Everything You Need to Know About Investing in Canadian Marijuana Stocks
Marijuana stocks have become a hot commodity over the last couple of years. And there's one country above all where the stocks are the hottest: Canada.
Canada has become the center of attention for the marijuana industry because, unlike the U.S., marijuana is legal at the federal level. The cannabis industry in the country has exploded, with many Canadian marijuana stocks skyrocketing as well.
What's going on now with marijuana in Canada? What threats exist for the cannabis industry? What are the best ways for investors to profit from the rapidly growing marijuana market? Here's everything you need to know about investing in Canadian marijuana stocks.
Image source: Getty Images.
Overview of the Canadian marijuana market
The first thing for investors to know is that there are two Canadian marijuana markets: medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. Canada legalized medical marijuana in 2001. However, the then-current regulations were geared toward patients growing marijuana for their own medical use.
In 2013, though, new regulations called the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) dramatically changed how medical marijuana could be obtained. Under these regulations, Canadians could no longer grow marijuana at home but instead had to obtain medical marijuana from licensed producers.
The MMPR didn't stay in effect for very long. In February 2016, a Canadian federal court ruled that the regulations were unconstitutional because they prohibited Canadians from growing medical marijuana at home. As a result, yet another set of regulations was passed, Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), which retained the licensed producers but also allowed individuals to grow medical marijuana at home. The ACMPR went into effect in August 2016.
In 2015, then-candidate Justin Trudeau promised to legalize and regulate marijuana for recreational use by adults if he was elected Canada's Prime Minister. Trudeau did go on to win the election. He also made good on his campaign pledge. The Canadian Senate voted a final time to legalize recreational marijuana on June 19, 2018. Under the Cannabis Act (also known as bill C-45), Canadian adults will be able to purchase marijuana for recreational purposes starting on Oct. 17, 2018.
As is the case with medical marijuana, recreational marijuana will be supplied by licensed producers or can be grown by Canadians for their own use. Canadian provinces are allowed to establish their own regulations about how recreational marijuana will be distributed and sold.
Not all types of recreational marijuana will be permitted beginning in October 2018, though. The rules permit the legal sale and use of dried cannabis, cannabis oil, and cannabis seeds. However, cannabis edibles and cannabis concentrates used for vaping were excluded -- at least temporarily. Health Canada, the federal agency in Canada responsible for public health, felt that more time was needed to develop regulations for these types of cannabis products. Finalization of these regulations is expected sometime in 2019.
Impact of legalization
The number of patients receiving medical marijuana in Canada increased quickly to nearly 270,000 in 2017. This figure is expected to grow to more than 285,000 patients in 2018.
As a result, medical marijuana has become a relatively large business in Canada. Last year, total sales were estimated to be around $600 million. However, it seems likely that medical marijuana sales won't continue to increase very much and could even taper off somewhat as Canada's legal recreational marijuana market opens.
But the recreational marijuana market is expected to soar. Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics project that recreational marijuana sales between Oct. 17, 2018, and the end of the year will approach $700 million. By 2022, this total could increase to nearly $5 billion.
The potential for such tremendous sales has attracted more marijuana growers, even prompting produce growers to convert greenhouses to growing marijuana. It's also generated considerable interest in the Canadian recreational marijuana market, with major beverage makers looking to market cannabis-infused beverages.
Changing relationships with banks
Although the Canadian marijuana market really began to blossom in 2013, raising money was a challenge for some marijuana-related businesses. Most banks wouldn't touch marijuana growers with a 10-foot pole because of concerns that they could be penalized for doing so. This left marijuana growers with limited options for obtaining the capital needed to fund expansion.
One alternative used by many marijuana growers was bought-deal financing, a type of stock offering where an underwriter commits to buy all of the stock being offered. These deals also often included warrants and convertible debentures -- loans that can be converted later to stock. Some companies also were able to secure loans from credit unions.
Bank of Montreal (BMO) cracked the door open somewhat, though, earlier this year with its capital-markets business leading a round of equity financing for Canopy Growth. BMO CEO Darryl White called Canopy "a bona-fide business operating within the boundaries of the law." He also raised the possibility that BMO could do similar transactions with other marijuana businesses as long as they met the bank's criteria for such deals.
But it took the passage of the Cannabis Act in July to really throw the doors open for banks to work with the Canadian marijuana industry. BMO again led the charge soon after the law was passed by agreeing to a major debt facility for Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQOTH: ACBFF).
Threats to the Canadian marijuana industry
Raising capital could continue to be problematic for some members of the Canadian marijuana industry. Although banks will be more amenable to doing business with the major marijuana growers, it could be a different story for smaller players.
