Canadian-based major pot producer Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) is poised to publish its third quarter 2020 earnings results tomorrow early morning. Industry headwinds, the recent macro environment, and the huge cash burn of weed companies are posing a threat to the major cannabis companies including Canopy Growth. However, today’s positive momentum in Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) stock resulted in CGC stock’s upward movement.
Looking Back
For the second quarter ended September 30, 2019, Canopy Growth’s loss widened to C$374.6 million or from a loss of C$330.6 million in the second quarter ended September 30, 2018. However, on a per share basis, loss improved to C$1.08 from C$1.52 reported in the prior-year’s second quarter, aided by the higher weighted average number of outstanding shares.
Revenue more than tripled to C$76.6 million in Q2 2020, benefiting from the higher international and other revenue. Operating expenses increased to C$269.4 million from C$181.8 million in Q2 2019.
Headwinds
Canopy Growth experienced a slowdown by some provincial buyers in the recreational channel during Q2 2020. When addressing the investor community, the company said that C$20.5 million worth of products were returned during Q2 and an additional C$6.5 million worth of products were returned during Q3. As the company moves to launching the next wave of cannabis products and oversupply of legal cannabis, these product returns are expected to hurt the profitability for quite sometime.
Related: Aurora Cannabis (ACB) stock tanks amid new corporate developments
As the macro environment remains challenging, the cannabis industry continues to be struggling. The speculative nature of cannabis stocks, the pending legalization in many countries, which results in the limited scope of market penetration is creating uncertainty for the cannabis companies.
As of September 30, 2019, Canopy’s goodwill totals at C$1.9 billion due to the number of acquisitions it had made over a period of time. Cash burnout of the cannabis companies is a growing concern among the investors. Canopy Growth’s cash and cash equivalents at the end of September 30, 2019, decreased to C$1.1 billion from C$2.48 billion at the end of March 31, 2019.
Cannabis 2.0
At the end of November 2019, the Smith Falls, Ontario-based firm unveiled its new portfolio of Cannabis 2.0 products including Distilled Cannabis concept, chocolates, vape cartridges and vape pens at a media launch event in Toronto, Ontario.
However, Canopy Growth reported that it is postponing the launch of cannabis beverage products. The company is expected to provide further update on this regard when it announces Q3 earnings results tomorrow. Canopy Growth added that this delay will not have a material impact on FY20 revenue.
It’s worth noting that Aurora Cannabis launched its Cannabis 2.0 products across Canada in its recently ended quarter.
New CEO
David Klein, the former CFO of Constellation Brands was appointed as CEO of Canopy Growth in December 2019 and he replaced the outgoing CEO Mark Zekulin. Klein has got 14 years of experience in senior leadership roles while serving in Constellation Brands.
Following its second quarter earnings announcement on November 14, 2019, shares of Canopy Growth plunged to a new 52-week low ($13.81) on November 19, 2019, and the stock had advanced 45% from its yearly low.