Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU) fair value: what the stock is really worth
As of Oct 26, 2026: fair value (intrinsic value) of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC stock $9.66, price $8.47, upside +14.0%, quality 75 out of 100. Rating: undervalued. Calculated from audited financials with 24 of our 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.
69 individual criteria per stock, every one traceableSee the method →
Price vs Fair Value
White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year. As of Nov 8, 2026.
How to read this chart
60‑month range $0.6049 – $8.47 · fair‑value band $6.62 – $12.97 · the $8.47 price screens below the $9.66 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). As of Nov 8, 2026.
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Lake Area Corn Processors, LLC, through its subsidiary, Dakota Ethanol, L.L.C., owns and manages an ethanol plant in South Dakota.
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It produces and distributes fuel grade ethanol for use as an octane enhancer in fuels, an oxygenated fuel additive for reducing ozone and carbon monoxide vehicle emissions, and a non-petroleum-based gasoline substitute.
The company also provides co-products of the ethanol, such as distiller grains, which are used as animal feed supplement for the dairy, poultry, swine, and beef industries; and corn oil that is used as animal feed, as well as for industrial use and biodiesel production.
It sells ethanol and related products to customers located in North America. Lake Area Corn Processors, LLC was founded in 1999 and is based in Wentworth, South Dakota.
Stock analysis
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU) currently trades at $8.47, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $9.66, implying the stock looks roughly 12% undervalued today.
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Valuation
Bull case: the Growth DCF group reads highest at a median of $26.15 per share, and 22 of the 24 models we run sit above the $8.47 price.
Bear case: the Economic Profit group reads lowest at $11.21, and 2 of the 24 models stay below the price. Data coverage for this calculation is low.
Scenario range: $6.62 (bear) to $12.97 (bull), the price of $8.47 sits inside it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.
Quality & growth
The Quality Score stands at 75/100 (high quality), in the Energy sector.
Mixed Growth: Revenue is growing, but margins or cash flow do not fully confirm the trend.
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC reported revenue of $280M in FY2023 versus $116M in FY2019, a compound +24.7%/yr. Reported net income was $42.4M in FY2023.
Key figures
Market cap $251M Micro · P/E ratio 4.0 · P/S ratio 0.61 · EPS (TTM) $2.11 · Net margin 15.1% · Return on equity 35.0% · Return on assets (EBIT) 11.5% (5-year average) · Operating margin 13.2%.
Competitive moat
Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 76 out of 100 (low confidence).
What moves the price
The share trades at its 52-week high and 39% above its 52-week low, currently above its 200-day average.
For context, the median of 10 Energy peers we cover trades at −46% fair-value upside, at 14%, LKCRU screens cheaper than that median.
Fair Value models
Bear$6.62Fair Value $9.66Bull$12.97
Price $8.47 · Upside +14.0%
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above starts from their evidence-weighted blend, not from a single model. In cyclical trough or peak years, after dilution or a stock split it is adjusted afterwards, so it can sit above or below the models.Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target. If a model's bull case is above four times its base value, the table shows that limit with a > sign (like the overall Bull above): beyond it no assumption holds.Coverage ⓘCoverage = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Best data coverage
FCF DCF$20.86$34.75$55.9879
Growth DCF$20.40$32.23$48.9777
Owner Earnings$18.56$30.87$49.7075
All 24 models by family
DCF Models
FCF DCF$20.86$34.75$55.9879
Owner Earnings$18.56$30.87$49.7075
5Y Revenue Exit$13.12$19.99$28.9272
5Y EBITDA Exit$11.96$17.55$24.1775
5Y P/E Exit$16.80$27.73$40.2370
10Y Revenue Exit$15.72$22.93$33.3867
10Y EBITDA Exit$15.25$21.33$29.7969
10Y P/E Exit$18.12$28.02$41.9363
Earnings-Based
Graham-Dodd$9.73$48.74$67.2764
Lynch FV$13.19$18.84$24.5061
PEG = 1.0$13.19$18.84$24.5057
EPV$9.01$10.10$10.9874
Multiples
P/E Multiple$15.02$20.03$25.0463
P/S Multiple$8.52$11.36$14.2058
P/B Multiple$5.70$7.60$9.5055
EV/EBIT$9.78$12.88$15.9866
EV/EBITDA$6.95$9.11$11.2667
EV/Revenue$8.43$11.84$15.2554
Asset-Based
NCAV (Graham)$0.0800$0.1200$0.150055
Growth DCF
Growth DCF$20.40$32.23$48.9777
Rev-Margin DCF$13.12$20.06$29.2672
Economic Profit
Residual Income$7.17$10.04$19.0566
ROIC Compounder$9.96$12.38$15.1972
Growth Earnings
Growth-Adj P/E$16.58$23.69$30.8067
The fair value above starts from this blend and is adjusted for a cyclical peak year.
In the last 6 months, no officer or director bought or sold shares on the open market.
Sales are often planned (taxes, diversification, 10b5-1 plans). Purchases with their own money are seen as the stronger sign. For information only: not part of the quality score or Fair Value.
Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card.86/100
Revenue is growing, but margins or cash flow do not fully confirm the trend.
Revenue growth 1 year
−0.8%
Revenue growth 3 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+29.0%
Revenue growth 5 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+30.3%
Revenue growth 20 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+7.2%
’12
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What shareholders gained per year (last 5 years) (mathematically smoothed) ⓘWhat the business itself delivers per year: earnings growth per share plus the dividend yield. This is what you get IF the market keeps valuing the stock the same way: it contains no assumption about the market changing its mind. Computed per share, so buybacks count and a merger does not pass as growth. For a company that pays no dividend it is pure earnings growth per share. Period: earnings growth per share as CAGR over the last 5 reported fiscal years (annual statements), plus the current dividend yield. The start value is the median of the three years around the start, so a single crisis year (a pandemic or a write-down) does not distort the rate. Smoothed = median of all growth paths between the years of the window (trend line on the logarithm of earnings per share): a single extreme year cannot distort the rate. The reported figure stays in the tooltip.
≈ +75.6%
Earnings growth per share plus dividend.
Earnings per share, growth per year≈ +75.6%
Dividend (yield on the price)0.0%
Pace: 5 vs 10 years ⓘTwo data points, not a trend model: earnings growth per share over the last 5 fiscal years against the last 10. Labelled "steady" when both rates are within 3 percentage points of each other, otherwise picking up or flattening. Shown only when ten years of history exist.base effect: 56.2% / 4.8%
Profit margin 2018 to 2023 ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.3% → 13%
2023 sits 55% above its own trend. The rate follows the median trend of the last 5 years, not that single year.
⚠ Base effect: the rate starts in the earnings trough around 2018 (starting value 0.15 per share, median 0.42 in 2013 to 2016). It measures the recovery from the trough, not lasting growth.
Growth Forecast
Little optimism in the price
The price assumes less growth than the company has delivered so far.
What the price assumes ⓘThis turns our valuation around: instead of asking what the share is worth, it asks what growth the current price requires. It uses the cash the company keeps after all spending (free cash flow), the same discount rate as our models, five years of growth, then slowing evenly to 2 % a year by year ten. Compared with the analysts' sales forecasts extended to the same five years (at least three analysts, for context only, it does not enter the Fair Value): within 3 percentage points counts as "in line" (amber), below that little optimism (green), above that a lot of optimism (red).
−16.3%
The company could shrink this much every year for the next five years and today's price would still be justified.
What forecasts expect
n/a
No analyst forecast available.
After inflation (USA: IMF forecast 2.4% a year to 2030, 3.1% from 2016 to 2025) that is about −18.2% a year for the price.
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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing · 115 stocks
Beats the industry median on 10/13 measures
Overall it ranks above its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score75 · Top 25%
Fair Value upside+14.0% · Above median
Profitability
Return on equity (12 months)35.0% · Top 25%
Return on assets21.9% · Top 25%
Net margin (12 months)20.1% · Top 25%
Operating margin (12 months)13.2% · Top 25%
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth (quarter YoY)−33.4% · Bottom 25%
Balance sheet
Debt / equity0.15× · Below median
Valuation Multiplesvs Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing median · lower = cheaper
For bloggers, editors and developers: paste this into your site or blog (a “Custom HTML” block in WordPress), it shows the current fair value and links back here. Free, plain HTML, and welcome. Full data streams (CSV/JSON) at /developers.
Cite: Fair Value Calculator (2026). "Lake Area Corn Processors LLC Fair Value". https://www.fairvalue-calculator.com/stock/LKCRU
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Nov 8, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of $9.66 versus the last price from Oct 26, 2026 of $8.47, about +14% upside (undervalued).
What is the fair value of LKCRU?
Our model-based fair value for Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is $9.66 (as of Nov 8, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. Last price (from Oct 26, 2026): $8.47.
What is the quality score of LKCRU?
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC has a Quality Score of 75/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of $9.66 (as of Nov 8, 2026) from 24 valuation models. Cautious scenario $6.62, optimistic scenario $12.97. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the Lake Area Corn Processors LLC stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at $9.66, about +14% upside versus the last price from Oct 26, 2026 of $8.47 (undervalued). Cautious scenario $6.62, optimistic scenario $12.97. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about $225M (latest available figure, as of Nov 8, 2026).
Does Lake Area Corn Processors LLC pay a dividend?
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC does not currently pay a dividend.
What growth is priced into Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
For today's price to be fair in a discounted-cash-flow model, Lake Area Corn Processors LLC would have to grow free cash flow by -16.3 % per year for five years (discount rate 11.7 %, then slowing evenly to 2 % perpetual growth by year ten). Over the last 5 years revenue grew +30.3 % per year. As of Nov 8, 2026.
What discount rate (WACC) does the fair value of LKCRU use?
Our models discount Lake Area Corn Processors LLC at 11.7 %: a base by market capitalisation (micro), damped by beta 0.68, country premium for USA. The same rate applies in all 26 models.
What is a reverse DCF?
