Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat and team, what do you think about Hydrofarm Holdings as a way to profit from the spreading legalization of marijuana? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Hydrofarm Holdings Group Inc., $13.86, symbol HYFM on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 44.6 million; Market cap: $582.2 million; www.hydrofarm.com), is a leading distributor of hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture. That includes the indoor growing of cannabis. The company’s exclusive products span the lighting, climate control, nutrient, and growing-media categories. Hydrofarm first sold shares to the public and began trading on Nasdaq at $20.00 a share on December 10, 2020. The company continues to grow by acquisition. On August 3, 2021, Pennsylvania-based Hydrofarm completed the purchase of Greenstar Plant Products, a Canadian producer of horticultural nutrient products under the Grotek and Gaia Green brands. Its customers range from home gardeners to large commercial operators such as landscapers, greenhouses, nurseries, and so on. Hydrofarm paid $83 million for the company. In 2021, Greenstar is expected to generate $26 million in sales, 50% higher than in 2020. Greenstar was Hydrofarm’s fourth acquisition in 2021. Up until that point, its other three acquisitions were Oregon-based Aurora…