There's also a lingering threat from the way that some marijuana businesses structured their bought-deal financing in the past. Companies that heavily used convertible debentures -- loans issued that can be converted into stock -- could face a ticking time bomb. If investors convert those debentures to stock, companies could experience significant dilution in the value of existing shares.
Probably the most worrisome threat for the Canadian marijuana industry, though, is the possibility of a supply glut within a few years. Marijuana growers have scrambled to increase their production capacity in anticipation of tremendous demand once the recreational marijuana market opens. The problem is that the top five Canadian marijuana growers alone are on track to have annual production capacity within the next couple of years that is much greater than even the most optimistic demand projections.
This prospect has led some in the Canadian marijuana industry to predict a "squeeze" scenario. As supply catches up to and surpasses demand, the laws of supply and demand dictate that prices will fall. Marijuana growers with higher production costs would likely struggle in this scenario. A natural consequence would be a wave of consolidation within the industry as smaller players are gobbled up at bargain prices by larger marijuana growers.
These problems could be exacerbated if growth in the Canadian recreational marijuana market isn't as strong as expected. One potential way that growth could fall short of projections is if the Canadian government doesn't finalize regulations for cannabis edibles and concentrates next year.
Future of the Canadian marijuana industry
While the total marijuana market in Canada is likely to increase rapidly over the next several years, the real future of the Canadian marijuana industry is probably going to focus on other countries. Several of the leading Canadian marijuana growers are already forming partnerships and establishing operations in Europe, Australia, and South America.
Germany is currently the biggest and most important marijuana market outside of North America. The country claims the largest population in the European Union. Germany legalized medical marijuana last year. Most of the largest Canadian marijuana growers now have subsidiaries in Germany or partnerships with German medical cannabis distributors.
Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics project that the global medical marijuana excluding Canada and the U.S. will total $3.1 billion by 2022. Over time, though, this market could increase well above that amount. BDS Analytics CEO Roy Bingham thinks that the global cannabis market will top $100 billion over the long run even without any movement in Asia to legalize marijuana.
But the biggest wild card for the Canadian marijuana industry is what happens with the country's neighbor to the south. The United States still has federal laws in place that outlaw the use and sale of marijuana. However, medical marijuana is now legal in 30 states plus the District of Columbia. Nine states plus D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana. And those numbers are likely to increase, as four other states will vote on the legalization of either medical or recreational marijuana in November.
The major Canadian marijuana growers are staying away from the U.S. for now. All of the largest marijuana businesses have their stocks listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, which prohibits members from establishing operations in any jurisdiction where marijuana is illegal at the federal level.
However, the possibility exists that the U.S. could change its laws. Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican whose home state of Colorado allows the legal use of medical and recreational marijuana, is promoting a bipartisan bill that would prevent the federal government from interfering in states that have legalized marijuana. President Trump has indicated that he will likely support this legislation.
Should laws change in a way that allows Canadian marijuana growers to expand into the U.S., the future of the industry could be very bright indeed. The projected U.S. cannabis market in 2022 is nearly three times the size of the combined marijuana market in the rest of the world, including Canada.
Different ways to invest in Canadian marijuana stocks
There are three primary approaches for investing in Canadian marijuana stocks:
Buy "pure play" marijuana stocks
Buy stocks of companies outside of the marijuana industry that have ties to the industry
Buy marijuana exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
"Pure play" marijuana stocks are those of companies that derive all or nearly all of their revenue from the cannabis industry. Investing in these stocks comes with significant risk because of the threats mentioned earlier. However, the stocks also have the potential for nice returns -- especially if global marijuana markets open up more quickly than expected.
For investors wanting to dip their toes into the Canadian marijuana industry without taking on quite as much risk, buying stocks of companies that have ties to the industry but aren't in it directly is an alternative. Perhaps the best example of this type of stock right now is Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ). Although Constellation Brands is a large alcoholic beverage company, it has a presence in the cannabis industry thanks to its multibillion-dollar investment in Canopy Growth.
Companies like Constellation Brands see an opportunity to create a new class of cannabis-infused beverages. Constellation and Canopy, for example, plan to develop a wide variety of low-calorie drinks mixed with different cannabinoids. Some of these drinks would be nutraceutical products containing cannabidiol (CBD), which has some medical benefits but isn't psychoactive. Even beverage giant Coca-Cola is reportedly interested in developing CBD-infused beverages for relief of cramping, inflammation, and pain.
