Core Insights - Aemetis, Inc. reported a 55% increase in renewable natural gas (RNG) production in March compared to February, driven by warmer weather enhancing microbial activity in anaerobic dairy digesters [2][4] - The company completed sales of Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits and D3 Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) at the end of Q1, contributing to revenue growth [3][4] - Aemetis is finalizing approvals for seven dairy digesters under the LCFS pathway, expected to generate approximately $6 million annually from LCFS credits at current prices [5] Production and Revenue Growth - The increase in RNG production aligns with Aemetis' 2025 production plan, leading to higher revenues from LCFS and D3 RINs, as well as Section 45Z tax credits [4] - The company is constructing additional digesters to process waste from four more dairies, which will further boost RNG production and associated revenues [4] Regulatory Environment - CARB is finalizing amendments to the LCFS that are anticipated to significantly increase the demand for LCFS credits, potentially leading to a 300% increase in total LCFS revenue per MMBtu of RNG [6] - The final proposed regulations by CARB are currently under a fifteen-day comment period [6] Project Developments - Aemetis is expanding its biogas production capabilities through the Central Dairy Digester Project, which will capture methane from 50 dairies and is expected to produce 1.65 million MMBtu of dairy RNG annually [7] - The project aims to replace a significant portion of California's imported diesel with locally produced RNG, addressing the state's reliance on crude oil imports [7]

Core Insights - Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) reported a 43% increase in full-year revenues, reaching $268.0 million, up from $187.0 million in FY23, despite a net loss of $87.5 million primarily due to interest expenses [1][3] - The company ended the year with $0.898 million in cash, with expectations of a higher cash balance by the end of Q1 2025 following the sale of $16.8 million in transferable investment tax credits in February 2025 [1] Revenue Growth - Aemetis doubled its Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) capacity and achieved a 55% increase in ethanol revenue, driven by sustainability investments [6] - Revenue from India Biofuels rose by 20%, with production increasing by 50%, and the company is planning for an IPO [6] Regulatory Environment - Regulatory support from initiatives like Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), E15, and 45Q/45Z credits are expected to provide significant tailwinds for the company, pending political clarity [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $268 million, up from $187 million in 2023, with all three segments reporting increases [7] - Cost of goods sold increased from $184.7 million in 2023 to $268.2 million in 2024, aligning with revenue changes [8] - Net loss was $87.5 million for 2024, compared to a net loss of $46.4 million in 2023 [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - California ethanol revenue increased by $57.7 million, India biodiesel revenue increased by $15.7 million, and California renewable natural gas revenue increased by $7.6 million [8] - The dairy renewable natural gas segment accounted for $5.4 million of gross profit, primarily from the sale of environmental attributes [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The price of California LCFS credits increased from $44 to $75 by February 2025, but a recent delay in implementation caused a 30% decrease in prices [15][16] - The expected increase in LCFS credit prices could reach $200 per ton, significantly benefiting Aemetis' biogas and ethanol businesses [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Aemetis aims to benefit from supportive public policies for domestic energy producers, focusing on biogas, ethanol, and biodiesel growth [12] - The company is preparing for an IPO of its India biodiesel business, expected in late 2025 or early 2026, contingent on new OMC orders [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the REAP program and expects approvals for new funding soon [45][46] - The company anticipates that the approval of E15 blends will significantly expand the U.S. ethanol market by up to 50% [22][24] Other Important Information - Capital expenditures for carbon intensity reduction projects were $20.3 million in 2024, with ongoing projects aimed at increasing production capacity [10] - Aemetis has received conditional commitments for $75 million in USDA guaranteed loans for biogas digester construction [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Confidence levels around refinancing given government spending reductions - Management has high confidence in the REAP program and expects approvals soon [45][46] Question: Insight into the OAL's request for revisions and expected delays - The complexity of the LCFS legislation led to the OAL's request for clarifications, causing a potential 120-day delay [57][58] Question: Status of India biodiesel production and OMC tender process - A new tender is expected to be issued soon, with significant inventory available for initial shipments [64][65] Question: Expected spending plans for 2025 amid regulatory turbulence - Aemetis plans a $75 million capital budget supported by USDA loans and grants, with an acceleration in biogas investments [78][79] Question: Impact of E15 approvals on ethanol margins - E15 adoption is expected to be gradual, with significant margin improvements anticipated by 2027 [84][90] Question: Timing of CARB policy implementation - Management estimates a 2-3 month timeline for CARB policy implementation, with no definitive endpoint [92] Question: Drivers of negative EBITDA results in Q4 - Oversupply and high corn prices were significant factors, but operational adjustments are expected to improve Q1 performance [98][100] Question: Expectations on D3 RVO going forward - The EPA's recent actions suggest a lower D3 RIN mandate for 2024, impacting future investment growth [106][112]

