Cannabis stocks rally on talk of M&A and latest moves toward possible reform of federal ban

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Cannabis stocks posted large gains Monday amid optimism astir M&A and national legalization successful a uncommon burst of vigor successful the assemblage that’s been trading mostly little this year.

On the M&A front, baccy elephantine Altria MO, -0.39% whitethorn bargain the 55% of Cronos Group CRON, +23.03% that is doesn’t already own, according to speculation from New Cannabis Ventures. The woody would travel astir 3 years aft Altria paid C$2.4 cardinal ($1.9 billion) for a 45% involvement successful Cronos, with an enactment to bargain a controlling stake.

Meanwhile, cannabis received a mates of affirmative developments connected the national front. Marijuana Moment reported that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is circulating the States Reform Act arsenic a measurement to legalize and taxation cannabis connected a national level from the Republican broadside of the aisle.

Cantor Fitzgerald expert Pablo Zuanic said precocious Friday the measurement “significantly increases the probability of national level marijuana reform” during the existent term.

See Also: Cannabis assemblage is not banking connected assistance from Congress earlier 2022 – MarketWatch

Cannabis besides got a boost from the transition of the Congressional Infrastructure bill, which includes a connection allowing cannabis scientists to bargain probe cannabis from section dispensaries alternatively of government-produced facilities.

Shares of U.S.-based cannabis companies jumped. The cannabis ETF THCX rose 7.4%, and the AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF MSOS, +9.66% jumped 10%.

Curaleaf CURA, +7.20% CURLF, +7.16% jumped 7.9% and Trulieve  TCNNF, +7.93% precocious by 6.8%. Green Thumb Industries  GTBIF, +11.53%  rallied 11%, and Verano Holdings VRNOF, +10.07% jumped 8.1%. and Cresco Labs CRLBF, +6.58% roseate by astir 7%.

Among Canadian cannabis companies, Cronos Group CRON, +23.03% jumped 22.5%, Canopy Growth CGC, +9.08% WEED, +9.04% roseate 9%, Aurora Cannabis ACB, +8.41% ACB, +8.72% rallied astir 10% and Tilray Inc. TLRY, +14.58% ran up by 14%.

Most of these stocks stay successful antagonistic territory for the year, however, amid speech of oversupply successful Canada and different marketplace challenges. Any large moves connected legalization connected the national level remained connected the backmost burner, astir Washington observers had said.

Altria woody talk

In a enactment to clients connected Sunday, New Cannabis Ventures expert Alan Brochstein flagged a missing net telephone announcement from Cronos Group arsenic a imaginable awesome of a worldly announcement from the company.

“Cronos Group is simply a ample accelerated filer with the SEC, which means its Q3 financials are owed connected Tues., Nov. 9,” Brochstein said. “Historically, the institution has provided investors with astatine slightest a week’s beforehand announcement of its league call, but determination has been nary telephone announced yet.”

Brochstein said it’s imaginable that the deficiency of notification could mean a woody is brewing, but past went connected to accidental it was conscionable an educated guess.

Either way, shares of Cronos Group remained adjacent a 52-week lows adjacent with Monday’s rally.

Cronos Group did not reply to an email from MarketWatch.

Canopy Growth gets downgrades

With the oculus connected U.S. developments, attraction ebbed connected Canadian shaper Canopy Growth aft its net miss connected Friday. But the institution inactive faced downgrades from analysts after its latest quarterly results missed projections.

Cowen expert Vivien Azer chopped her standing connected Canopy Growth to marketplace execute from outperform and said the company’s turnaround successful the Canadian marketplace is taking longer than expected.

CIBC expert John Zamparo downgraded Canopy Growth to underperform from neutral.

“The superior factors that person supported Canopy’s premium valuation are beardown gross growth, an presumption of eventual marketplace dominance, entree to U.S. markets pending legalization, and a robust equilibrium sheet,” helium said. “We judge questions beryllium connected each fronts.”

Even with Monday’s gains, shares of Canopy Growth are down 48% this year.

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