Cannabis Corner: These stocks all have bright futures

Article Excerpt

Canada legalized cannabis four years ago. 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.” CANOPY GROWTH, $3.22 (Toronto symbol WEED; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (Shares outstanding: 480.0 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; TSI Cannabis Quality Rating [CQR]: ) is now laying off 800 workers as part of a restructuring plan. That involves shuttering its 1 Hershey facility in Smith Falls, Ontario, and consolidating some of its cultivation operations. The layoffs will affect about 35% of its workforce. The moves will cut overall expenses by $140 million to $160 million annually over the next 12 months, bringing Canopy’s total cost reduction target…