Aemetis (AMTX) Q4 2024 Earnings Call March 13, 2025 02:00 PM ET Company Participants Todd Waltz - Executive VP & CFOEric McAfee - CEOAndy Foster - PresidentJordan Levy - Vice President - Sustainability Equity ResearchDerrick Whitfield - Managing DirectorMatthew Blair - Managing DirectorDave Storms - Director of Equity Research Conference Call Participants Sameer Joshi - Senior Equity Research AnalystEdward Woo - Director of Research & Senior Analyst Operator Welcome to the Aemetis Fourth Quarter and Year En ...

Revenue Growth - Annual revenues for 2024 increased by 43% to $268 million, up $81 million from 2023, driven by growth in all business segments[2] - India biodiesel annual revenues rose by 20% to $93 million, while California ethanol annual revenues surged by 55% to $162 million[3] - Aemetis Biogas reported a remarkable 139% increase in annual revenues and an 80% increase in production capacity[3] Financial Performance - Operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $13.5 million, compared to a loss of $9.0 million in Q4 2023[11] - Net loss for the twelve months ending December 31, 2024, was $87.5 million, compared to a net loss of $46.4 million in 2023[20] - Revenues for Q4 2024 were $47,004 million, a decrease of 33.7% compared to $70,764 million in Q4 2023[28] - Gross profit for Q4 2024 was a loss of $2,040 million, compared to a profit of $864 million in Q4 2023[28] - Net loss for the year 2024 was $87,537 million, significantly higher than the net loss of $46,420 million in 2023[28] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 was a loss of $9,612 million, compared to a loss of $5,704 million in Q4 2023[32] Cash and Assets - Cash at the end of Q4 2024 was $898 thousand, down from $2.7 million at the end of Q4 2023[21] - Total current assets increased to $44,696 million in 2024 from $36,400 million in 2023[30] - Total liabilities rose to $523,230 million in 2024, up from $460,383 million in 2023[30] Production and Sales - Ethanol gallons sold in Q4 2024 were 15.7 million, up from 15.0 million in Q4 2023, with an average sales price of $1.93 per gallon[34] - Average delivered cost of corn per bushel decreased to $6.08 in Q4 2024 from $6.70 in Q4 2023[34] - RINs sold in 2024 totaled 3,029.9 thousand, compared to 1,400.7 thousand in 2023, with an average price of $3.00 per RIN[34] - Biodiesel metric tons sold in 2024 were 74.2 thousand, an increase from 60.5 thousand in 2023, with an average sales price of $1,168 per metric ton[34] Investments and Expansion - The company completed a $12 million solar microgrid installation, reducing energy costs and carbon intensity in ethanol production[4] - The company received a $10.5 million allocation in IRA Section 48C Tax Credits for a Mechanical Vapor Recompression system installation[8] - Aemetis is expanding its biodiesel production capacity in India from 60 million gallons per year to 80 million gallons per year[8] - The company began generating valuable 45Z tax credits in January 2025, with E15 ethanol blends approved by the EPA for eight states[6]

Group 1 - Aemetis aims to replace fossil fuels with environmentally friendly ethanol fuel but has faced significant challenges in achieving this goal [1] - The company has struggled for years, impacting shareholder confidence and performance [1]

