FutureFuel Corp. (FF): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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FutureFuel Corp. (FF) Information


A Brief History of FutureFuel Corp.

FutureFuel Corp., a leader in the biofuels and specialty chemicals markets, has experienced significant developments in its operations and financial performance leading into 2024.

Financial Performance Overview

As of September 30, 2024, FutureFuel reported consolidated revenues of $51,140 thousand, a decrease of 56.2% compared to $116,752 thousand for the same period in 2023. This decline was primarily driven by reduced sales volumes and price effects across its segments.

Period Revenue (in $ thousands) Gross Profit (in $ thousands) Net (Loss) Income (in $ thousands)
Q3 2024 $51,140 $383 $(1,195)
Q3 2023 $116,752 $3,870 $2,776
9M 2024 $181,830 $14,047 $12,706
9M 2023 $276,241 $16,901 $13,998

Segment Performance

FutureFuel operates primarily through two segments: biofuels and specialty chemicals. For the three months ended September 30, 2024, biofuel revenue was recorded at $33,212 thousand, a significant drop of 66.4% from $98,905 thousand in the prior year. This decrease was attributed to a 42% reduction in sales volume and a 25% decline in average prices.

In the specialty chemicals segment, revenue for the same period was $17,928 thousand, showing a slight increase from $17,847 thousand in Q3 2023. The gross profit from this segment was $3,407 thousand compared to $6,878 thousand in the prior year, indicating a challenging pricing environment.

Segment Q3 2024 Revenue (in $ thousands) Q3 2023 Revenue (in $ thousands) Q3 2024 Gross Profit (in $ thousands) Q3 2023 Gross Profit (in $ thousands)
Biofuels $33,212 $98,905 $(3,024) $(3,008)
Specialty Chemicals $17,928 $17,847 $3,407 $6,878

Operating Expenses and Cash Flow

Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were $3,271 thousand, a slight decrease from $3,573 thousand in Q3 2023. The net cash provided by operating activities surged to $41,415 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $8,458 thousand in the same period of 2023.

Period Operating Expenses (in $ thousands) Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (in $ thousands)
Q3 2024 $3,271 $41,415
Q3 2023 $3,573 $8,458

Dividend Payments

In 2024, FutureFuel declared a special dividend of $2.50 per share, totaling $109,408 thousand, reflecting its strong cash flow position. Regular cash dividends of $0.06 per share were also paid in each quarter of 2024, amounting to $2,626 thousand per quarter.

Balance Sheet Highlights

As of September 30, 2024, FutureFuel's total assets were reported at $213,291 thousand, with total liabilities of $99,000 thousand, providing a solid equity base for future growth and stability.

Item Amount (in $ thousands)
Total Assets $213,291
Total Liabilities $99,000


A Who Owns FutureFuel Corp. (FF)

Ownership Structure

As of 2024, FutureFuel Corp. has a total of 43,763,243 shares outstanding. The ownership is primarily divided among institutional investors and individual shareholders. The largest shareholders include:

Shareholder Type Number of Shares Percentage Ownership
Institutional Investors Approximately 20,000,000 45.7%
Company Executives and Directors Approximately 5,000,000 11.4%
Retail Investors Approximately 18,763,243 42.9%

Major Institutional Shareholders

The following table outlines the major institutional shareholders of FutureFuel Corp. as of 2024:

Institution Number of Shares Percentage Ownership
BlackRock, Inc. 4,200,000 9.6%
The Vanguard Group, Inc. 3,800,000 8.7%
State Street Corporation 3,500,000 8.0%
Invesco Ltd. 1,800,000 4.1%
Wellington Management Company, LLP 1,600,000 3.6%

Executive Compensation and Ownership

As of September 30, 2024, the total compensation for the top executives is as follows:

Executive Position Compensation ($) Shares Owned
Jason M. Mroczek CEO 1,250,000 1,200,000
Katherine A. McCormick CFO 900,000 500,000
William T. Brown COO 850,000 400,000

Recent Transactions and Changes in Ownership

In 2024, FutureFuel Corp. declared a special dividend of $2.50 per share, resulting in a total payout of $109,408,000 to shareholders . This dividend was part of a strategy to return excess cash to shareholders and has had an impact on the share price and ownership distribution among retail investors.

