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Smart Sand (SND) AI Stock Analysis

SND

Smart Sand

(NASDAQ:SND)

Select Model
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:$5.00â–²(3.31% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:09/06/26

Smart Sand scores in the moderate range. The dominant constraint is profitability: despite solid revenue growth and improving cash generation, net margins are razor-thin, EBIT has been negative in multiple years, and return on equity remains well below industry norms in a highly cyclical end market. Supporting the score are a conservatively leveraged balance sheet, a strengthening free cash flow profile, and a favorable run of corporate developments — a record quarter, an enlarged and extended credit facility, and meaningful capital returns through buybacks and special dividends. Technicals are constructive with the stock trading above all key moving averages, though the move looks somewhat extended near-term. Valuation is a mild offset: a 19.7x P/E is demanding for the earnings profile, partly balanced by a high, though special-dividend-driven, yield.

Positive Factors
Strong Recent Cash GenerationRecent operating and free cash flow provide internally generated funding for capital needs, debt service, and shareholder returns. The positive 22.9% FCF growth also strengthens financial resilience and gives Smart Sand greater flexibility to pursue opportunities through the next several quarters.
Negative Factors
Thin Profit MarginsThin margins leave limited room for cost increases, weaker pricing, or lower utilization to be absorbed before profitability is affected. Even with the recent earnings rebound, this modest margin base makes sustained returns more sensitive to changes in sand volumes, realized pricing, and operating efficiency.

Smart Sand (SND) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-50%0%50%100%150%200%SND+139.49%SPY+11.79%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
Market Cap
$205.21M
Dividend Yield
7.23%
Average Volume (3M)
244.27K
Price to Earnings (P/E)
17.9
Beta (1Y)
0.18
Revenue Growth
26.53%
EPS Growth
1135.48%
Country
US
Employees
318
Sector
Energy
Sector Strength
65
Industry
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services

Smart Sand Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Smart Sand, Inc., a fully integrated frac and industrial sand supply and services company, provides mine to wellsite proppant supply and logistics solutions to its frac sand customers in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segme...

How the Company Makes Money

Smart Sand makes money primarily by selling processed frac sand (proppant) used in hydraulic fracturing operations. Its core revenue stream is the sale of sand volumes (typically priced per ton) to customers in the upstream oil and gas sector—commonl...

Smart Sand Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 11, 2024(Q3-2024)|% Change Since:104.82%|Next Earnings Date:Nov 09, 2026
Earnings Call SentimentNeutral

The earnings call presented a mixed outlook. Positive aspects included a focus on free cash flow, shareholder returns, and strategic growth initiatives. However, challenges such as decreased sales volumes and revenue, alongside lower contribution margins and EBITDA, highlighted operational pressures. The company remains optimistic about future demand and pricing improvements, particularly in natural gas markets.

Positive Updates

Positive Free Cash Flow
Smart Sand reported positive free cash flow of $3.7 million for the third quarter and $11.7 million year-to-date. The company remains cash flow positive for 2024.

Negative Updates

Decrease in Sales Volumes and Revenue
Third quarter sales volumes decreased by 7% from the second quarter, with total revenues dropping from $73.8 million to $63.2 million.

Company Guidance

During Smart Sand's Q3 2024 earnings call, the company provided several financial metrics and guidance reflecting its performance and strategic initiatives. The company reported sales volumes of just under 1.2 million tons and an adjusted EBITDA of $5.7 million for the quarter. Positive free cash flow was reported at $3.7 million, contributing to a year-to-date free cash flow of $11.7 million. Despite a 7% decrease from the previous quarter, total revenues were $63.2 million, with a contribution margin of $13.2 million or $11.09 per ton sold. Smart Sand also highlighted a decrease in capital expenditures, down to $5.1 million year-to-date compared to $16.1 million in 2023, and anticipated total capital expenditures to remain under $10 million for 2024. The company announced a share buyback plan of up to $10 million and recently paid a special dividend of $0.10 per share, demonstrating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Looking forward, Smart Sand expects a pickup in activity, especially in natural gas markets, and anticipates continued demand for Northern White Sand. They foresee fourth-quarter sand sales volumes ranging from 1.1 to 1.4 million tons and anticipate positive free cash flow for the year despite increased capital expenditures in the fourth quarter.

