Cannabis Corner: These stocks all have bright futures

Article Excerpt

Canada legalized cannabis four years ago. Still, while demand has been steady, stiff competition has cut selling prices significantly. Meanwhile, advertising restrictions and plain packaging rules make it hard to build brands that win customer loyalty. Still, we think some companies have a distinct edge—including their prospects for added sales in the U.S. as President Joe Biden stirs talk that the federal government could eventually decriminalize cannabis use. Those are the quality stocks we focus on in “Cannabis Corner.” FIRE & FLOWER HOLDINGS $1.38 (Toronto symbol FAF; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (fireandflower.com; Shares outstanding: 44.5 million; Market cap: $73.4 million; TSI Cannabis Quality Rating [CQR]: ) is a Canadian-based licensed cannabis and accessories retailer with 90 stores in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the Yukon. Fire & Flower’s alliance with Alimentation Couche-Tard continues to help the pot seller expand. Couche-Tard now plans to pair its high-traffic Circle K convenience stores with more next-door Fire & Flower outlets beyond the pilot project in Alberta. It will…