Our Stock of the Week is PureCycle Technologies (PCT). PCT is an environmental technology company that specializes in recycling polypropylene (PP). This is the “No. 5” plastic found in items like drinking cups, yogurt containers, bottle caps, and food containers.
Unlike traditional mechanical recycling, which produces gray, smelly plastic, PureCycle uses a proprietary solvent-based process originally developed by Procter & Gamble (PG) to remove color, odor, and contaminants. This transforms plastic waste into “Ultra-Pure Recycled” (UPR) resin, which is almost identical to “virgin” (new) plastic.
In their Q3 2025 update, PCT announced that its flagship facility in Ironton, Ohio, produced a record 7.2 million pounds of resin during the quarter. Notably, September alone saw 3.3 million pounds, signaling that the mechanical issues that plagued the plant and weighed on the stock in 2024 are largely resolved.
In October 2025, the company received European REACH certification, which officially opened up the European Union market for PureFive™ resin. In addition, the company received a €40 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund to help build its first European purification facility in Antwerp, Belgium.
While the company has been criticized for not announcing more contract news, it has recently confirmed several projects. It is shipping resin to P&G’s converters for use in detergent bottle caps. These products are expected to hit store shelves in early 2026. In addition, the company is currently in trials with 3 of the top 5 global fast-food chains for products like coffee lids and cups. Starbucks (SBUX) has been mentioned as a potential customer.
A recent development makes me believe that the company may be at significant support. On December 18, 2025, PureCycle Technologies announced the appointment of Valerie Mars to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026. Valerie Mars is a fourth-generation member of the Mars family (the multibillion-dollar empire behind Snickers, M&Ms, and Pedigree) and served as the Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at Mars, Inc. for over 20 years.
This is extremely important because Mars, Inc. uses approximately 400 million pounds of plastic packaging every year. PureCycle’s technology specifically targets polypropylene (PP), which is a major component of candy wrappers and snack films. Having a Mars family member on the board creates a direct line to one of the world’s largest potential customers, who could utilize PureCycle’s recycled resin to meet their sustainability goals.
Valerie Mars is not just a passive investor; she is an architect of the “Sustainable in a Generation” plan at Mars, Inc. Before joining the board, she personally visited the Ironton, Ohio, facility to see the technology in action.
Valerie Mars is a billionaire with an estimated net worth of over $11 billion. Joining the board of a relatively small company like PCT is seen as a “stamp of approval.” It suggests she believes the technology is finally ready for industrial-scale use.
I was initially attracted to PCT because of the ownership of Stanley Druckenmiller, who is one of the greatest hedge fund managers of all time. As of the most recent regulatory filings (Q3 2025), his entities held 2,303,084 shares, which is a small position for his Duquesne Family Office portfolio but significant for a small stock like PCT. He held his position steady (0% change) in the most recent quarter after previously increasing his stake during a capital raise in mid-2025. Druckenmiller was also a key part of a $300 million capital raise in June 2025, which provided the company with the runway it needed to expand into Thailand and Belgium.
Technically, the chart is poor, but I believe it may be a ‘tax loss’ selling candidate. Anyone who bought since June has a loss, and there will be pressure to harvest that loss to offset capital gains. There looks to be technical support around the $7.50 area.
This post is for educational purposes only! This is not advice or a recommendation. We do not give investment advice. Do not act on this post. Do not buy, sell, or trade the stocks mentioned herein. We WILL actively trade this stock differently than discussed herein. We will sell into strength and buy or sell at any time for any reason. We will actively trade into any unusual activity. At the time of this post, principals, employees, and affiliates of Shark Investing, Inc. and/or principals, clients, employees, and affiliates of Hammerhead Financial Strategies, LLC, directly or indirectly, controlled investment and/or trading accounts containing positions in PCT. To accommodate the objectives of these investing and/or trading accounts, the trading in these shares will be contrary to and/or inconsistent with the information contained in this posting.