A reverse DCF turns the usual calculation around. Instead of deriving a value from assumptions, it takes today's price as given and asks: what free-cash-flow growth would a company have to deliver for exactly this price to be fair? The result is not a forecast but the expectation already priced in. For Lake Area Corn Processors LLC that is -16.3 % per year for five years, then slowing evenly to 2 % by year ten, using the same discount rate (11.7 %) and the same formula as our fair value.
How much growth has Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU) delivered so far?
Over the past 5 years revenue at Lake Area Corn Processors LLC grew +30.3 % a year. The price currently implies free-cash-flow growth of -16.3 % per year. Comparing the two shows how much confidence is in the price: if it demands more than has been delivered, the business has to accelerate for the maths to work.
How fast is the sector of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU) growing?
The median revenue growth in the sector is +14.3 % a year. That is the yardstick for the growth priced into Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (-16.3 % per year): it shows whether the expectation is within the usual range or beyond it.
What is the free cash flow yield of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
The free-cash-flow yield on the price is 23.35 %: that much free cash flow Lake Area Corn Processors LLC produces per unit of market value. When it exceeds the discount rate of our models (11.7 %), the business already earns more than its cost of capital demands, and the price needs little additional growth.
What is the intrinsic value of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For Lake Area Corn Processors LLC it is $9.66 per share (as of Nov 8, 2026), against a price of $8.47. It is the blended result of 24 valuation models in 7 families (DCF Models, Earnings-Based, Multiples, Asset-Based, Growth DCF, Economic Profit, Growth Earnings).
Is Lake Area Corn Processors LLC stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Nov 8, 2026, LKCRU trades below its calculated fair value: price $8.47, fair value $9.66, a gap of about +14% (undervalued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of LKCRU?
No. The price is what the market pays today ($8.47); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify ($9.66). For Lake Area Corn Processors LLC the two are $1.19 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is Lake Area Corn Processors LLC worth?
The market values Lake Area Corn Processors LLC at about $251M (market capitalisation, as of Nov 8, 2026). Per share that is $8.47; our models calculate a fair value of $9.66 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about LKCRU?
Our models span a range for Lake Area Corn Processors LLC: cautious scenario $6.62, base $9.66, optimistic $12.97 per share (as of Nov 8, 2026, price $8.47). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
What is the P/E ratio of LKCRU?
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.0 (as of Nov 8, 2026). A P/E on its own says little: it compares the price with ONE year of profit, while our fair value of $9.66 is built from several models across several years. Median P/E at fiscal year-end, 5 fiscal years (2018 to 2023), reported earnings: 3.9. Other multiples: P/B 1.9, P/S 1.1, EV/EBITDA 6.0.
How solid is the balance sheet of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
Balance-sheet figures for Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (as of Nov 8, 2026): return on equity 35.0%, debt of 0.15 per unit of equity. They feed the Quality Score of 75/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is LKCRU from its 52-week high?
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC trades at $8.47, at its 52-week high of $8.47 and 39% above the low of $6.10 (as of Nov 6, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of $9.66 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to Lake Area Corn Processors LLC?
From the same area (Energy) we also value Reliance Industries Limited, Valero Energy Corporation, Phillips 66, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is Lake Area Corn Processors LLC stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Nov 8, 2026: price $8.47, calculated fair value $9.66 (+14%), Quality Score 75/100, from 24 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of LKCRU calculated?
We run Lake Area Corn Processors LLC through 24 models from 7 families: DCF Models, Earnings-Based, Multiples, Asset-Based, Growth DCF, Economic Profit, Growth Earnings. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the fair value of $9.66 builds on their evidence-weighted average, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 13.3% above its aggregate fair value. Lake Area Corn Processors LLC currently trades 12% below its own fair value, and the market average says nothing about that. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
The latest price we hold is from Oct 26, 2026 and stands at $8.47. Our model-based fair value is $9.66, about +14% upside (undervalued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with Lake Area Corn Processors LLC right now?
A fairly wide model range ($6.62 to $12.97) leaves room in how you read the outcome. Evidence is limited here (fewer models, shorter history), so the fair value is a rougher estimate than usual.
Key figures of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC
How large is the market capitalisation of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
The market capitalisation of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is $251M. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
The price-to-sales ratio of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is 0.61 (P/E × margin). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
Earnings per share at Lake Area Corn Processors LLC are $2.11 (price ÷ EPS = P/E 4.0). Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the net margin of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
The net margin of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is 15.1% (fiscal year 2023). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
The return on equity (ROE) of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is 35.0% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is 11.5% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
The operating margin of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is 13.2% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
Revenue at Lake Area Corn Processors LLC is growing −33.4% versus a year earlier (3y avg +29.0%). How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How fast are earnings growing at Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU)?
Earnings per share at Lake Area Corn Processors LLC are growing +43.9% versus a year earlier. How much earnings per share grew versus a year earlier.
How much net cash does Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (LKCRU) hold?
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC holds more cash than debt, $14.1M net (fiscal year 2023). The company holds more cash than debt, a safety cushion.
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Thin data
Nov 8, 2026