Stonegate Capital Partners Updates Coverage On Aemetis, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMTX) Q1 2024

DALLAS, TX -- May 10th, 2024 -- Aemetis, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMTX): Stonegate Capital Partners updates coverage on Aemetis, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMTX). 

Company Summary

• 5-year Plan Shows Lots Of Growth: Aemetis outlined a 5-year plan to reach $2.0B in revenue and $644M in adjusted EBITDA by 2028 vs F23 revenue and adjusted EBITDA of $186.7M and $(22.4)M. respectively. While this is a long-term plan, AMTX has shown the ability to reach their benchmarks with the continued completion of dairy biogas digesters, recent improvements made in the Keyes Ethanol Plant, being awarded the first CO2 sequestration characterization well permit issued by the state of California, selling its first Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits, and receiving its final Authority to Construct air permits for a 78 million gallon per year Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facility.
• Dairy Biogas Pipeline: Aemetis expects to build a total of 66 dairies biogas digesters over the next five years. Currently, AMTX has 9 completed digesters, with 9 more fully funded. We expect more digesters funded by the end of FY24. These digesters operate in conjunction with a 40-mile gas pipeline that AMTX built in 2023. In FY28, Aemetis is expecting revenue of $190.0M and adjusted EBITDA of $122.6M. AMTX is expected to have at least 18 completed plants by the end of 2024. In 1Q24 the Company sold its first LCFS credits, marking an important cash flow milestone.
• Jet/diesel Plant: Aemetis announced in January 2021 that it is planning to build a 90M gallon renewable jet and diesel plant using below zero carbon intensity cellulosic hydrogen produced from waste almond orchard wood. The plant is expected to supply the aviation and truck markets with ultra-low carbon renewable fuels. In 1Q24 AMTX received the important Authority to Construct air permit to build its renewable diesel plant. Aemetis expects revenue of $643.1M and adjusted EBITDA of $165.1M by FY28.
• Aviation Fuel Offtake Agreements Signed: Aemetis announced the signing of binding supply agreements with 10 airlines worth $3.8B. These are 10-year, 250M gallon, agreements to supply sustainable aviation fuel to companies such as Delta Airlines, American Airlines, Quantas, and Japan Airlines. Additionally, Aemetis has signed a renewable diesel supply contract with a national travel stop company worth $3.2B.
• Ethanol Plant: AMTX currently operates a 65M gallon ethanol plant in Keyes, California that is also strategic to the Aemetis dairy biogas project. Aside from ethanol for the fuel market, the plant also produces animal feed, which is delivered to 80 dairies, creating synergies with potential biogas suppliers. The Company has announced plans to upgrade the plant with a mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) system, which is expected to reduce natural gas usage by 80% and increase cash flow by $15M per year.
• Biodiesel Shows Upside: AMTX operates a 60M gallon biodiesel plant in India. Importantly, the Indian government oil marketing companies are the primary purchaser of AMTX’s biodiesel. In 4Q23 the Company sold 27.5M worth of metric tons, up from the 1.0M sold in 1Q23. We anticipate that capacity at this site will reach 100M gallons in FY25.
• Valuation – We are using a SOTP analysis. We are applying various EV/EBITDA multiples to Aemetis’ F28 projections and apply a discount range of 32.5% to 37.5%. As a result, we arrive at a valuation range of $15.99 to $23.37 with a midpoint of $19.30.