $584.0 million a year earlier. The company attributed the $155.2 million decrease primarily to lower ethanol volumes sold and to ending a third-party marketing agreement. Source

Segments and regions

  • Ethanol production back to positive EBITDA: Ethanol production adjusted EBITDA was $15.0 million, against $(20.8) million a year earlier. Its operating loss narrowed to $(8.1) million from $(40.1) million, and gross margin was $27.2 million. Source
  • Agribusiness revenue fell sharply: Agribusiness and energy services revenue was $31.2 million, down 73.9%, and adjusted EBITDA was $10.8 million, against $13.1 million. Full-year agribusiness revenue fell 49.3%. Source
  • Corporate costs larger for year: Corporate activities adjusted EBITDA was $(11.8) million for the quarter and $(57.2) million for the full year, against $(23.9) million in 2024. Source

“Maintaining that focus will support sustainable performance and drive long-term value for our shareholders.”

Chris Osowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains

Products and customers

  • Ethanol volumes lower year over year: Ethanol sold was 178.8 million gallons in the quarter, against 209.5 million a year earlier. Full-year ethanol sold was 764.9 million gallons, against 846.2 million. Source
  • Distillers grains volume down: Distillers grains volume was 378 thousand equivalent dried tons, down 19.4% from the prior-year quarter. Ultra-High Protein volume rose 11.1% and renewable corn oil fell 12.0%. Source
  • Agribusiness gallons down a third: Agribusiness and energy services ethanol gallons were 183.1 million, against 269.8 million, down 32.1%. Full-year gallons fell 16.7%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Crush margin rose with 45Z: The consolidated ethanol crush margin was $44.4 million, against $(15.5) million a year earlier. The company's crush margin definition includes 45Z production tax credits. Source
  • 45Z credits booked as tax benefit: The quarter's 45Z value of $27.7 million, net of discounts, was recorded as an income tax benefit. The full-year 45Z tax benefit was $54.2 million, net of a valuation allowance. Source
  • Corn use down with volumes: Corn consumed was 60.4 million bushels, against 71.2 million, down 15.2%. Full-year corn consumed fell 10.7%. Source
  • Restructuring costs under cost reduction: Corporate activities included $2.6 million of restructuring costs in the quarter and $16.1 million for the year. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $22.9 million, against $25.6 million. Source

Plant operations and utilization

  • Utilization at 97% on revised capacity: Utilization was 97% across eight operating ethanol plants, calculated using revised stated capacity. Source
  • Carbon capture running at three sites: Carbon capture facilities at Central City, Wood River and York started up in the fourth quarter, which the company says significantly lowers the carbon intensity of those sites. Source
  • Plant count fell from nine to eight: The third-quarter release cited nine operating plants at 101% utilization. The Obion, Tennessee sale was completed in September 2025.

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Cash and revolver availability: Cash, including restricted cash, was $230.1 million at year-end, and $325.0 million was available under the committed revolving credit facility. Source
  • Total debt higher than third quarter: Total debt was $399.5 million at December 31, 2025, including $33.6 million under working capital revolvers and short-term arrangements. Total debt was $353.4 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Full-year operating cash flow positive: Net cash from operating activities was $110.9 million for 2025, against $(30.0) million in 2024. Purchases of property and equipment were $37.2 million, and asset sale proceeds were $179.9 million. Source
  • Convertible note exchange completed: In October 2025 the company completed $200 million of privately negotiated convertible note exchange and subscription transactions. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Obion sale retired junior mezzanine debt: The Obion, Tennessee plant was sold for $170 million plus working capital, and proceeds were used to eliminate $130.7 million of junior mezzanine debt. Source
  • Nebraska tax credit monetization agreement: A tax credit monetization agreement for the Advantage Nebraska sites was executed in September 2025. Source
  • Carbon equipment liabilities increased: Carbon equipment liabilities were $104.2 million at December 31, 2025, against $17.9 million a year earlier and $117.5 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • GP Turnkey stake sold: The company's 50% investment in GP Turnkey Tharaldson LLC was sold as of June 30, 2025, for $24.3 million. Source

People and leadership

  • Ancora agreement and board refresh: The company entered a cooperation agreement with Ancora Holdings Group, LLC on April 15, 2025, and appointed three independent new Board members. Source
  • Former CEO departure severance: Corporate restructuring costs include severance related to the departure of the company's former CEO. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • Risk management supports first-quarter margins: Management says its disciplined risk management strategy continues to support first quarter margins and cash flow. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Final 45Z results depend on actual production volumes and carbon intensity factors at eligible plants. Source
  • Financial: The company is still assessing the effect of ASU 2025-10 on its financial statements, including how 45Z credits are presented. Source
  • Financial: Revolver availability depends on eligible collateral, subject to restrictions or other lending conditions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third-quarter release said the company was on track for this range. The fourth-quarter release does not state a status against it.
  • Not stated: The third-quarter release expected this amount for 2025. The fourth-quarter release does not state a status; full-year 45Z amounts appear in its reconciliation.
  • Not stated: The third-quarter release said carbon capture would be deployed at three facilities in 2025. The fourth-quarter release does not state a status against that plan.

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.