REX American Resources Corporation (NYSE:REX) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

REX American Resources Corporation (NYSE:REX) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript May 23, 2024

Operator: Good morning, and welcome to the REX American Resources Fiscal First Quarter 2024 Conference Call. As a reminder, today’s call is being recorded. And at this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. I would now like to turn the call over to Mr. Doug Bruggeman, Chief Financial Officer of REX American. Please go ahead.

Douglas Bruggeman: Good morning, and thank you for joining REX American Resources Q1 2024 conference call. We’ll get to our presentation and comments momentarily as well as your questions. But first, I will review the safe harbor disclosure. In addition to historical facts or statements of current conditions, today’s conference call contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the company’s current expectations and beliefs but are not guarantees of future performance. As such, actual results may vary materially from expectations. The risks and uncertainties associated with the forward-looking statements are described in today’s news announcement and in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.

REX American Resources assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. I’d now like to turn the call over to our Executive Chairman, Stuart Rose.

Stuart Rose: Good morning, and thank you again to everyone for joining us. First quarter saw a continuation of the strong results of REX American returned over its history. Once again, our core business of ethanol and co-product production was strong, with 74.5 million gallons of ethanol sold, an increase of approximately 4% and over first quarter of 2023. Construction of the One Earth Energy carbon capture facility continue to pace their Gibson City, Illinois location. We’re also on track to complete the ethanol production capacity expansion at the One Earth Energy facility with the initial plan to run at 175 million gallons per year. And then apply for an EPA permit to increase production to 200 million gallons per year. To match our operational achievements, our financial results were among the best in our history, with first quarter 2024, the second most profitable first quarter in the company’s history from a net income per share perspective.

This was made possible due to lower natural gas and corn input prices and the excellent execution of our team despite a weaker pricing environment for both ethanol and co-products. The balance of the year, we have three goals. First, continue our streak of profitable operations, which has now reached 15 quarters in a row. Second, complete the construction phase of our One Earth Energy carbon capture and compression facility. And lastly, to complete the capacity expansion of our One Earth Energy ethanol production facility to 175 million gallons per year move towards the planned further permitting of the facility to 200 million gallons. Focusing on these three core priorities while remaining nimble and adjusting as appropriate to market and business conditions will keep us in a good position, both now and in the future.

I’d now like to turn things over to our CEO, Zafar Rizvi, to give further update on our One Earth project.

Zafar Rizvi: Thank you, Stuart. As Stuart said, our carbon capture and sequestration project in Gibson City, Illinois, is progressing. With the construction on the capture and compression facility is still on track. You can see updated pictures of the progress at this facility in the first quarter investor presentation, which was posted to our website this morning. We continue to expect that construction on the carbon capture and compression facility will be completed in July. At that point, the facility will be ready for testing However, given extended calendars for electric utility connections across the country and which also impacts Central Illinois, we have been made aware that power connection to the facility is not likely until the fourth quarter of 2024 at the earliest.

We will provide updates on this as appropriate. At the same time, we are seeing activity on the approval and permitting front of the pipeline and sequestration portion of the project. We plan to reply by weeks and to several questions we received in April from the EPA regarding our Class 6 well permit application. And we continue to anticipate approval of the permit by Q1 of next year. We have lately been encouraged by the progress of the EPA on other Class 6 well applications. For the first sequestration, well, we are also pleased to report that we have now squared the easement for enough of the subsurface area to allow us the capacity to sequester all of our carbon emissions from the One Earth Energy plant for the next 15 years at a minimum.

Also, as an update, to the agreement we discussed on our last call, we have now secured from our former neighbors 100% of the land necessary for the — of the proposed carbon delivery pipeline, which would serve injection well number one and two. This is an incredible significant achievement as it means we are able to avoid the use of eminent domain for control of the pipeline road. This was always our preferred outcome and one which we are happy to have achieved through discussion with our neighbors with Illinois Commerce Commission hearing on the pipeline are proceeding. The expansion of One Earth Energy ethanol facility to 175 million gallons per year of production is progressing well. Construction is ongoing. And we anticipate completion of the initial expansion in the fourth quarter after necessary testing and permitting, we then expect to begin the plant for the permitting of the one-off facility to allow it to produce 200 million gallons per year.

This additional permitting is the only step necessary to allow for the expanded capacity as no additional construction or capital spending is expected. As of quarter end, we have invested approximately $78.1 million into the One Earth carbon capture project and associated ethanol production capacity expansion. This is compared to a total budget amount of $165 million to $175 million for both the CCS project and ethanol production expansion at Gibson City. I will now like to hand the call to our CFO, Doug Bruggeman, to discuss our operational and financial results.

