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FutureFuel Corp.
Basic Materials·Chemicals
$4.14
$182M market cap
Claude Rating
3/10SELL
Revenue
$110.2M
Free Cash Flow
$-62.0M
Rev Growth
+82.2%
FCF Margin
-56.3%
P/FCF
--
EV/FCF
--
Fwd EV/EBITDA
--
Fair Value
$3.20
Upside
-22.7%

FutureFuel Corp., through its subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company, manufactures and sells diversified chemical, bio-based fuel, and bio-based specialty chemical products in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Chemicals and Biofuels. The Chemicals segment provides various custom chemicals that are used in the agricultural chemical, coatings, chemical intermediates, industrial and consumer cleaning, oil and gas, and specialty polymers industries; and performance chemi

2-Year Price History

$4.12+5.1%
$3.5$4.0$4.5$5.0$5.5volJun 24Oct 24Jan 25May 25Sep 25Jan 26May 26

Quarterly Financials & Projections

Quarterly Waterfall ($ M)
PeriodRevEBITDAOpInNIOCFFCFCapExCashDebtSharesROICIntCovEV/EBITDA
Est2027-Q360.07.2--4.2--4.2-2.115.8----------
Est2027-Q258.06.4--3.5--3.5-2.011.6----------
Est2027-Q148.03.4--1.2---3.8-1.98.1----------
Est2026-Q455.05.0--2.2--2.2-2.212.0----------
Est2026-Q350.03.0--0.8--1.0-2.39.8----------
Est2026-Q242.00.8---0.8---2.1-2.18.8----------
Est2026-Q128.0-2.2---4.2---7.0-1.710.9----------
Act2026-Q132.0-6.7-9.2-20.6-20.0-25.4-5.422.40.044.0---229.6x--
Est2025-Q430.0-3.6---5.4---4.5-2.417.9----------
Act2025-Q419.8-10.6-13.1-12.0-27.4-29.9-2.451.30.043.8------
Act2025-Q322.7-6.8-9.7-9.3-1.1-6.5-5.385.60.043.8---54.2x--
Act2025-Q235.7-7.9-11.9-10.45.2-0.3-5.595.20.043.8---305.5x--
Act2025-Q117.5-15.3-18.8-17.6-5.4-9.4-4.097.10.043.8---424.3x47.5x
Act2024-Q461.55.31.62.8-16.6-20.7-4.1109.50.043.845.2%155.1x5.4x
Act2024-Q351.11.0-2.9-1.225.820.5-5.3133.40.143.8-55.6%28.6x1.8x
Act2024-Q272.411.85.59.627.824.8-3.0115.10.243.897.8%345.8x4.8x
Act2024-Q158.37.62.24.3-12.2-14.5-2.3201.10.343.848.2%217.5x2.0x
Act2023-Q492.026.010.223.421.520.5-1.0219.40.443.833.9%742.8x1.8x
Act2023-Q3116.85.40.32.849.148.0-1.1205.90.443.81.1%150.1x5.0x
Act2023-Q285.3-7.2-11.6-9.9-10.9-12.3-1.4166.70.543.8-43.0%-211.9x3.1x
Act2023-Q174.223.718.321.1-29.8-32.3-2.5182.70.643.861.0%717.3x3.4x
Act2022-Q4117.816.011.814.98.37.2-1.1212.80.643.847.1%517.4x2.8x
Act2022-Q3118.120.116.915.846.044.2-1.8210.00.443.862.8%627.6x--
Act2022-Q2117.8-1.3-1.5-3.18.77.8-0.9168.60.543.8-4.8%-39.5x--
Act2022-Q142.3-10.5-9.6-12.4-10.6-11.6-1.0163.70.643.8-40.9%-328.1x--
Historical Valuation

Multiples vs the company's own history — cheap or rich relative to itself? Historical fiscal years, then TTM, then forward projections (E). Forward rows hold today's price against projected earnings, so the multiple compresses if the company grows into it.

YearPriceRev GrEBITDA %EBITDAEV/EBITDAEV/FCFP/EP/S
20224.846.1%242.8×1.4×18.4×0.7×
20233.73-7.0%13.0%481.8×3.6×8.2×0.8×
20244.90-33.9%10.5%265.4×13.7×16.0×1.0×
20253.15-60.6%-42.5%-41n/mn/mn/m1.8×
TTM4.14-45.6%-29.1%-320.0×0.0×0.0×0.0×
2026E4.14+58.9%0.0%00.0×0.0×n/m0.0×

EBITDA in reporting-currency $M. Historical multiples use year-end market cap (split-adjusted price history); TTM & forward years use today's.

