Pure Cycle Corporation logo

Pure Cycle Corporation(PCYO)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
WEAK BUY
BUY for 69 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
-2.94% ▼
LAST CLOSE
$10.9
10/02/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for PCYO

10/02/2026: PCYO (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Pure Cycle Corporation is a specialized land development and water utility company primarily operating in the Denver, Colorado area. Its strength lies in owning valuable, proprietary water rights and vast tracts of land, which allows it to control the development of master-planned communities like Sky Ranch. The main investment story centers on the multi-year monetization of these assets to meet growing residential housing demand. However, investors must monitor risks related to geographic concentration, real estate cycle sensitivity, and the execution of complex infrastructure projects. The company may suit value investors who appreciate tangible asset backing, though the lack of a dividend and cyclicality require a long-term perspective.

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 fitThe company offers growth tied to real estate development but is subject to cyclical industry timing.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often exhibits long periods of consolidation rather than short-term high-velocity momentum.
Value investorStrong fitThe underlying asset value of water rights and land holdings often exceeds current market capitalization.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile assets are tangible and durable, the concentration risk and real estate sensitivity create volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highThin trading volumes and real estate cycle sensitivity can lead to sharp price fluctuations.
Valuation riskMediumThe complexity of valuing water rights and future land sales makes traditional valuation methods challenging.
Competition risk (Housing and Utility)MediumCompetition from large, well-capitalized national homebuilders can squeeze lot margins.
Business qualityMediumThe business relies on successful execution of complex, multi-year infrastructure and land development projects.
Dividend incomeLow / noneIncome seekers will find no support as the company reinvests all cash into growth.
Execution riskMediumDelays in development timelines or regulatory approval can significantly impact cash flow timing.

Price Behavior

Flat / Range-Bound
PRICE PATH

Flat / Range-Bound

The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -20.96%
Avg. Invested days 42
Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 1.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/02/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
PCYO receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by soft analyst coverage, weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
PCYO has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+12.9%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 14.1%) are partially offset by negative revenue growth (-9.3%), modest insider ownership of 4.88%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
PCYO's financial health is supported by strong profitability, including gross margin of 61.4% and operating margin of 29.4%. Liquidity is solid (4 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is PCYO's strongest growth driver at +900.7% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, earnings growth (+12.9%, solid) is also solid, while revenue growth (-9.3%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 74.7% and approximately 77.6% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 4.88% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Magnolia Group, LLC 7.45%
BlackRock Inc 5.80%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.85%
Heartland Advisors Inc 2.54%
Geode Capital Management, LLC 2.28%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
PCYO generates approximately $614 of gross profit, $294 of operating income, and $141 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and soft cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 24.96%

Quantitative Style Profile

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

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 262.42M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 17.85
1Y Target Price 6.55
Price to earnings Ratio 17.85
1Y Target Price 6.55
Volume (30-day avg) 87.8K shares
Beta 1.23
52 Weeks Range 9.71 - 12.44
Updated Date 10/01/2026
52 Weeks Range 9.71 - 12.44
Updated Date 10/01/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.61

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Land SalesSale of developed residential lots to third-party homebuilders at Sky Ranch.Revenue comes from selling 'shovel-ready' land to homebuilders.
Utility ServicesWater and wastewater billing to residents and businesses.Stable, recurring revenue from water and sewer utility fees.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 17.85
Forward PE 56.5
Enterprise Value 270.87M
Price to Sales(TTM) 7.78
Enterprise Value 270.87M
Price to Sales(TTM) 7.78
Enterprise Value to Revenue 8.03
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.98
Shares Outstanding 24.10M
Shares Floating 18.71M
Shares Outstanding 24.10M
Shares Floating 18.71M
Percent Insiders 4.88
Percent Institutions 74.73

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI Summary

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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.

About Pure Cycle Corporation

Exchange NASDAQ
Headquarters Watkins, CO, United States
IPO Launch date 1997-01-02
President, CEO, Principal Executive Officer & Director Mr. Mark W. Harding
Sector Utilities
Industry Utilities - Regulated Water
Full time employees 44
Full time employees 44

Pure Cycle Corporation provides water and wastewater services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Water and Wastewater Resource Development, Land Development, and Single-Family Rental. The company engages in the wholesale water production, storage, treatment, and distribution systems; wastewater collection and treatment systems; development of land into master planned communities; and construction and leasing of single-family homes. It serves domestic, commercial, and industrial customers. Pure Cycle Corporation was incorporated in 1976 and is headquartered in Watkins, Colorado.