Arq Inc(ARQ)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$2.95
11/10/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for ARQ

11/10/2026: ARQ (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Arq Inc is a specialty environmental technology company transitioning from legacy emission control services to the production of high-performance activated carbon. Its main strength lies in its specialized adsorbent technology, which is increasingly relevant for air and water purification. The primary growth opportunity involves scaling its new production facility to capture market share in broader industrial and municipal applications. Key risks include the company's execution in transitioning business models, high competitive pressure from larger chemical firms, and the structural decline of coal-fired energy markets. This stock is best suited for investors comfortable with small-cap volatility, and market participants should monitor production output and new customer wins.

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 styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitArq represents a turnaround/growth play depending on the success of its activated carbon production scaling.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often lacks consistent bullish trend signals and requires a fundamental catalyst for significant momentum.
Value investorMixed fitValuation depends heavily on the future earnings power of new production assets.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh volatility associated with operational pivots and industry exposure makes this a higher-risk security.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock experiences significant price swings due to its small-cap nature and ongoing business transformation.
Valuation riskMedium / highMarket pricing is sensitive to execution success in the activated carbon segment.
Competition risk (specialty chemicals)HighArq faces competition from much larger, well-capitalized chemical companies.
Business qualityMediumThe business is transitioning from a service-heavy model to a capital-intensive manufacturing model.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThere is no dividend to provide income or cushion against price volatility.
Execution riskHighScaling production and achieving market share targets is critical for future viability.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Extreme Price Shocks
PRICE STABILITY

Extreme Price Shocks

The stock has experienced exceptionally large and disruptive price movements during the period.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 287.49%
Avg. Invested days 49
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/10/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
ARQ receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
ARQ has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with soft financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid revenue growth (+10.4%) is partially offset by negative earnings growth (-929.8%), weak cash generation (FCF margin -9.2%), weak profitability (net margin -43.7%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
ARQ's financial health is soft, with the relatively strongest area being moderate efficiency, including operating-expense and cost-of-revenue discipline (opex 34.6% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 2-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is ARQ's strongest growth driver at +85.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+10.4%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (-929.8%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 35.6% and approximately 74.6% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 25.65% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Royce & Associates, LP 4.22%
AQR Capital Management LLC 4.11%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.32%
Marshall Wace Asset Management Ltd 1.99%
Peapod Lane Capital LLC 1.78%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
ARQ generates approximately $279 of gross profit, $-67 of operating income, and $-92 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Operating losses and cash burn explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -0.02% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
ARQ has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

High VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 126.38M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 4.15
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 4.15
Volume (30-day avg) 726.2K shares
Beta 2.89
52 Weeks Range 1.54 - 4.03
Updated Date 11/09/2026
52 Weeks Range 1.54 - 4.03
Updated Date 11/09/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -1.2

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Activated Carbon SalesProduction and distribution of high-performance carbon adsorbents for air and water treatment.The core of the future business; revenue depends on selling carbon products to industrial and municipal customers.
Environmental ServicesLegacy emission control equipment and chemical supply programs.A declining but cash-generating segment as power plants shift away from coal.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-04
When After Market
Estimate 0.04
Actual 0.06

Profitability

Profit Margin -38.65%
Operating Margin (TTM) 8.24%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) -0.96%
Return on Equity (TTM) -25.15%

Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 65.79
Enterprise Value 139.84M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1
Enterprise Value 139.84M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.1
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 30.32
Shares Outstanding 44.19M
Shares Floating 32.96M
Shares Outstanding 44.19M
Shares Floating 32.96M
Percent Insiders 25.65
Percent Institutions 35.59

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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