AI Analysis

LLM Evaluations

Claude3/10SELLFV: $3.20

FutureFuel is a deeply challenged small-cap chemical/biofuels company in the midst of an operational crisis. Revenue has collapsed 55%+ YoY as the biofuels segment was idled due to unfavorable economics and regulatory uncertainty around 45Z credits. The chemicals segment is stable but subscale. While the company has a cash cushion (~$86M), it is burning through it rapidly, and the covenant amendment on its credit facility signals fragility. The stock trades at $4.57 (~$200M market cap) with $86M in cash, implying the market values the operating business at ~$115M EV — which seems generous for a business currently generating deeply negative EBITDA and FCF with no clear path to normalized earnings without favorable government policy. Bill-and-hold revenue recognition (33% of revenue) further reduces confidence in reported numbers. This is a value trap masquerading as an asset play.

Catalyst Favorable regulatory clarity on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit that enables profitable biofuels restart, plus ramp of new specialty chemical capacity driving chemicals segment revenue above $25M/quarter. If both materialize simultaneously, the stock could re-rate significantly from depressed levels.
Risk Continued regulatory uncertainty or unfavorable 45Z credit implementation keeps biofuels idled indefinitely, burning through the cash cushion and potentially leading to a liquidity crisis within 18-24 months. The covenant amendment already signals the company is operating near the edge of its credit facility constraints.
Trend
DETERIORATING
Mgmt
4/10
Quarter
2/10
Exp. Move
-5.0%

Valuation & Metrics

Market Stats

Price$4.14
Market Cap$182M
Enterprise Value$159M
P/S Ratio1.6x
P/FCF--
EV/FCF--
FCF Margin (TTM)-56.3%
FCF Yield-34.1%
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.6%
Annual Dilution0.5%
CurrencyUSD

TTM Financial Snapshot

Revenue$110.2M
Net Income$-52.3M
Free Cash Flow$-62.0M

Revenue Growth (YoY)+82.2%
EBITDA Margin-29.1%
Net Margin-47.5%
FCF Margin-56.3%
CapEx % of Revenue16.9%
SBC % of Revenue0.7%
ROIC--
WC Change % Rev-7.2%
Interest Coverage-177.0x

DCF Fair Value Estimate

$1.95
-52.9% upside
Fair Enterprise Value$63M
− Net Debt$-22M
= Fair Equity$86M
Revenue Growth30.0% → 1.5%
FCF Margin-56.3% → 7.0%
Discount Rate16.0%
Terminal EV/FCF8.0x

Forward Outlook & Risk

Short Interest

Short % of Float3.3%
Short Shares0.9M
Days to Cover2.1
Change (vs Prior)-11.0%
Short % Float History
3.30%+0.70pp
1.5%2.0%2.5%3.0%3.5%04-3007-1509-1511-1401-1504-30

Options

Call IV (ATM)110%
Put IV (ATM)100%
ATM Spread15.8%
Call $OI (near money)$122K
Put $OI (near money)$252K
ATM ExpiryJuly 17, 2026 (56D)
ATM Strike$5.0
Major Expirations2
Near-money chain · July 17, 2026
StrikeCall Bid/AskCall OIPut Bid/AskPut OI
$2.50$1.30/$2.050--/$0.400
$5.00$0.10/$0.7531$0.80/$1.600
$7.50--/$0.750$2.90/$4.100
Snapshot: 2026-05-22

Forward Projections & Estimates

NTM Revenue Growth+36.2%
Forward FCF Margin-8.4%
Forward EBITDA Margin-1.3%
Forward P/FCF--
Forward EV/FCF--
Forward Int. Coverage-3.3x
Model Risk Score8/10
Bankruptcy Odds8%
Est. Borrow Rate9.5%
Terminal EV/FCF8.0x
LT Growth1.5%
LT FCF Margin7.0%

Employees

Headcount537
Revenue / Employee$205,132
Gross Profit / Employee$-55,281
2022: 478 → 2023: 515 → 2024: 537 → 2025: 0

Cash Runway

4.3months
CRITICAL

Institutional Ownership

Headline & net flow

NET BUYING

In Q1 2026 so far (quarter still filing), institutions are net buyers — bought 8.5% of float, sold 5.9%. 1 filer moved >1% of shares (1 buying, 0 selling).