Core Insights - Aemetis, Inc. is set to increase its renewable natural gas (RNG) production by 80% to 550,000 MMBtu per year, starting January 1, 2025, benefiting from Production Tax Credits (PTCs) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) [1][4]. Production and Tax Credits - The company has received IRS approval for Excise Tax Registration for Section 45Z PTCs, which incentivizes the production of low carbon intensity fuels [1][2]. - The 45Z PTC offers a tax credit of $1.00 per gallon for every 50 carbon intensity points reduction below a threshold of positive 50, with Aemetis expected to generate a tax credit of $8.50 per gallon equivalent for its dairy RNG with a negative carbon intensity of 380 [3][4]. Operational Expansion - Aemetis Biogas is expanding its operations with a total of twelve digesters processing waste from sixteen dairies, aiming for a production capacity of 550,000 MMBtu per year by 2025, up from the current 300,000 MMBtu [4]. - The dairies in the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Project are projected to produce over 1.6 million MMBtu per year, generating annual revenues of $250 million [6]. Financial Background - The company has previously sold $63 million in investment tax credits under the IRA, resulting in $55 million in cash proceeds after costs [5]. - The expansion of the dairy digesters is supported by $50 million in USDA guaranteed loans, with an additional $75 million currently in process [5].

Core Insights - Aemetis, Inc. has outlined a 5-year plan aiming for $2.0 billion in revenue and $644 million in adjusted EBITDA by 2028, compared to fiscal year 2023 revenue of $186.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $(22.4) million [3] - The company has shown strong revenue growth across all segments, with the Keyes Ethanol Plant generating $45.0 million from the production of 15.5 million gallons of ethanol [3] - Aemetis has made significant advancements in carbon sequestration, receiving approval for 20 years of Low Carbon Fuel Standard mandates from CARB, which is expected to boost revenue and earnings from U.S. projects [3] Financial Performance - Aemetis reported revenues of $81 million for the third quarter of 2024, reflecting a 19% increase compared to the third quarter of 2023 [5] - The company is on track to complete or have 10 additional dairy projects by fiscal year 2025 [5] Regulatory Developments - The approval of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard mandates by CARB is a key regulatory catalyst that is anticipated to support Aemetis's growth trajectory over the next 12 months [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 2024 increased to $81.4 million from $68.7 million in Q3 2023, with gross profit rising to $3.9 million compared to $492,000 in the previous year [5][6][8] - Operating loss improved to $3.9 million in Q3 2024 from an operating loss of $8.5 million in Q3 2023 [6] - Net loss was $17.9 million for Q3 2024, a significant decline from net income of $30.7 million in Q3 2023, primarily due to the sale of investment tax credits in September 2023 [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Keyes plant generated $45 million in revenue with a production of 15.5 million gallons of ethanol [5] - The Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment reported $4.2 million in revenue from the sale of 85,993 MMBtus and 935,000 RINs [5] - The India Biodiesel business recognized $32.2 million in revenue, mainly from sales to Indian oil marketing companies [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The price of Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits increased from $44 to $74 recently, with projections for late 2025 credits already at $82 [10][18] - Aemetis anticipates generating $20 million in revenues from renewable natural gas sales at a $100 average LCFS price next year, a significant increase from $3 million this year [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Aemetis is focused on expanding its renewable natural gas business, aiming to produce over 500,000 MMBtus per year by the end of 2025 [11][15] - The company is also working on a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel plant with a capacity of 90 million gallons per year [30][31] - Aemetis plans to leverage public policy supporting renewable fuels, particularly in California, to enhance its market position [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future of LCFS credits, predicting prices could reach $220 by 2027 due to a deficit in available credits [36] - Concerns were raised regarding the timing of the 45Z production tax credit guidance from the IRS, which is crucial for the growth of the renewable natural gas business [41][19] - The company expects to see increased revenues and cash receipts from LCFS pathway approval starting in Q2 2025 [15] Other Important Information - Aemetis is finalizing the sale of investment tax credits with expected net cash proceeds of about $11.5 million [14] - The company has received a draft USDA conditional commitment approval for a $25 million loan and anticipates closing this funding soon [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on LCFS price recovery - Management believes the updated LCFS will help fund projects and predicts a potential price increase to $220 for credits by 2027 due to a deficit [36] Question: Risks to future tax credits under the ITC - Concerns were expressed about the timing of the 45Z production tax credit guidance, which may be delayed until after the new administration takes over [41] Question: Future capacity for RNG - Aemetis projects to exceed 550,000 MMBtus in 2025 and aims for 1 million MMBtus in 2026, with plans to accelerate construction of additional dairies [45] Question: Working capital needs for U.S. operations - The ethanol plant operates as a self-funding mechanism, while RNG expansion is expected to have minimal impact on overhead and working capital needs [46] Question: Timeline for India IPO - The timeline for the India IPO is dependent on market conditions, with expectations for acceleration in the process as new leadership is in place [47]