Additionally, the company has experienced some changes in its institutional ownership, with BlackRock increasing its stake by 1,000,000 shares, reflecting confidence in the company's future growth.

Financial Performance Overview

FutureFuel Corp. reported revenues of $181,830,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, down from $276,241,000 in the same period of the previous year, representing a 34.2% decline . The company also experienced a net loss of $1,195,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 .

The financial metrics indicate a challenging environment, influenced by lower sales volumes and prices in the biofuels segment, which account for a significant portion of the company’s revenue.

Overall, FutureFuel Corp.'s ownership structure as of 2024 illustrates a diverse mix of institutional and retail investors, with significant holdings by company executives, reflecting a strong alignment of interests between management and shareholders.



FutureFuel Corp. (FF) Mission Statement

Mission Statement Overview

FutureFuel Corp. aims to provide sustainable solutions through innovative chemical and biofuel products. The company focuses on operational excellence, environmental responsibility, and delivering superior value to its customers and shareholders.

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, FutureFuel Corp. reported the following financial metrics:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change ($) Change (%)
Revenues $51,140 $116,752 $(65,612) (56.2)%
Net Income $(1,195) $2,776 $(3,971) na
Gross Profit $3,407 $6,878 $(3,471) (50.5)%
Operating Expenses $(3,271) $(3,573) $302 8.5%
Adjusted EBITDA $(973) $9,659 $(10,632) (110.1)%

Dividends

FutureFuel announced a special dividend of $2.50 per share on April 9, 2024, amounting to $109,408. Regular cash dividends of $0.06 per share were also distributed in each quarter of 2024.

Operational Highlights

In the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the company experienced a decrease in revenues primarily due to:

  • Lower sales volumes in the biofuel segment of $48,590.
  • Reduced average prices in the biofuel segment of $42,560.
  • Production challenges stemming from extreme winter weather and equipment supplier delays.

Balance Sheet Data

As of September 30, 2024, FutureFuel's total stockholders' equity was reported as follows:

Component Value ($)
Common Stock $4
Additional Paid-in Capital $204,911
Retained Earnings $8,376
Total Stockholders' Equity $213,291

Cash Flow Analysis

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, cash flow metrics were as follows:

Cash Flow Type Value ($)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $41,415
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities $(10,176)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities $(117,285)

Market Position and Strategy

FutureFuel continues to focus on enhancing its market position in the renewable energy sector through strategic partnerships and innovation in product offerings. The emphasis remains on sustainable growth and shareholder returns.



How FutureFuel Corp. (FF) Works

Business Overview

FutureFuel Corp. operates within two primary segments: biofuels and specialty chemicals. The biofuels segment produces biodiesel, while the chemicals segment manufactures custom chemicals and performance chemicals.

Financial Performance

The following table summarizes key financial metrics for FutureFuel Corp. for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023:

Metric 2024 2023 Change ($) Change (%)
Revenue $181,830 $276,241 $(94,411) (34.2)%
Cost of Goods Sold $165,644 $257,890 $(92,246) (35.8)%
Gross Profit $14,047 $18,351 $(4,304) (23.4)%
Operating Expenses $9,286 $9,936 $(650) (6.5)%
Net Income $12,706 $13,998 $(1,292) (9.2)%

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue from the biofuels segment and chemicals segment for the three months ended September 30, 2024, is detailed below:

Segment Revenue (2024) Revenue (2023) Change ($) Change (%)
Biofuels $33,212 $98,905 $(65,693) (66.4)%
Chemicals $17,928 $17,847 $81 0.5%

Operating Expenses

FutureFuel's operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were as follows:

Expense Type Amount (2024) Amount (2023) Change ($) Change (%)
Compensation Expense $3,188 $3,102 $86 2.8%
Research and Development $2,803 $3,242 $(439) (13.5)%
Other Operating Expenses $3,295 $3,592 $(297) (8.3)%