Douglas Bruggeman: Thanks, Zafar. I’ll begin with our operational results. REX ethanol sales volume during the first quarter of 2024 were 74.5 million gallons, an increase of approximately 4% over the first quarter 2023 sales volumes of 71.5 million gallons. Average selling price for our consolidated ethanol volumes was approximately $1.60 per gallon for the first quarter. Dried distiller grain sales volume during the first quarter of 2024 totaled 163,500 tons, a slight increase over first quarter 2023 volumes. Average selling price for DDG was approximately $187.64 per ton for the first quarter. Modified distillers grain sales volumes were 14,500 tonnes in the first quarter of 2024 compared with approximately 12,000 tons in the first quarter 2023.

Average selling price for modified distiller grain was approximately $82.52 per ton for the first quarter. Corn oil sales volume in the first quarter of 2024 were approximately GBP21 million compared to GBP20.6 million sold in the first quarter 2023. The average selling price for REX’s corn oil product was approximately $0.47 per pound for the first quarter of 2024. Looking forward to the second quarter, it is important to note that we expect impacts to both maintenance expense as well as our sales of our products given regular planned maintenance at our consolidated NuGen and One Earth facilities. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2024 was $14.5 million versus gross profit of approximately $10.2 million for the first quarter of 2023. The 42% increase in gross profit was achieved despite lower average selling prices for all our products, which were offset by lower corn and natural gas input prices.

Our selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $6.1 million for the first quarter of 2024 versus $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher incentive compensation related to the company’s improved performance. Interest and other income totaled $5.9 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared with approximately $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2023. This reflects better earnings on our cash and short-term investments and $1.2 million of patronage income at our NuGen facility. Income before taxes and noncontrolling interest for the first quarter of 2024 was approximately $16 million, an increase of more than 83% over the first quarter of 2023. As Stuart mentioned at the beginning of the call, first quarter 2024 was the second best first quarter from a net income perspective in our company’s history.

Net income attributable to REX shareholders for the first quarter was $10.2 million compared to $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. On a per share diluted basis for the first quarter of 2024, this amounts to $0.58 per share of net income compared to $0.30 per share in first quarter 2023. We ended the first quarter with total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $351.8 million compared with $378.7 million as of January 31, 2024. The uses of cash during the first quarter were primarily related to our ongoing construction projects at the One Earth Energy facility. REX American also ended the quarter without any bank debt. I’d now like to turn things back to Zafar.

Zafar Rizvi: Thanks, Doug. I would now like to give some color around how we see market progressing through the second quarter and the remainder of the calendar 2024. Looking at the ethanol and co-product market, we saw a decline in the cash spread as well as product pricing in the first quarter as compared to the third and fourth quarter of last year, which is normal. Again, we were able to achieve positive results despite less than hydro conditions because of our incredible team. In the second quarter, we have begun to see a pricing recovery; however, not to previous levels. For the second quarter, we continue to see positive margins and earnings. Though as Doug mentioned, we will effects of planned plant maintenance during the second quarter of the year.

This will impact production and increase associated expenses for the NuGen and One Earth Energy plants. Finally, I want to point out that last week, we posted our second ESG report to our website, highlighting the work we are already doing in reducing our environmental impact. I would encourage everyone listening to take a look. Now I would like to open things up to questions. Operator?

Q&A Session

Operator: Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the line of Jordan Levy with Truist Securities. Please proceed with your question.

Unidentified Analyst: Hi, it’s [Henry] (ph) on for Jordan here. Congrats on the quarter. I think just to start with a quick follow-up on the time line for the EPA well approval. So you guys are now kind of in the cumulative portion of tech review based on the latest kind of data from EPA. When that phase is completed, should we be thinking about a six to kind of seven month runway to get through the remaining phases and get the final approval in first quarter? Thanks.

Stuart Rose: Zafar?

Zafar Rizvi: Yes, Jordan, as we mentioned that we received recently some — about approximately 25 to 26 questions from EPA, which are due by this Friday, so we plan to answer those questions by this Friday. And those were basically technical review about — related with the software and other question how to operate because EPA apparently was not very familiar with that software. So we have to send them all the guideline how that works. And we will be submitting this by this Friday. And after that, the technical review will continue. We expect that not later than first quarter of 2025 and would be earlier, depends on how the technical review will proceed. So we’re expecting that should be — the latest would be the first quarter of 2025.

Stuart Rose: To answer your question also a little bit further, we still need and are working on pipeline approval and local permit, there’s a number of different permanent, local permits that need to be — that we need to receive before we’re in operation. So at this time, I don’t think we can give you an exact date just because EPA gives us approval, that doesn’t mean we have the other approvals. And at this time, I don’t think we’re in a position to give you the exact date of when we expect to open. We expect our plant to be finished at the plant level and be able to make — be able to capture our CO2 gas as soon as the power is retting, which should be by the end of the year. But in terms of putting it in the ground, I don’t think we’re ready to give you a date at this time.

Unidentified Analyst: Got it. Makes sense. Thanks for that. And then just a quick follow-up for me. Going back to the One Earth facility, the expansion plan for — to come online at the end of the year to 175 million gallons. Can you just provide any color on the time line for the permit submission to 200. How long do you expect that to take once the permit is submitted? Thank you.

