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Upturn AI Summary - About
Alto Ingredients Inc(ALTO)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for ALTO
09/28/2026: ALTO (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Alto Ingredients is a specialty alcohol and essential ingredient producer that has evolved from a pure-play ethanol manufacturer. The company is currently focused on shifting its business mix toward higher-margin products like specialty alcohols and high-protein feed. This diversification provides a potential path to mitigate the inherent volatility of commodity-driven fuel markets. However, the company remains subject to risks from fluctuating raw material costs, intense competition from larger agricultural processors, and potential regulatory changes. The stock may appeal to investors looking for exposure to renewable industrial trends, provided they can tolerate significant earnings sensitivity to commodity cycles and operational execution risks.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company is transitioning toward higher-value products, though growth remains tied to volatile commodity cycles. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The stock often experiences high volatility and lacks consistent upward price momentum. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | The stock may appear attractively priced during cyclical lows, but carries significant execution and commodity risk. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not pay a dividend and prioritizes capital reinvestment. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | High sensitivity to commodity prices and operational risks make this unsuitable for risk-averse portfolios. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | High | Earnings are significantly impacted by fluctuations in corn costs and ethanol market pricing. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Market valuation often fluctuates based on energy sector sentiment rather than long-term earnings potential. |
| Competition risk (Agricultural processors) | High | The company must compete against larger firms with greater economies of scale. |
| Business quality | Medium | Business quality is improving due to diversification but remains susceptible to industrial cycles. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | Investors should not expect income from this investment. |
| Execution risk | Medium / high | Successful growth depends on effectively ramping up high-margin specialty alcohol production. |
Price Behavior
Rolling Over
The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.
Extreme Price Shocks
The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -76.8% | Avg. Invested days 23 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/28/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 289.33M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 5.57 | 1Y Target Price 9 |
Price to earnings Ratio 5.57 | 1Y Target Price 9 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 1.3M shares | Beta 0.16 | 52 Weeks Range 0.99 - 6.11 | Updated Date 09/27/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 0.99 - 6.11 | Updated Date 09/27/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.67 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Alcohols | High-purity industrial and consumable alcohols. | This is their higher-margin growth segment. |
| Essential Ingredients | Animal feed and yeast coproducts. | This helps monetize the byproducts of their main production. |
| Fuel-Grade Ethanol | Standard biofuel production. | This is a low-margin, high-volume commodity business. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE 5.57 | Forward PE 13.64 | Enterprise Value 355.29M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.31 |
Enterprise Value 355.29M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.31 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.38 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 4.12 | Shares Outstanding 77.57M | Shares Floating 69.28M |
Shares Outstanding 77.57M | Shares Floating 69.28M | ||
Percent Insiders 6.34 | Percent Institutions 55.39 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About Alto Ingredients Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquarters Pekin, IL, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2005-03-24 | CEO, President & Director Mr. Bryon T. McGregor | ||
Sector Basic Materials | Industry Specialty Chemicals | Full time employees 390 | Website https://www.altoingredients.com |
Full time employees 390 | Website https://www.altoingredients.com | ||
Alto Ingredients, Inc. produces, distributes, and markets specialty alcohols, renewable fuel, and essential ingredients in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Marketing and Distribution, Pekin Campus Production, and Western Production. It offers specialty alcohols used in mouthwash, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and cleaners for health, home, and beauty markets; grain neutral spirits used in alcoholic beverages and vinegar, as well as corn germ used in corn oils in the food and beverage markets; alcohols and other products for paint applications and fertilizers in the industrial and agriculture markets; and essential ingredients, including dried yeast, corn protein meal, corn protein feed, corn germ, distillers grains, and liquid feed for commercial animal feed and pet food applications, as well as yeast and gas liquid CO2 for human consumption. The company also provides fuel-grade ethanol used as transportation fuel additives and distillers corn oil used as a renewable diesel and biodiesel feedstock, as well as fuel-grade ethanol produced by third parties. In addition, it offers transportation, storage, and delivery services through third-party service providers. Further, the company operates alcohol production facilities. It sells ethanol to integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers; essential ingredient feed products to dairies and feedlots; and corn oil to poultry, renewable diesel, and biodiesel customers. The company was formerly known as Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and changed its name to Alto Ingredients, Inc. in January 2021. Alto Ingredients, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Pekin, Illinois.
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