Revenue Performance - For the three months ended September 30, 2024, total revenues increased by 18.6% to $81.4 million compared to $68.7 million in the same period of 2023[130] - The California Ethanol segment reported revenues of $44.9 million, a decrease of 5.3% from $47.4 million in 2023, primarily due to a 20% reduction in the average sales price of ethanol[131] - The California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment saw a significant revenue increase of 283.9%, reaching $4.3 million compared to $1.1 million in 2023, driven by increased production and sales of renewable natural gas[131] - The India Biodiesel segment generated $32.3 million in revenues, a 60.1% increase from $20.1 million in 2023, attributed to higher sales volume of biodiesel[131] - Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, increased by 90.3% to $220.6 million compared to $116.0 million in the same period of 2023[144] - California Ethanol segment revenues rose by 104.5% to $121.2 million, driven by the operation of the Keyes Plant for a full nine months in 2024[144] - California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment revenues surged by 533.0% to $9.6 million, reflecting increased production and sales[144] Cost and Profit Analysis - Cost of goods sold for the total operations increased by 13.7% to $77.6 million, with the California Ethanol segment's costs decreasing by 8.3% to $44.8 million due to lower corn prices[134] - The gross profit for the total operations increased by 688.2% to $3.9 million, with the California Ethanol segment achieving a gross income of $0.1 million compared to a loss of $1.5 million in 2023[137] - The California Dairy Renewable Natural Gas segment reported a gross income of $1.9 million, a significant improvement from a loss of $0.8 million in the same period last year[137] - The India Biodiesel segment experienced a gross profit decrease of 31.6%, amounting to $1.9 million, primarily due to a 31% increase in feedstock costs[138] - Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, increased by 90.9% to $219.2 million compared to $114.8 million in 2023[147] - Gross profit for the California Ethanol segment decreased by 149.4% to a loss of $9.5 million, attributed to a 28% decrease in ethanol prices[152] Operational Developments - The company is actively expanding its biogas operations, with nine operating digesters and five more under construction, aiming to increase dairy waste processing capacity[124] - Planned sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel production plant is designed to produce 90 million gallons per year, with ongoing development activities including permitting and financing[126] - The Keyes Plant aims to enhance financial performance through new technologies and process changes, focusing on energy efficiency and cost reduction[164] - Dairy RNG production is expanding with new digesters and pipeline extensions, expecting full-year revenue from D3 RIN sales and LCFS credits in 2024, which will improve liquidity[165] - The Kakinada Plant plans to enter cost-plus contracts with OMCs and upgrade capacity, with positive gross income expected to continue[166] - The Riverbank SAF/RD production plan is in the engineering phase, seeking both debt and equity funding for development and construction[167] Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents were $296 thousand as of September 30, 2024, down from $2.67 million at December 31, 2023[160] - The current ratio decreased to 0.26 at September 30, 2024, compared to 0.43 at December 31, 2023[159] - As of September 30, 2024, the outstanding balance on Third Eye Capital Notes was $205.3 million, with maturity dates extending into 2026[169] - Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $20.4 million, with a net loss of $71.3 million[173] - Cash used in investing activities totaled $13.5 million for capital projects, offset by $3.0 million in grant proceeds[174] - Cash provided by financing activities was $27.8 million, primarily from common stock sales and borrowings[175] - Working capital changes included a $1.5 million increase in inventories and a $0.7 million decrease in accounts receivable[171] Management and Strategy - SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, decreased by 4.0% to $28.4 million compared to $29.6 million in 2023[157] - Interest expense increased by 20.6% to $29.1 million due to rising interest rates and new debt arrangements[157] - The company plans to pursue strategies to improve business performance amid reliance on senior secured lenders for debt management[163] - The company is implementing a remediation plan to address material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting[179]