Smart Sand Financial Statement Overview

Summary

A mixed profile weighed down by weak profitability. The income statement is the primary drag (score 38): revenue has grown to $387M on a TTM basis, but gross margins are thin and volatile (13.2% TTM), net margin is just 2.7% TTM (0.4% in FY2025), and EBIT was negative in three of the last five years. The balance sheet is the strongest pillar (score 58) with debt reduced from $55.2M to $36.2M, debt-to-equity down to 0.15, and a stable ~$240M equity base, though return on equity is very low (0.6% in 2025, 4.4% TTM). Cash flow is improving (score 52), with operating cash flow up to $47M TTM and free cash flow of $34.6M, well-supported by earnings quality (OCF/net income of 0.86), but prior-year swings underscore the cyclical, commodity-driven nature of the business.

Income Statement

38Negative

Balance Sheet

58Neutral

Cash Flow

52Neutral
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue386.99M330.15M311.37M295.97M255.74M126.65M
Gross Profit50.95M35.50M44.82M41.55M29.59M-15.91M
EBITDA39.06M25.94M31.75M27.29M24.98M-31.61M
Net Income10.49M1.34M2.99M4.65M-703.00K-50.67M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets347.06M340.01M341.55M346.30M360.00M374.02M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments10.20M22.55M1.55M6.07M5.51M25.59M
Total Debt43.36M36.18M37.22M43.75M44.54M55.20M
Total Liabilities108.97M100.32M97.74M104.03M116.53M132.86M
Stockholders Equity238.10M239.70M243.81M242.27M243.47M241.16M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow34.63M32.52M10.85M7.96M-7.31M21.22M
Operating Cash Flow46.98M44.12M17.86M30.99M5.42M32.44M
Investing Cash Flow-12.35M-10.86M-6.92M-22.90M-18.21M-11.14M
Financing Cash Flow-28.73M-12.26M-15.46M-7.53M-7.29M-7.43M

Smart Sand Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price4.84

Price Trends

50DMA5.14Negative
100DMA4.91Negative
200DMA4.79Positive

Market Momentum

MACD-0.08Positive
RSI40.79Neutral
STOCH33.89Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SND, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 4.84 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5.11, below the 50-day MA of 5.14, and above the 200-day MA of 4.79, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.08 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 40.79 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 33.89 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for SND.

Smart Sand Risk Analysis

Smart Sand disclosed 55 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Smart Sand reported the most risks in the "Production" category.

  • Finance & Corporate13
  • Tech & Innovation4
  • Legal & Regulatory10
  • Production15
  • Ability to Sell8
  • Macro & Political5
Production - Risks related to the company’s ability to manufacture goods and services

Latest Risks Added

0 New Risks

Smart Sand Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)

Financial Indicators

SND against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
HALHAL66Neutral$29.92B15.1318.46%1.88%1.53%58.46%
Sector *65Neutral$15.17B7.614.09%5.20%3.87%-62.32%
SNDSND61Neutral$205.21M17.914.41%7.23%26.53%1135.48%
AESIAESI57Neutral$1.15B-9.71-10.04%2.71%-8.11%-822.25%
PUMPPUMP51Neutral$949.73M390.400.21%―-6.04%―
WTTRWTTR51Neutral$2.54B72.833.50%1.42%-1.95%-17.11%
ACDCACDC50Neutral$888.76M-1.99-56.47%―-16.18%-32.58%

* Energy Sector Average

Performance Comparison

0%50%100%150%SNDHALPUMPWTTRACDCAESIDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
SND and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
SNDSmart Sand Inc4.842.81138.31%
HALHalliburton Company36.179.5335.77%
PUMPPropetro Holding7.73-3.22-29.41%
WTTRSelect Energy Services19.738.0769.21%
ACDCProfrac Holding Corp. Class A4.88-0.66-11.91%
AESIAtlas Energy Solutions, Inc.9.22-3.43-27.11%

Smart Sand Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing

Smart Sand Expands Credit Facility and Extends Maturity

Positive
Sep 3, 2026

Smart Sand, Inc. disclosed that it entered into a $30 million five-year senior secured asset-based credit facility on September 3, 2024, with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company as agent and lender, establishing a revolving structure backed by th...

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesStock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures

Smart Sand Announces CFO Transition and Governance Changes

Positive
Aug 11, 2026

Smart Sand reported that the second quarter of 2026 was among the strongest in its history, with tons sold rising 25% sequentially and 31% year over year to about 1.86 million, driving revenue to $115.1 million and net income to $10.2 million. Gross...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Sep 06, 2026