Net flow · Q1 2026still filing
+2.6% of float (net)
Bought 8.5% · Sold 5.9%
101 filers reported (last quarter: 92)

Ownership composition

Active
18.3%(-7.1% YoY)
83 filers
hedge / family / endowment
Retail funds
Fidelity, Schwab, 401(k)
Passive
14.0%(-2.3% YoY)
9 filers
Vanguard, iShares, SPDR
Market makers
1.1%(+0.8% YoY)
4 filers
Citadel, Susquehanna
Insiders
0.7%
Form 4 — latest per insider
0%25%50%75%100%2022-062023-032023-122024-092025-062026-03
ActiveRetail fundsPassiveMarket makersRetail direct

Top holders

Fund$ valueCost basisΔ QoQΔ YoYα lifeFund AUM
BlackRock, Inc.Passive$7.1M$5.26−$50K−$396K-0.2%$5.69T
DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LPPassive$6.5M$4.47−$942K−$2.2M-0.4%$480.92B
RENAISSANCE TECHNOLOGIES LLC$6.1M$4.11−$625K−$1.6M+1.2%$63.91B
VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLCPassive$4.5M$3.85+$4.5M+$4.5M$4.04T
TWO SIGMA INVESTMENTS, LP$3.2M$4.11+$1.9M+$2.2M-0.9%$117.03B
GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLCPassive$2.6M$4.35+$74K−$783K+2.3%$1.61T
STATE STREET CORPPassive$2.4M$4.29+$3K−$18K-0.2%$2.89T
AMERICAN CENTURY COMPANIES INC$2.2M$4.59−$718K−$376K+0.7%$193.48B
BRIDGEWAY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC$1.8M$4.44+$39K−$153K-2.3%$4.93B
CITADEL ADVISORS LLC$1.5M$4.02+$124K+$1.5M-0.4%$138.22B
MARSHALL WACE, LLP$1.5M$4.23+$889K+$1.2M+0.6%$92.71B
Empowered Funds, LLC$1.2M$4.74+$39K+$234K+0.2%$15.64B
COMMONWEALTH EQUITY SERVICES, LLC$1.2M$4.53+$0−$103K-0.3%$71.14B
JANE STREET GROUP, LLCMM$1.1M$4.01+$765K+$848K-0.1%$92.10B
MORGAN STANLEY$1.1M$4.29−$142K+$49K-0.3%$1.65T
Hartree Partners, LP$1.0M$3.66+$0+$0+3.4%$461M
NORTHERN TRUST CORPPassive$814K$4.31+$62K−$62K-0.2%$755.34B
GSA CAPITAL PARTNERS LLP$798K$4.00−$341K+$798K-5.9%$1.61B
Bank of New York Mellon Corp$797K$4.56+$106K−$1.0M-0.2%$543.21B
SUSQUEHANNA INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLPMM$772K$4.14+$451K+$586K-0.6%$77.14B
Cost basis is a volume-weighted estimate from accumulation periods within our 13F history; holders who built their position before our window started will show a stale basis. % above the cost basis is the unrealized gain at the current price.

Trading behavior

Smart-money alpha (lifetime, %/qtr)BULLISH
Holders
-0.16%
avg per quarter
Holders (ex-self)
-0.16%
excl. this stock
Buyers (this Q)
+0.01%
47 buyers · $0.02B in
Sellers (this Q)
-0.75%
35 sellers · $0.00B out
alpha coverage: 90% of $ has a lifetime-alpha record
Holder behavior on this stocksource: stock
On big dips (−10%+)
-9.4%
how holders react when this stock falls
On quiet Qs
-10.9%
−10% to +10% baseline
On rallies (+10%+)
-15.4%
how they react when this stock rises
Holders' portfolio flow this Q
+7.6%
inflows — adds are organic
Sellers' portfolio flow this Q
+134.8%
Sellers grew AUM elsewhere — opinionated cut of this stock.
▸ Compare to holder-profile behavior (across all their stocks)
Holder dip (any stock)
-7.1%
Holder mid (any stock)
-8.8%
Holder rally (any stock)
-10.4%

Top Holders Over Time

5-year share-count history (top 10 holders by peak, incl. exited) + price

01.3M2.6M3.9M5.3M$3.15$3.78$4.41$5.03$5.662021-062022-062023-062024-062025-062026-03
hover the chart for per-quarter detailprice (right axis)
RENAISSANCE TECHNOLOGIES LLC1.6MAQR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC156KROYAL BANK OF CANADA570CITADEL ADVISORS LLC387KMILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLCInvesco Ltd.53KROYCE & ASSOCIATES LPPacer Advisors, Inc.Bank of New York Mellon Corp207KPenn Mutual Asset Management

