Pacific Ethanol Pre-Earnings Gains To Post-Earnings Pain (PEIX)

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By Jon C. Ogg Published

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) was a soaring eagle today ahead of earnings with a 16% gain to $1.61.  It is giving it all back now.  The ethanol player turned in its fourth quarter earnings report showing $241.8 million in revenues (representing about 80% in total sales growth) and it reported a loss of -$0.03 in earnings per share. Total gallons sold (of ethanol) were 116.3 million and that represents growth of 53%.

The headwinds were lower gasoline demand (causing lower ethanol demand) as well as lower ethanol prices and lower ethanol margins.

Operating income was listed as being up to $3.7 million in the quarter and $4.0 million for the year but those figures did have some items in the reported figures.

What is interesting is the reaction.  With such a small market cap and small share price, there are hardly an analyst estimates.  The 16% gain to $1.61 is now being shown to be a 27% loss in the after-hours to $1.17.

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About the Author Jon C. Ogg →

Jon Ogg has been a financial news analyst since 1997. Mr. Ogg set up one of the first audio squawk box services for traders called TTN, which he sold in 2003. He has previously worked as a licensed broker to some of the top U.S. and E.U. financial institutions, managed capital, and has raised private capital at the seed and venture stage. He has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as New York and Chicago, and he now lives in Houston, Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at University of Houston in 1992. www.247wallst.com.

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