GPRE
Basic MaterialsGreen Plains Inc. · Chemicals - Specialty · $1B
What is Green Plains Inc.?
Green Plains Inc. is one of the largest ethanol producers in the United States, operating across ethanol production, agribusiness, and fuel logistics. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company serves both domestic and international markets.
Green Plains generates revenue by producing and selling ethanol, distiller grains, ultra-high protein, and corn oil through its production facilities. Its agribusiness arm handles grain procurement, storage, and commodity marketing — buying and distributing ethanol, grains, and natural gas across various markets. A partnership segment rounds out the business by providing fuel storage and transportation services, including a large fleet of leased railcars and multiple fuel terminal facilities.
Green Plains was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
- Ethanol and industrial-grade alcohol production
- Ultra-high protein and distiller grains
- Corn oil extraction and sales
- Grain procurement, drying, and storage services
- Fuel storage and railcar transportation services
Is GPRE a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates GPRE as Poor overall, placing it among the lower-ranked names in the Basic Materials sector.
The one area where GPRE stands out relative to its own profile is Valuation, which is rated Good — suggesting the market may already be pricing in many of the company's challenges.
Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk are all rated Weak, reflecting a business that faces meaningful structural headwinds across profitability, competitive positioning, and financial stability.
Pro members can see the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics behind each rating — sign up to access the complete GPRE analysis. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does GPRE pay dividends?
No — Green Plains Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
Green Plains does not currently pay a dividend. For a capital-intensive ethanol producer navigating commodity cycles and ongoing operational investments, retaining cash rather than distributing it is a common approach. Income-focused investors should be aware that GPRE does not offer a dividend yield at this time.
When does GPRE report earnings?
Green Plains reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
The company's results tend to be sensitive to ethanol prices, corn input costs, and broader commodity market conditions — all of which can shift meaningfully from quarter to quarter. Investors should watch segment-level performance across Ethanol Production and Agribusiness for directional signals.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Green Plains' investor relations page directly.
GPRE Price History
-49.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Green Plains Inc.?
Based on Green Plains Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
GPRE Long-term Outlook
With Growth and Risk both rated Weak, the near-term fundamental outlook for GPRE carries notable uncertainty. Ethanol markets are heavily influenced by fuel blending mandates, corn prices, and energy policy — factors largely outside the company's control. The Good Valuation rating suggests limited downside may already be reflected in the share price, but a meaningful re-rating would likely require improvement across the Quality and Moat pillars.
Growth drivers
- Expansion of ultra-high protein production as a higher-margin product line
- Potential tailwinds from renewable fuel policy and blending mandates
- Agribusiness segment diversification across grain and commodity markets
Key risks
- Persistent weakness in Quality and Moat pillars limits pricing power
- Commodity price volatility in corn and ethanol can compress margins rapidly
- Weak Risk rating signals financial fragility in a cyclical industry
GPRE vs Peers
Green Plains operates in a niche corner of Basic Materials, and its closest listed peers reflect the diversity of specialty materials and commodity processing businesses.
Oil-Dri focuses on absorbent mineral products — a more consumer-facing niche than ethanol — giving it a different demand profile and customer base.
Neo Performance Materials specializes in rare earth and specialty materials, operating in higher-technology end markets compared to GPRE's commodity-driven ethanol business.
Stepan produces specialty chemicals for consumer and industrial applications, offering more product diversification than Green Plains' concentrated ethanol and grain operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Green Plains Inc. do?
Green Plains produces and markets ethanol, distiller grains, ultra-high protein, and corn oil in the United States and internationally. It also operates an agribusiness segment that handles grain procurement and commodity marketing, plus a partnership segment providing fuel storage and railcar transportation services.
Does GPRE pay dividends?
No, Green Plains does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains cash given the capital demands of operating large-scale ethanol production facilities and navigating commodity market cycles. Investors seeking regular income should factor this into their assessment.
When does GPRE report earnings?
Green Plains reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. Exact dates vary each quarter. For the most current schedule, check the investor relations section of the Green Plains website.
Is GPRE a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates GPRE as Poor overall. While Valuation is rated Good, the Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars are all Weak — indicating significant fundamental challenges. The complete pillar breakdown is available to Pro members on UQS Score.
Is GPRE overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for GPRE is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not considered expensive relative to its fundamentals at current levels. However, a low valuation alone does not offset the weaknesses seen across other pillars in the UQS framework.
How does GPRE compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like Stepan Company and Neo Performance Materials, Green Plains is more narrowly concentrated in commodity ethanol — a market with limited pricing power and high input cost sensitivity. Competitors with more diversified or specialty-focused product lines may carry different risk profiles.
What is GPRE's market cap bracket?
Green Plains is classified as a small-cap company. This places it below large- and mega-cap peers in terms of market size, which can mean lower liquidity and higher sensitivity to sector-level commodity swings.
Who founded Green Plains Inc.?
Green Plains was founded in 2006 and was originally known as Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. before changing its name in 2014. Detailed founding history is publicly available through the company's official filings and investor relations materials.
Is GPRE a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, GPRE's Poor UQS Score — driven by Weak ratings across Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk — suggests the business currently lacks the durable characteristics typically associated with long-term compounders. Monitoring improvements in these pillars over time would be key.
What is the main competitive advantage of Green Plains?
Green Plains' scale as one of the larger US ethanol producers provides some operational leverage, and its ultra-high protein initiative represents an attempt to move toward higher-margin products. However, the Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited durable competitive advantages at this stage.
What sector does GPRE belong to?
Green Plains is classified under the Basic Materials sector. Within that sector, it operates specifically in ethanol production and commodity agribusiness — areas that are heavily influenced by agricultural input costs and energy policy.
Is GPRE a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar ratings, GPRE does not fit neatly into either category. The Growth pillar is rated Weak, while Valuation is rated Good — making it closer to a distressed-value profile than a traditional growth or quality-value play.
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Pro Analysis
GPRE — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 33.4 | 19.5 | 10.0 | 31.6 | 43.6 | 87.6 | +4.2 |
| May 10, 2026 | 29.2 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 45.6 | 36.9 | 80.4 | +0.6 |
| May 8, 2026 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 44.8 | 36.9 | 77.1 | 0.0 |
| May 7, 2026 | 28.6 | 13.2 | 10.0 | 44.8 | 30.7 | 62.0 | +0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 28.5 | 13.2 | 10.0 | 44.8 | 30.7 | 60.8 | -0.4 |
| May 1, 2026 | 28.9 | 13.2 | 10.0 | 44.8 | 30.7 | 63.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 28.9 | 13.2 | 10.0 | 44.8 | 30.7 | 63.3 | +1.5 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 27.4 | 13.2 | 10.0 | 38.1 | 30.7 | 62.2 | -0.2 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 27.6 | 13.2 | 10.0 | 38.1 | 30.7 | 64.0 | 0.0 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 27.6 | 12.9 | 10.0 | 38.1 | 30.7 | 64.0 | -0.3 |
GPRE — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 19.5/100 (25%)Green Plains Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 31.6/100 (20%)Green Plains Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 43.6/100 (15%)Green Plains Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 88.3/100 (15%)Green Plains Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 10/100 (25%)Green Plains Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for GPRE.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the GPRE UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Green Plains Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Green Plains Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Green Plains Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.