Friday, February 19, 2021 10:02:40 PM
TLRY stock is likely to do well over the next year once its merger with Aphria closes
By Mark R. Hake, CFA Feb 19, 2021, 2:43 pm EST
Tilray (NASDAQ:TLRY) just reported its Q4 and full-year 2020 earnings on Feb. 17. The most important news was that the company finally was able to achieve EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,and amortization) profitability. This news, along with the upcoming merger with Aphria (NASDAQ:APHA), could push TLRY stock up over the next year.
https://investorplace.com/2021/02/tlry-stock-will-be-largest-cannabis-stock-once-it-merges-with-aphria/
Tilray reported that it achieved its stated goal of becoming breakeven or positive EBITDA. It made $2.2 million in adjusted EBITDA during Q2. This is compared to negative $35.3 million in adjusted EBITDA last year.
The company did this by both raising revenue by 26% over last year and by cutting costs by $57 million over that period. Tilray said it now operates with a “more focused, efficient and competitive cost structure.”
It did not produce a cash flow statement in its press release. That will come out with the 10-Q in several days. However, I suspect that it shows that the company still is burning cash. This is because EBITDA does not include things like capex spending, working capital changes, debt and tax payments.
Merger With Aphria
Tilray’s merger with Aphria, announced in December and set to close in Q2, will create the largest cannabis company. The company says that the “new Tilray” will have synergies of over 100 million CAD in cost savings from both companies. This will bring significant value to the combined company.
If those synergies work out within the next year, that could potentially mean roughly $80 million in adjusted EBITDA. Assuming half of that leads to free cash flow (FCF), along with 20% growth, the FCF of the combined company could be as high as $50 million.
Therefore, assuming the merger results in a new market capitalization of approximately $13 billion, the FCF yield of the new company would be 0.38%. That is a fairly high valuation. But the market will likely realize that once the company is FCF positive then it is likely to grow over time.
In several years, if the combined company’s FCF were to triple to, say, $150 million, the market value of the two would have a 1.15% FCF yield. This means that at today’s price the company is probably fairly valued.
However, the market is going to want to see more of this. For TLRY stock to move higher after the merger, the combined companies would have to be much more profitable than today.
What to Do With TLRY Stock
Short interest in TLRY stock is now at 20% of the public float, according to Yahoo! Finance. That is a very high level, although it is down from 36.6% over a week ago.
This is because short-sellers think the combined merger will likely lead to further losses. Or, even worse, that the merger may not even occur at all. Although I doubt the latter, it is true that Tilray and Aphria are going to have to show how profitable they can become after the merger.
Others think the merger will benefit from President Joe Biden’s administration loosening up restrictions on the purchase and sale of cannabis. So far nothing has happened along these lines, but it is still early.
Cantor Fitzgerald has a $30.25 price target on Tilray but said in their note that the volatility in the sector may keep investors away from TLRY stock.
Other analysts are not as sanguine on the stock. For example, Yahoo! Finance, which uses data from Refinitiv, has a much lower average price target. Their data from 11 analysts show that the average price target is just $18.25, or 36% below today’s price of $28.61.
TipRanks.com says that the average price target of 10 analysts is $19.39, or 32% below today’s price. MarketBeat reports that 15 analysts have an average target price of $18.40, implying a 36% drop in TLRY stock. In essence, no one is positive on the stock. The company has a lot to prove to analysts and investors.
Most investors will probably wait until they can see evidence of sustained profitability, not just on an EBITDA basis, but also with cash burn.
On the date of publication, Mark R. Hake does not hold a long or short position in any stock or security mentioned in this article.
Recent TLRY News
- Shock Top Announces its Official Craft Beer Sponsorship of University of Missouri Athletics • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/19/2024 11:12:39 AM
- Tilray Medical Launches Redecan Cannabis Brand in Australia • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/18/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Form PRE 14A - Other preliminary proxy statements • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/17/2024 08:08:50 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/17/2024 12:27:26 PM
- Form 424B7 - Prospectus [Rule 424(b)(7)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/17/2024 12:22:43 PM
- Tilray Brands Completes Acquisition of Atwater Brewery From Molson Coors Beverage Company • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/12/2024 08:05:00 PM
- Breckenridge Brewery Unveils Oktoberfest Brew and Hosts 28th Annual Oktoberfest Festival: A Weekend of Live Music, Traditional German Cuisine, and Tasty Brews in Breckenridge, Colorado • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/12/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Tilray Medical Supports Scientific Study on Fibromyalgia With Positive Outcomes: Effectiveness of Cannabinoids Treatment in Pain Management and Other Fibromyalgia-Associated Symptoms • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/09/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Tilray Brands Completes Acquisition of Craft Beer Brands and Breweries from Molson Coors Beverage Company • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 09/03/2024 02:33:24 PM
- High Volatility Expected in Nvidia Report, Ambarella Soars 20%, Hertz Strengthens Board, Apple Cuts Jobs • IH Market News • 08/28/2024 09:50:36 AM
- Breckenridge Brewery Announces Latest Concert Series With Kaleo, Hippo Campus and Cassandra Lewis • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/26/2024 11:00:00 AM
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- Solei Launches New THC Infused Sparkling Beverages and Topicals • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/15/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Shock Top and Gator Athletics Partner to Introduce First-Ever Craft Beer Sponsorship of the Florida Athletic Department • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/14/2024 11:00:00 AM
- UBS Beats Earnings Forecasts, Intel Divests Arm Holdings, Flutter Surges 9% in Premarket Trading, and More • IH Market News • 08/14/2024 09:56:35 AM
- Tilray Brands to Acquire Four Craft Beer Breweries from Molson Coors Beverage Company • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 08/13/2024 06:15:00 PM
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- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/02/2024 08:08:13 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 07/30/2024 10:35:16 PM
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