ETFs provide a way for investors to buy a basket of marijuana stocks. Buying an ETF offers the ability for investors to spread their risk across a large number of stocks. However, the downside of ETFs are that they charge annual fees that investors don't have to pay when buying individual stocks. There are currently two primary marijuana-focused ETFs that have holdings consisting largely of Canadian marijuana stocks: Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF and ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF.
Top 5 Canadian marijuana stocks
What are the best Canadian marijuana stocks? It depends on what your definition of "best" is. The key things to look for in a pot stock are production capacity, readiness for the Canadian recreational marijuana market, and positioning for the global medical marijuana market. With these criteria in mind, here are five of the top Canadian marijuana stocks.
Stock | Market Cap |
|---|---|
Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) | $11.9 billion |
Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) | $9.3 billion |
Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQOTH: ACBFF) | $8.9 billion |
Aphria Inc. (NASDAQOTH: APHQF) | $3.5 billion |
Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) | $2.1 billion |
Data source: Yahoo! Finance. Market caps as of Sept. 24, 2018.
Canopy Growth
Canopy Growth doesn't tout its annual production capacity. However, the company claims 3.2 million square feet of licensed growing space -- enough for Canopy to comfortably produce at least 500,000 kilograms per year. Canopy should be in great shape for the Canadian recreational marijuana market, with supply agreements with all provinces and territories to finalize deals so far. The company's relationship with Constellation Brands is also a nice feather in its cap. Canopy has extensive international operations, notably including its Spectrum Cannabis subsidiary in Germany.
Tilray
Tilray expects to have 912,000 square feet of growing space by the end of 2018. The company has secured recreational cannabis supply agreements with eight provinces and territories so far. Tilray is the first (and for now, only) marijuana grower to be selected to supply both cannabis flower and cannabis oils in Germany. It was also the first marijuana stock to go public on the Nasdaq stock exchange. (Although Cronos Group listed on the Nasdaq prior to Tilray, it was first publicly traded in Canada.) The company could be a potential cannabis partner for Guinness beer maker Diageo.
Aurora Cannabis
Aurora Cannabis has been the most aggressive in the Canadian marijuana industry at making acquisitions. These deals should boost the company's annual production capacity to more than 570,000 kilograms by the end of 2019 once expansion projects are completed. Like its peers, Aurora has landed supply agreements with several provinces and territories, including the largest prize -- Ontario. It also has a stake in large liquor store chain Alcanna, with the two companies planning to open retail cannabis stores throughout Canada. Aurora is well-positioned internationally with its Pedanios subsidiary in Germany and a big production facility in Denmark. In addition, Coca-Cola is reportedly considering Aurora as its partner to develop cannabis-infused beverages.
Aphria
Aphria should have an annual production capacity of 255,000 kilograms in 2019. The company currently has supply agreements with eight provinces and territories for the recreational marijuana market. Aphria also selected large wine and spirits distributor Great North Distributors as its partner for distributing its recreational cannabis products. It claims operations in Europe (including Germany), Africa, Australia, and South America. Aphria could also be a top candidate to become the cannabis partner for Diageo.
Cronos Group
Cronos Group stated in its Q2 update that it's on track to increase annual production capacity to more than 40,000 kilograms for the Canadian domestic market by the end of this year. In addition, Cronos formed a joint venture that could boost its annual capacity by 70,000 kilograms. The company has secured supply agreements with four provinces and territories, notably including Ontario. It also has a five-year supply agreement in place with Cura Cannabis Solutions. Cronos has partnered with U.S.-based cannabis retailer MedMen to open retail cannabis stores throughout Canada. It's also active on the international front, with a partnership with large German pharmaceutical supplier Pohl-Boskamp and a joint venture in Australia.
Is now the time to buy Canadian marijuana stocks?
There's a tremendous amount of hype for Canadian marijuana stocks. Rumors of potential deals with major companies outside of the marijuana industry are adding to the feverish expectations.
The problem is that valuations already appear to reflect sky-high growth expectations. Tilray shares, for example, trade at nearly 400 times sales. Of the top five stocks discussed, Aphria has the lowest price-to-sales ratio -- and it's still more than 125. Even if growth projections through 2022 are factored in, the top Canadian marijuana stocks trade at price-to-sales multiples several times greater than those of other industries like alcoholic beverages, healthcare products, and tobacco.
Canadian marijuana stocks are likely to experience significant volatility, in large part due to their high valuations. Investors who prefer to avoid the roller-coaster ride common with volatile stocks are better off staying away.
Over the long run, though, the global marijuana industry should become large enough to present solid growth opportunities for the strongest contenders, including several of the stocks mentioned. For aggressive investors who can stomach the volatility and hang on for the long term, some of the top marijuana stocks could be winners despite their astronomical valuations.
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Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Nasdaq. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