Analyst Coverage

Analyst Coverage
Analyst Ratings
2
2
Buy: 2Hold: 2Consensus: Buy
Consensus Estimates
QuarterRevenueEBITDANet IncEPSEPS Range# Analysts
2013 Q3111M25M14M$0.29$0.23 – $0.3518
2014 Q1100M15M7M$0.20$0.16 – $0.2415
2014 Q2108M15M7M$0.26$0.21 – $0.3119
2014 Q3103M22M11M$0.26$0.21 – $0.3116
2015 Q140M10M5M$0.09$0.07 – $0.119
2015 Q2232M10M5M$0.28$0.22 – $0.3310
2015 Q3243M13M7M$0.35$0.28 – $0.4212
2016 Q133M7M7M$0.11$0.09 – $0.1313
2016 Q249M6M9M$0.15$0.12 – $0.1814
2016 Q357M9M10M$0.19$0.15 – $0.2312

Corporate

Insider Trading (last 12mo)

Open-market only (Form 4 P-Purchase + S-Sale). Excludes grants, option exercises, tax withholding, gifts.
Officers & directors
Buys ($, 12mo)
$48K
1 txn · 1 insider · 15,000 sh
Sells ($, 12mo)
$0
0 txns · 0 insiders · 0 sh
Recent transactions
DateSideInsiderTitleSharesPriceDollarsOwned $
2025-11-20BUYPolet Roelandofficer: Chief Executive Officer15,000$3.20$48K$80K

Order Flow (FINRA, ~3w lag)

18.8%retail-5.0pp
19.1%dark+4.3pp
week of 2026-04-13
10%20%30%40%50%24-1125-0225-0525-0825-1126-0226-04retail (non-ATS)dark (ATS)
Off-exchange volume from FINRA. Retail = non-ATS (wholesaler PFOF + broker internalization). Dark = ATS (dark-pool crossing networks, institutional). Lit-exchange = remainder.

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue Segments

By Product (2026-Q1)
Chemicals$19.6M+110%
Biofuels$12.3M+51%
By Geography (2019-Q4)
UNITED STATES$19.9MNEW
Non-US$0.3MNEW

Filing Risk Analysis

Filing Risk Scores

FutureFuel Corp.: Accounting Shifts and Bill-and-Hold Tactics Mask a Desperate Cash Burn

Overall Risk
7/10
Fraud
5/10
Dilution
3/10
Insolvency
6/10
Earnings Overstated
8/10
Hidden Liabilities
4/10
Legal
3/10
Audit Warnings
4/10
Hidden Upside
3/10
Contextually Acceptable
4/10

Counter-Thesis

Counter-Thesis & Recent News

📰 Recent News

In December 2025, FutureFuel declared a Q1 2026 dividend of $0.06/share and extended its $25 million share repurchase program through 2028, signaling confidence in capital stability despite operational headwinds. Operationally, the company completed a major specialty chemical production investment in Q3 2025, which began ramping up in Q4 2025 and is expected to contribute materially to revenue starting in Q1 2026. Additionally, management hinted at a potential restart of idled biodiesel production in late 2025/early 2026 as regulatory clarity regarding the IRA 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit improves (Sources: Stock Titan, GlobeNewswire).

🐻 Bear Case

The bear thesis centers on a massive 50-70% year-over-year revenue collapse caused by the temporary idling of the biofuels segment in mid-2025 due to unfavorable feedstock margins and regulatory uncertainty. Bears argue that the company is stuck in a 'trough' with negative EBITDA and net losses ($9.3M loss in Q3 2025) that may persist if the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) does not provide sufficient subsidy clarity (Source: Seeking Alpha, Fintool).

🚩 Red Flags

Significant cash burn was evident in 2025, with cash reserves dropping from $109.5M at the end of 2024 to $85.6M by September 2025. The company also faces leadership transitions, including the transition of the CEO to Chairman and the resignation of veteran director Terrance Egger in late 2025, which can sometimes signal internal friction during a turnaround (Source: OTC Markets, Stock Titan).

⚔️ Competitive Threats

FutureFuel faces intense scale competition in the biofuels space from giants like Chevron (Renewable Energy Group) and Green Plains, which benefit from superior economies of scale. In its chemicals segment, it competes with multi-billion dollar diversified players like Eastman Chemical and Huntsman Corporation, which may have better pricing power during cyclical downturns (Source: Seeking Alpha).

💬 Customer Sentiment

While the biofuel market remains stagnant, sentiment in the Chemicals segment is improving. Management reported a 'strong backlog of new projects' in late 2025 and noted that several chemical processes reached full capacity in Q3 to meet rising market demand. Contrarian technical analysts have recently upgraded the stock to a 'Strong Buy,' citing a bullish trend where the stock price has actually risen (+14% on certain updates) despite weak fundamental earnings, suggesting a 'climbing the wall of worry' sentiment among savvy buyers (Source: StockInvest.us, OTC Markets).