Staff
After the market closed on Tuesday, High Tide Inc. (NASDAQ: HITI) (TSXV: HITI) released its financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2022 ending April 30, 2022. Revenue for High Tide increased to $81.0 million versus $40.9 million in the same quarter last year. Sequentially, revenue increased by 12% compared to the first fiscal quarter. This represents the second-highest quarterly revenue figure generated by a Canadian cannabis company reporting in Canadian dollars. The net loss was trimmed by 33% to $8 million in the quarter versus last year’s net loss of $12 million for the same time period.
“Once again, I can proudly report that High Tide continues to see consistent and significant growth year-over-year and sequentially with every passing quarter, despite a persistently challenging macro environment and the state of the capital markets. Since its launch, the ongoing growth of our innovative discount club model has resulted in a 48% increase in daily same-store sales, contributing to our 98% revenue growth over the same quarter last year. While we aggressively gain retail market share in Canada ahead of our peer group, we have remained adjusted EBITDA positive for the ninth straight quarter. Although we are pleased with our EBITDA of $2.4 million this quarter, we highlight that, as the only pure-play cannabis retailer trading on Nasdaq, direct ongoing costs incurred associated with our Nasdaq listing amounted to approximately $750,000 this quarter. Our continued EBITDA positivity is a critical point for us, as we are steadily growing at the same time when many of our publicly-traded and private peers are facing fierce challenges and slowing down,” said Raj Grover, President and Chief Executive Officer of High Tide.
“We also continue to be the acquirer of choice, as many independents see compelling value in joining the High Tide family in this highly competitive retail landscape. Our recently-launched Cabana Cannabis Co. products will further contribute to healthy margin increases since we expect our house-branded products to represent a 20-30% share of our total bricks-and-mortar sales over the long term. We are currently sitting at 126 stores across Canada, and remain confident that we will reach our goal of 150 stores by the end of the 2022 calendar year. Last quarter, we became the second-largest revenue-generating Canadian cannabis company that reports in Canadian dollars, and we are now on an annualized revenue run rate trajectory of approximately $325 million. I am laser-focused on ensuring that High Tide’s growth trajectory will bring us to that coveted number one position in Canada,” added Mr. Grover.
Delta-8 is Back
High Tide did say that through its subsidiaries, it plans to restart sales in certain states in the United States of products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids, including delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, extracted from cannabis plants that meet the definition of “hemp” under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The legality of Delta-8 derived from hemp is uncertain and varies from state to state, with some states banning the sale of products containing Delta-8. The company said it will not sell into any states where the sale of Delta-8 is prohibited at the state level. At the federal level in the United States, the legality of Delta-8 remains unclear.
Outlook
High Tide said it expects to continue to increase its revenue through the third fiscal quarter of 2022, and for the remainder of the year through organic growth and accretive M&A. The goal is to have at least 150 stores open by the end of the year. Currently, it has 126 stores in its Canadian retail store portfolio. The company also said it anticipates entering the British Columbia market within the third fiscal quarter of 2022 and will continue growing strategically in other provinces where it currently operates.
