Aurora Went Up In Smoke This Past Week Too

The Four Horsemen of Cannabis, Canopy Growth, Tilray, Cronos, and Aurora Cannabis announced earnings this past week.  The end result was all four companies announced dismal results. What was once one of the hottest sectors a year ago, has now burned up in the smoke.   Valuation just got way ahead of the reality. At one point, Tilray was more valuable than 50% of the companies on the S&P 500…that’s just crazy.

One of the biggest reasons is a supply shortage, as a lot of Canadian growers waited too long to expand their capacity. There’s also the issue of cultivation and processing application backlogs, as well as high tax rates in the U.S. and a significant delay in the launch of the derivatives market (derivatives are products like edibles, vape pods, and infused beverages. Plus, there’s the regulatory and accounting issues that have left investors cold.

Source

Aurora Cannabis Inc. produces and distributes medical cannabis products in Canada and internationally. The company has one of the broadest international footprints, with operations in 24 countries and production capacity that may exceed 700,000 kilograms per year at peak.  But this past Friday, Aurora shares fall the most in five years when they announced disappointing numbers and said they were cancelling or delaying plans for multiple further facilities.  Nine analysts cut their price targets on the stock after the earnings announcement, with the lowest price target being $2.80.   

What would help the industry out a lot is making cannabis legal on the federal level in the US.  If and when this happens, you will see financial institutions flood the industry with capital.  At the moment most companies in the industry are cash strapped.  It’s why Aurora converted C$155 million in debt into shares as it seeks to conserve cash.  But many private companies aren’t in the same position Aurora is in.  For example, many companies had to resort to buying their storefronts because landlords weren’t willing to rent them the space. So with banks not giving these companies the time and day, with the equity markets drying up, these companies are being forced to sell off their assets…their real estate.

What would also help get more capital into the industry is the passing of the SAFE Banking Act.

Sept. 25, 2019, the House of Representatives passed the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, commonly known as the SAFE Banking Act. The SAFE Banking Act, if made into law, would provide protection from federal interference for financial institutions that choose to provide financial services to CRLBs. Specifically, the SAFE Banking Act would provide a safe harbor for banks by mitigating the legal risks associated with providing banking services to state-legalized cannabis businesses.

Source

Aurora’s future remains bright nevertheless.  In December when President Trump signed the Farm Bill into law to legalize the production and sale of hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) derived from the hemp plant.  Aurora will be a significant player in the U.S. as it make inroads into the U.S. hemp CBD market.  

Also, Aurora will be the top cannabis company in the fast-growing European cannabis market. Aurora already ranks as the leader in Germany, the most important European medical cannabis market.  In addition, it’s acquisition of Agropro, the largest organic hemp producer in Europe, and Borelas, another European hemp producer and processor, sets the company up for success over the next ten years.

 Thus, at these depressed prices, if Aurora is priced at fair value, the market suggest to go long at the monthly demand at $2.00.

This post is my personal opinion. I’m not a financial advisor, this isn’t financial advise. Do your own research before making investment decisions.