Quality Investor

Green Plains Inc.

Rank #431DeclineWatchlistCompare with other stocks

GPRE · Nasdaq · Basic Materials

Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) — Rank #431 by gross profitability (GP/assets 0.08) · ROE -13.9% · Piotroski F-Score 5 / 9.

As-of 2026-10-30 · CIK 0001309402 · all metrics point-in-time as of the filing date.

About

Green Plains Inc. produces low-carbon fuels in the United States and internationally.

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It operates in two segments, Ethanol Production, and Agribusiness and Energy Services. The company produces, stores, and transports ethanol, distiller grains, and ultra-high protein and renewable corn oil. It is also involved in the grain procurement and commodity marketing businesses; and marketing ethanol for a third-party producer, as well as buys and sells ethanol, distiller grains, renewable corn oil, grain, natural gas, and other commodities in various markets. In addition, the company provides grain drying and storage services to grain producers. The company was formerly known as Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. and changed its name to Green Plains Inc. in May 2014. Green Plains Inc.

was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

Industry
Chemicals
Sector
Basic Materials
State
IA
Filer Category
Accelerated filer
Fiscal Year End
December 31

Company Snapshot

P/E, P/B, and dividend yield matter most — book value provides a floor.

Market Cap

—

P/E (annual)

—

P/S (annual)

—

P/B

—

P/OCF (annual)

—

Shareholder Yield

—

Employees

642

Industry

Chemicals

Exchange

Nasdaq

9/12

Flags passed

GPRE fails 2 critical flags

Passes 9 of 12 quality flags, 1 caution

  • FAIL
    Revenue declining YoY

    Revenue contracted year over year

  • FAIL
    Operating margin declining

    Operating margin lower than prior year

  • CAUTION
    Dilution above 2%

    Annual share count increase exceeds 2%. May be acceptable for high-growth companies funding talent via stock compensation

  • PASS
    Gross margin holding
  • PASS
    FCF not negative from investment
  • PASS
    Disclosure consistent
  • PASS
    Free cash flow intact
  • PASS
    Passes safety gate
  • PASS
    Balance sheet stable
  • PASS
    No competitive retreat
  • PASS
    SBC not compressing margin
  • PASS
    No valuation convergence

Strengths Revenue growth accelerating · Sequential beat (rev + EPS)

A count of the 12 warning flags that could be evaluated. Unweighted: colour follows the worst flag.

Quality Profile

Profitability

1/1 pass
GP / assets
0.08
Return on equity
-13.9%
Gross margin trend
PASS

Safety

1/1 pass
Balance-sheet safety
PASS
Debt / equity
0.91
Current ratio
1.99×
Net cash
-$298.31M

Cash Flow

3/3 pass
Positive FCF
PASS
Cash-backed earnings
PASS
Accruals healthy
PASS
SBC / revenue
0.8%

Growth

0/2 pass
Revenue growth
-14.9%
Piotroski F-Score
5 / 9
Share dilution
5.8%

Asset value and restructuring potential (balance-sheet strength) are the primary reads at this stage.

Profitability

Does it make money well?

Warning: Operating margin declining, Revenue declining YoY · GP/assets 11th percentile of 39 SIC 28 peers

Gross profitability (GP / assets)

0.08

Primary signal (Novy-Marx).

11th pctl of 39 SIC 28 peers

Return on equity

-13.9%

Gross margin

6.5%

0th pctl of 39 SIC 28 peers

Revenue growth (YoY)

-14.9%

Gross margin improving

Margin trend vs prior year.

PASS

Operating Leverage

2022202320242025
Revenue vs COGS
Revenue vs OpEx
Op. Income vs Revenue

Growth

Revenue CAGR (3Y)

-17.0%

Revenue CAGR (5Y)

1.7%

Earnings CAGR (3Y)

—

FCF CAGR (3Y)

—

Cash Flow Health

Is the cash real?

No warning flags · FCF 161% above net income

Free cash flow

$73.67M

Operating cash flow minus capex.

Positive free cash flow

PASS

FCF vs net income

160.7%

(FCF − net income) ÷ |net income|. Positive: cash above earnings. Negative: below.

FCF not below net income

Fails when free cash flow is below net income (yellow flag).

PASS

Accruals healthy

Cash-backed earnings.

PASS

SBC / revenue

0.8%

Stock-based comp intensity.

Balance Sheet Strength

Can it survive a storm?

Caution: Dilution above 2% · net debt $298.31M, F-Score 5/9

Balance-sheet safety

Composite anti-fragile check.

PASS

Debt / equity

0.91

38th pctl of 35 SIC 28 peers (best = lowest)

Current ratio

1.99×

32nd pctl of 39 SIC 28 peers

Quick ratio

0.84×

Net cash

-$298.31M

Cash & equivalents minus total debt.

Piotroski F-Score

5 / 9

Fundamental-strength score (0-9).

Valuation

Is the price reasonable?

No warning flags

Dividend safety

Composite score

1.8 / 5

Weak
Payout ratio
N/A0/5 Weak
FCF coverage
102.17×5/5 Strong
Dividend growth streak
0 yr0/5 Weak
Balance-sheet health
D/E 0.91 · IC N/A2/5 Fair

Capital allocation quality

Composite score

1.7 / 5

Weak
Share count trend
5.8%0/5 Weak
Buyback timing
N/AN/A
Dividend growth consistency(non-payer or broken streak)
0 yr0/5 Weak
Net debt trajectory(deleveraging)
11.7%5/5 Strong

Lifecycle Phase History

20202025
Decline
Hypergrowth

Price History

GPRE-58.0% · -15.9% CAGRSPY+82.9% · +12.8% CAGR