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Green Plains Inc.: 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: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income attributable rose to $85.4M: Net income attributable to Green Plains was $85.4 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, compared with $11.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $118.0M: Adjusted EBITDA was $118.0 million. The company splits it into $52.6 million from the base business and $65.4 million from 45Z credit value, net of discounts and other costs. Source
  • Ethanol gallons fell 11.3% on Obion sale: Ethanol sold by the production segment was 174.9 million gallons, against 197.3 million. The company attributes the revenue decline mainly to lower volumes after the Obion, Tennessee plant disposition. Source
  • Crush margin rose to $122.8M: The consolidated ethanol crush margin, a non-GAAP measure defined by the company, was $122.8 million, against $59.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • 45Z credits netted in cost of goods: Ethanol production included $67.2 million of 45Z credits, net of discounts and other costs, in the quarter, recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold. Source
  • Cash and restricted cash at $225.1M: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $225.1 million, with $290.0 million available under the committed revolver, subject to restrictions and other lending conditions. Source

“Green Plains delivered record operating performance across the platform in the third quarter, demonstrating the earnings power we’ve built across the business,”

Chris Osowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA from 45Z tax credit value SourceFull-year 2026$230 million to $250 million
45Z production tax credit monetization Source2026 credits$250 million to $325 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Executed a 45Z monetization agreement after quarter-end, on October 29, 2026; the amount is given under guidance. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income attributable rose to $85.4M: Net income attributable to Green Plains was $85.4 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, compared with $11.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $118.0M: Adjusted EBITDA was $118.0 million. The company splits it into $52.6 million from the base business and $65.4 million from 45Z credit value, net of discounts and other costs. Source
  • Revenue fell 2.5% year on year: Revenues were $496.0 million, compared with $508.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income gain led by 45Z credits: Net income rose $74.6 million and adjusted EBITDA rose $65.4 million year on year. The company cites a $42.3 million increase in 45Z credits net of discounts, costs and SG&A, plus higher ethanol margins. Source

Segments and corporate line

  • Ethanol operating income rose to $99.0M: Ethanol production operating income was $99.0 million, against $30.9 million a year earlier. Segment adjusted EBITDA was $122.3 million, against $55.2 million. Source
  • Agribusiness adjusted EBITDA edged down: Agribusiness and energy services adjusted EBITDA was $6.3 million, against $6.7 million. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $27.2 million, up 83.4%. Source
  • Corporate line swung to a loss: Corporate activities adjusted EBITDA was a $10.6 million loss, against $22.7 million a year earlier. The prior-year quarter included a $36.0 million pretax gain on asset sales. Source

“Together, a stronger base business and increased financial flexibility position us to invest in our platform and pursue opportunities where we believe Green Plains can create additional value for shareholders.”

Chris Osowski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains

Volumes and production

  • Ethanol gallons fell 11.3% on Obion sale: Ethanol sold by the production segment was 174.9 million gallons, against 197.3 million. The company attributes the revenue decline mainly to lower volumes after the Obion, Tennessee plant disposition. Source
  • Ultra-High Protein volume fell 31%: Ultra-High Protein output was 49 thousand tons, down 31.0% from 71 thousand a year earlier; the nine-month volume was down 25.9%. Source
  • Plants ran at 95% utilization: The eight operating ethanol plants ran at 95% utilization. The company reported record quarterly ethanol and corn oil yields supporting improved crush margins. Source

Costs, margins and 45Z credits

  • Crush margin rose to $122.8M: The consolidated ethanol crush margin, a non-GAAP measure defined by the company, was $122.8 million, against $59.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Ethanol gross margin rose 93.9%: Ethanol production gross margin was $133.9 million, up 93.9% from $69.1 million; the nine-month figure was $309.9 million. Source
  • 45Z credits netted in cost of goods: Ethanol production included $67.2 million of 45Z credits, net of discounts and other costs, in the quarter, recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold. Source
  • 2025 comparatives restated for credits: The accounting policy change moved $26.5 million of 2025 45Z credits into cost of goods sold for the third quarter and nine months, with prior periods adjusted retrospectively. Source
  • SG&A fell $2.7M year on year: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $26.6 million, $2.7 million lower than a year earlier and up from $21.7 million in the second quarter. Source

“Our strong cash position and free cash flow allow us to explore a variety of options, but our standards for deploying capital have not changed,”

Ann Reis, Chief Financial Officer of Green Plains

Cash, debt and balance sheet

  • Cash and restricted cash at $225.1M: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $225.1 million, with $290.0 million available under the committed revolver, subject to restrictions and other lending conditions. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow $47.4M: Operating cash flow for the nine months was $47.4 million. Purchases of property and equipment, net, were $29.0 million, against $31.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Working capital absorbed $215.3M: Working capital was a $215.3 million outflow over nine months, against a $21.3 million inflow a year earlier. Source
  • Total debt at $477.7M: Total debt was $477.7 million at September 30, including $22.7 million under working capital revolvers and other short-term arrangements; it was $483.7 million at June 30. Source
  • Interest expense down $39.7M: Interest expense was $8.1 million, down $39.7 million, mainly on prior-year loan fees from refinancing the junior mezzanine notes. Carbon sequestration debt partly offset the decline. Source

Balance sheet and capital tests

  • Production tax credits receivable rose: Production tax credits on the balance sheet were $209.9 million at September 30, against $40.3 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Capital tested on returns and fit: The CFO said each capital use is tested against risk-adjusted returns, strategic fit and its ability to create long-term value. Source
  • Restricted cash increased: Restricted cash was $65.1 million, against $47.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Third-quarter results call: The company said it would host the third-quarter call on November 5, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Source
  • Capital deployment decisions pending: Management said it will decide where the next dollar of capital goes, measured by returns, and remain disciplined and selective. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Ethanol (gallons) Source174,881 thousand gallons
Distillers grains (equivalent dried tons) Source357 thousand tons
Ultra-High Protein (tons) Source49 thousand tons
Renewable corn oil (pounds) Source64,174 thousand pounds
Corn consumed (bushels) Source58,619 thousand bushels
Ethanol sold by agribusiness and energy services (gallons) Source190,850 thousand gallons

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Revolver availability is subject to restrictions and other lending conditions, as the release states. Source
  • Financial: The company determined that prior-period financials require retrospective adjustment following its accounting policy change for 45Z credits. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second-quarter release stated this intent. The third-quarter release does not state its status against it.

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.