Canopy Growth Blames Competition For Decline In Revenue

Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NASDAQ: CGC) announced its financial results for the second quarter fiscal 2022 ending September 30, 2021 as total revenue fell 3% to $131 million, missing estimates by $10 million. Furthermore, Canopy noted that excluding the impact from the company’s acquired businesses, net revenue declined 13% and cannabis revenue declined 14% versus last year’s second fiscal quarter.

Flower Wilts

Canopy blamed the decline in flower sales on an insufficient supply of flower with in-demand attributes, including higher THC, in the premium and mainstream categories as well heightened competition focused on single strain offerings in the value flower category. Canopy said that it managed to keep its number one market share in the premium flower category but conceded that it fell by 310 bps quarter over quarter. The value flower category maintained its number two market share, but that also dropped by 540 bps from the first quarter. The company said it expects to bring additional flower and pre-roll products to market over the coming months including new strains across all categories with DOJA 91K, Tweed Powdered Donuts, Twd. Garlic Jelly flower shipped in the current quarter.

Canopy reported net earnings in the quarter with a loss of $16 million, which is an $80 million improvement over last year’s second quarter. Canopy said this was driven primarily by other income totaling $196 million during the quarter mostly attributable to non-cash fair value changes of $233 million.

CEO David Klein said, “In new industries where the potential is immense, progress is rarely a straight line. With a focused strategy, a foundation for growth, and our burgeoning U.S. ecosystem, Canopy is uniquely positioned to win as the industry matures.”

Storz & Bickel vaporizer revenue decreased 34% sequentially, which the company blamed on strong comparison during the year-ago period, as well as shipping restrictions and production shortages caused by global supply chain difficulties. In addition to that, recreational B2C net sales in decreased 11% sequentially, which Canopy blamed on the rapid increase in third-party retail locations across provinces.

Medical net revenue in Q2 FY2022 decreased 6% from Q2 FY2021 driven primarily by higher average order sizes offset by a fewer number of orders.

Lowered Expectations
Canopy also lowered investors’ expectations going forward. While the company said it expects revenue to pick up in the back half of the fiscal year,  it cautioned that the “pace of improvement is expected to be more modest than previously anticipated.” With the losses in market share, Canopy said that it is going to try to stabilize its market share of the Canadian recreational cannabis in the second half of the fiscal year.The company also warned that while the distribution expansion of BioSteel was expected to quicken, shipments may depend on the “timing of chain authorizations and associated shelf resets.” BioSteel is Canopy’s ready-to-drink beverages and CBD brands. “Brand awareness continues to rise, velocity is tracking in-line with expectations and feedback from distributors and retailers has been positive. BioSteel is expected to see its distribution ramp up over the balance of FY2022 and into FY2023 driven by increased listings with national and regional chain accounts.”

The Positives
On a positive note, Canopy said it has increased its vape market share by 20 bps to 8.5% and increased edibles market share by 50 bps to 8.7%, from the first quarter. The company launched a new nicotine-free, Whisl CBD vaporizer in the U.S in the quarter. Whisl is available in over 3,500 Circle K stores across the U.S. currently. whisl is already the #3 CBD vape in the U.S. per IRI data for the 4 weeks ended October 3, 2021. Canopy said that the Martha Stewart CBD remains one of the fastest-growing CBD brands across all formats and is now the #3 brand among all CBD gummies in the food, drug, and convenience-store channel with 12.4% market share, according to IRI data for the 4 weeks ended October 3, 2021. A range of new Martha Stewart CBD confectionery products has shipped in the current quarter.
Price Target Drop
Recently, Cantor Fitzgerald’s analyst Pablo Zuanic dropped his price target on the stock to C$18.50 ($14.90 ) from C$21, while maintaining a ‘Neutral’ rating. “With low expectations, we think sentiment may be driven by company commentary on the path to $250Mn in quarterly sales (almost 2x current levels), break-even EBITDA by March, and growth in the non-cannabis business,” Zuanic wrote.

 

Debra Borchardt

Debra Borchardt is the Co-Founder, and Executive Editor of GMR. She has covered the cannabis industry for several years at Forbes, Seeking Alpha and TheStreet. Prior to becoming a financial journalist, Debra was a Vice President at Bear Stearns where she held a Series 7 and Registered Investment Advisor license. Debra has a Master's degree in Business Journalism from New York University.


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