Analyzing Small Cap Stocks: Danimer Scientific
The TDR Three Key Takeaways regarding Danimer Scientific and small cap stocks:
- Danimer holds over 430 patents for its fast-degrading biodegradable plastics.
- Danimer’s gross margin at -53.7% underscores unsustainable business model concerns.
- Small cap stock Danimer’s financial struggles include negative $67 million free cash flow
Danimer Scientific (NYSE: DNMR) is a Georgia-based small-cap company in the bioplastics industry. Despite its innovative technology, the company faces significant financial hurdles that raise questions about its long-term viability.
Danimer has developed a unique plastic that degrades much faster than traditional plastics, potentially transforming waste management practices. With over 430 granted and pending patents, the company’s products include biodegradable alternatives that can break down within 60 days if disposed of in marine environments. These innovations have attracted major clients, including Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Walmart.
In 2023, Danimer reported revenue of $45 million, significantly lower than the projected $455 million for 2024 outlined in their 2020 investor deck. This shortfall highlights the difficulties Danimer has faced in scaling its operations and achieving market penetration. The company’s gross margin is particularly alarming, standing at -53.7%. For every dollar of revenue, Danimer incurs $1.53 in costs, indicating an unsustainable business model. Furthermore, Danimer’s revenue has seen little to no growth over the past three years, remaining essentially flat with a slight negative trend.
Danimer’s levered free cash flow further underscores its financial struggles. The company reported a negative free cash flow of $67 million last year, following a negative $172 million the previous year. These figures illustrate the severe cash burn and financial instability the company is grappling with. Adding to its woes, Danimer’s credit score is -1.3, marking it as the first company on Small Cap Sunday with a negative rating. This poor credit score reflects the company’s high financial risk and challenges in accessing additional funding.
Market dynamics and consumer behavior also pose significant challenges. While a substantial proportion of consumers express a desire to support environmentally friendly products, the actual purchase behavior often diverges due to the higher costs associated with these products. Surveys indicate that 65% of consumers want to be environmentally conscious, but only 26% follow through at the checkout. The growth forecast for the biodegradable plastics market over the next five years is modest at 10.1%. This growth rate may not be sufficient to support Danimer’s ambitious plans, especially given the current financial strain and market adoption hurdles. Danimer’s bioplastics have significant potential to address plastic waste, but the company faces severe financial challenges. Its future depends on cost reductions, market penetration, and securing additional funding, making it a speculative investment for those with a high risk tolerance. Want to be updated on all things Psychedelic, Cannabis, AI, and Crypto? Subscribe to our Daily Baked in Newsletter!