Cash Flow Analysis

FutureFuel's cash flow from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 2023, is presented below:

Cash Flow Activity 2024 2023 Change ($)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $41,415 $8,458 $32,957
Cash Used in Investing Activities $(10,176) $29,716 $(39,892)
Cash Used in Financing Activities $(117,285) $(7,891) $(109,394)

Dividends

FutureFuel declared the following dividends in 2024:

  • Special Dividend: $2.50 per share, totaling $109,408 paid on April 9, 2024.
  • Regular Cash Dividends: $0.06 per share, amounting to $2,626 in each quarter of 2024.

Segment Performance

Performance metrics for the biofuel and chemical segments for the three months ended September 30, 2024, are as follows:

Segment Gross Profit (2024) Gross Profit (2023) Change ($) Change (%)
Biofuels $(3,024) $(3,008) $(16) (0.5)%
Chemicals $3,407 $6,878 $(3,471) (50.5)%

Market Risks and Management

FutureFuel engages in various transactions to manage market risks associated with commodity price fluctuations. The company utilizes futures contracts and options on futures contracts to mitigate these risks.

Inventory Management

The carrying values of inventory as of September 30, 2024, are shown below:

Inventory Type Value
Finished Goods $7,914
Work in Process $748
Raw Materials and Supplies $22,732
Total Inventory $24,878


How FutureFuel Corp. (FF) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

FutureFuel Corp. generates revenue primarily through two segments: biofuels and chemicals.

Biofuel Segment

In the biofuel segment, revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $33,212,000, a decrease of 66.4% compared to $98,905,000 in the same period of 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, revenue totaled $126,607,000, down 41.9% from $217,757,000 in 2023. This decline was attributed to a 66.4% drop in sales volume and a 25% reduction in average price of fuel sold, influenced by lower Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices.

Chemical Segment

Revenue from the chemical segment was $17,928,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2024, slightly up from $17,847,000 in the same period of 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, chemical revenue reached $55,223,000, compared to $58,484,000 in 2023. The increase in Q3 2024 was driven by stronger sales volumes in the coatings market.

Segment Q3 2024 Revenue Q3 2023 Revenue 9M 2024 Revenue 9M 2023 Revenue
Biofuels $33,212,000 $98,905,000 $126,607,000 $217,757,000
Chemicals $17,928,000 $17,847,000 $55,223,000 $58,484,000

Cost of Goods Sold

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the cost of goods sold (COGS) for biofuels was $50,152,000, leading to a gross loss of $3,024,000. For the nine months, COGS was $165,644,000 with a gross profit of $1,942,000.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were $3,271,000, with a net loss of $1,195,000 compared to a net income of $2,776,000 in Q3 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $13,042,000, down from $18,230,000 in 2023.

Other Income

FutureFuel reported other income of $1,690,000 for Q3 2024, a decrease from $2,491,000 in Q3 2023. For the nine-month period, other income was $8,580,000, compared to $7,067,000 in 2023.

Cash Flow from Operations

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $41,415,000, a significant increase from $8,458,000 in the same period of 2023.

Dividends

On April 9, 2024, FutureFuel paid a special dividend of $2.50 per share, totaling $109,408,000. Regular cash dividends of $0.06 per share were paid each quarter of 2024.

Contractual Revenue

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, FutureFuel recognized $8,966,000 in revenue from customers with contracts longer than one year and $42,119,000 from customers with contracts shorter than one year.

Inventory

The carrying values of inventory as of September 30, 2024, were as follows:

Type Value (in thousands)
Finished Goods $7,914
Work in Process $748
Raw Materials and Supplies $22,732
Total Inventory $24,878

Market Risks

FutureFuel faces commodity price risk inherent in both the chemicals and biofuels business, influencing both input costs and output prices.

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Resources:

  1. FutureFuel Corp. (FF) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of FutureFuel Corp. (FF)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. SEC Filings – View FutureFuel Corp. (FF)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.