Stuart Rose: Zafar?

Zafar Rizvi: Yes, the process basically work — we already have 175 million gallon production permit at this time. But since the production facility is in the process to increase production from 150 million to 175 million. Once the facility is completed, then we required to do some stack testing, which is basically related with the greenhouse gases. So we will have to do the testing and once we qualify after those testing, then right after that, we can apply for the 200 million gallon permit from EPA. So this is a step-by-step process, as I mentioned in previous two calls. So we are following those step-by-step process. But the facility will be ready to we’ll be able to produce 200 million gallons, but the only thing will be required at that time once we complete 175, then the next step will be apply for 200 million gallon.

Unidentified Analyst: Thanks for that color. Congrats again.

Zafar Rizvi: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Pavel Molchanov with Raymond James. Please proceed with your question.

Pavel Molchanov: Good morning. Thanks for taking the question. Whenever you get the EPA approval, so recognizing the timetable is uncertain, do you have a sense of how long it will take before injection gets to the kind of run rate nameplate capacity, so to speak, that you’re anticipating?

Stuart Rose: Zafar?

Zafar Rizvi: The process basically work — we have ordered all the equipment and other basic things, which we need for the well. And those are will be available once we get the approval from the EPA. And then it takes approximately two to three months to have the well start digging and then complete to make it to that 7,000 feet down. So altogether process maybe take somewhere three to four months after that.

Stuart Rose: Keep in mind that we also need other things like pipeline approval, so the — which could delay things. So there’s no guarantees at this time. But assuming we hit all our approvals, that’s exactly how long. What’s the Zafar said is exactly right.

Pavel Molchanov: Right. And in the meantime, while you’re waiting kind of on the regulatory road map, what is the status of your dialogue with prospective CO2 injectors for the plant, in other words, other than your own facility?

Zafar Rizvi: The honest answer is, at this time, we are really trying to laser focus what exactly happening at our facility because that’s the most important project we have. Once we are in production, then certainly we can think about it wherever is other meters are available in that area, either we can have some conversations with the University of Illinois talking about Deca unit and others, but that’s the long way to go yet. But our laser focus is the facility to complete the facility, get all those permits from ICC, EPA, or special use permit from the county. So those are our main focus and complete — most importantly, completion of the facility at this time.

Pavel Molchanov: Maybe I’ll just squeeze in a question on the ethanol side of the business. We keep seeing EPA headlines about year-round E15. I mean it seems like it’s been going on forever now. What are your kind of latest thoughts on that?

Zafar Rizvi: I think we have seen some improvement of demand. There’s a lot of conversations going on, but on the same time, we have not really seen tremendous improvements of the demand at this time. And — but this is also driving season, so we will see that what happened in the next couple of months.

Stuart Rose: Also keep in mind, just because there is E15 approved, that doesn’t mean there’s E15 pumps and that’s still a big issue that the pumps are not out there even if it was approved for year round sales.

Pavel Molchanov: Okay. Thanks very much.

Zafar Rizvi: Thank you, Pavel.

Operator: Thank you. [Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from the line of B.J. Cook with Singular Research. Please proceed with your question.

B.J. Cook: Hey guys, this is B. J. Cook in for Chris Sakai. Just a couple of questions. One kind of build on the last caller. There’ll be a point where the expansion and One Earth project is complete and up and running. How do you expect that to affect the industry capacity as a total? Because is there a demand to absorb the additional capacity?

Zafar Rizvi: I think while production is — we plan to have production up to 200 million gallon. As you know, all these plants are different locations and do different supply — for One Earth Energy, mostly our plant supplies is towards to the south or East. So — but it probably depends on which railroad the plants are located, but I don’t really know that how much that will affect overall supply of the ethanol facilities.

B.J. Cook: Okay, thanks. Appreciate that. Just one more great quarter on unconsolidated affiliates also. I just wanted to make sure, are similar factors affecting those investments as well? Or is there some idiosyncratic factors worked in there?

Zafar Rizvi: I’m sorry, I didn’t understand your question. Will you please repeat that?

B.J. Cook: Other income?

Douglas Bruggeman: Interest and other income?

B.J. Cook: Yes.

Douglas Bruggeman: Yes, we had obviously increased interest rate on our cash and cash equivalents. And then somewhat of a — not a onetime, but a rare occurrence of a $1.2 million patronage income at NuGen. That’s not a recurring thing and not something to count on going forward.

B.J. Cook: Perfect. Great quarter guys. Appreciate your time.

Zafar Rizvi: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our question-and-answer session. I’ll turn the floor back to Mr. Rose for any final comments.

Stuart Rose: Thank you. Again, we outperformed most of our public peers last quarter, and we get it with what we consider great plants, great locations, but most importantly, we feel we have the best people in the industry, and that’s what separates us. Hopefully, we’ll continue to do this, and we look forward to talking to everyone next quarter. Thank you very much. Bye.

Operator: Thank you. This concludes today’s conference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation.