TORONTO — TerrAscend Corp., a leading North American cannabis company, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars and are prepared under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), unless indicated otherwise.
The following financial measures are reported as results from continuing operations due to the shutdown of the licensed producer business in Canada, which is reported as discontinued operations through September 30, 2023. All historical periods have been restated accordingly.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
- Net Revenue was $80.6 million, an increase of 16.1% year-over-year.
- Gross Profit Margin was 48.0%, compared to 48.8% in Q1 2023.
- Net loss from continuing operations was $14.9 million, compared to a net loss of $19.2 million in Q1 2023.
- EBITDA from continuing operations1 was $8.7 million, compared to $6.1 million in Q1 2023.
- Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations1 was $16.2 million, compared to $12.2 million in Q1 2023, an increase of 33.0% year-over-year.
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin from continuing operations1 was 20.1%, compared to 17.6% in Q1 2023.
- Cash flow provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $13.3 million compared to $10.5 million in Q1 2023.
- Free Cash Flow1 was $10.5 million compared to $8.0 million in Q1 2023.
“For the first quarter, revenue and Adjusted EBITDA increased materially year-over-year and we delivered another quarter of strong positive Free Cash Flow,” stated Jason Wild, Executive Chairman of TerrAscend. “Independent of reform, we enter this exciting stretch with the right team and high-performing assets. There are also multiple catalysts on the horizon that would further amplify our results going forward. In Pennsylvania, adult use appears to be closer than ever given recent legislative activities and comments from the Governor. At the federal level, the recent news around DEA rescheduling is encouraging and, if implemented, would dramatically improve our balance sheet and profitability. Finally, one of TerrAscend’s major differentiators is our ‘wide open map’. This enables us to strike extremely accretive deals to enter additional attractive states via best in breed operators. We can’t wait to share more details on this front when appropriate.”
First Quarter 2024 Business and Operational Highlights
- Seventh consecutive quarter of positive cash flow provided by continuing operations.
- Paid down $9.8 million in debt.
- Grew Pennsylvania wholesale sales 80% year-over-year.
- Michigan achieved 40% gross margin for the second consecutive quarter.
- Acquired the remaining 50.1% equity in State Flower and three Apothecarium dispensaries in California, all of which were already previously consolidated into financial results.
- Expanded Valhalla product lineup to include one of the first 100mg edibles in Pennsylvania resulting in Valhalla brand growth of 54% sequentially.
- Won two Cannademix Community Awards for New Jersey Best Flower and New Jersey Best Extract.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Net revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was $80.6 million as compared to $69.4 million for the first quarter of 2023, representing year-over-year growth of 16.1%. This growth was driven by the acquisition of four dispensaries and commencement of adult-use sales in Maryland, a doubling of the Company’s wholesale business due to increased demand for the Company’s brands across the new store openings in New Jersey, and an 80% increase in Pennsylvania wholesale driven by performance of the Legend flower and Valhalla edibles brands, partially offset by retail declines in New Jersey and Michigan.
Gross profit margin for the first quarter of 2024 was 48.0% as compared to 48.8% in the first quarter of 2023. The year-over-year decrease of 80 basis points was driven by channel mix shift in New Jersey and scale-up related costs in Maryland, partially offset by improvements in Michigan.
General & Administrative expenses (G&A) for the first quarter of 2024 were $28.0 million as compared to $27.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. G&A expenses, excluding stock-based compensation, were $26.5 million compared to $26.0 million in the first quarter of 2023. G&A as a percent of revenue, excluding stock-based compensation, was 32.9% in the first quarter, compared to 37.5% in the first quarter of 2023.
Net loss from continuing operations was $14.9 million, compared to a net loss of $19.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. The improvement was driven by revenue and gross margin growth while maintaining G&A expenses relatively flat.
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations grew 33% year-over-year to $16.2 million, representing a 20.1% Adjusted EBITDA margin, as compared to $12.2 million and 17.6% in the first quarter of 2023. The year-over-year improvement of 250 basis points was driven by G&A expense leverage, partially offset by an 80 basis point decline in gross margin.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, were $25.7 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $25.3 million as of December 31, 2023. Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $13.3 million for the first quarter of 2024 compared to $10.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. This represented the Company’s seventh consecutive quarter of positive cash flow from continuing operations. Capex spending was $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2024 related to the Company’s Hagerstown, Maryland expansion. Free cash flow was $10.5 million as compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2023. During the quarter, payments were made related to $9.8 million of additional debt paydown.
As of May 8, 2024, there were 368 million basic shares outstanding including 291 million common shares, 13 million preferred shares as converted, and 63 million exchangeable shares. Additionally, there are 42 million warrants and options outstanding at a weighted average price of $3.93.
Financial results and analyses are available on the Company’s website and SEDAR+.
The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSX nor any securities regulator accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
About TerrAscend
TerrAscend is a leading TSX-listed cannabis company with interests across the North American cannabis sector, including vertically integrated operations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan and California through TerrAscend Growth Corp. and retail operations in Canada through TerrAscend Canada Inc.. TerrAscend operates The Apothecarium, Gage and other dispensary retail locations as well as scaled cultivation, processing, and manufacturing facilities in its core markets. TerrAscend’s cultivation and manufacturing practices yield consistent, high-quality cannabis, providing industry-leading product selection to both the medical and legal adult-use markets. The Company owns or licenses several synergistic businesses and brands including Gage Cannabis, The Apothecarium, Cookies, Lemonnade, Ilera Healthcare, Kind Tree, Legend, State Flower, Wana, and Valhalla Confections.
Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States
Investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the US Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute, or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable US federal money laundering legislation.
While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with medical or adult-use cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve TerrAscend of liability under U.S. federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against TerrAscend. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of TerrAscend and any proceedings brought against TerrAscend thereunder may adversely affect TerrAscend’s operations and financial performance.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “likely”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe, “intend”, “plan”, “forecast”, “project”, “estimate”, “outlook” and other similar expressions, and include statements with respect to future revenue and profits. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment, and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits.
Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, current and future market conditions; risks related to federal, state, provincial, territorial, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations, including federal and state laws in the United States relating to cannabis operations in the United States; and the risk factors set out in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2024.
The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether, as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.
Definition and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
In addition to reporting the financial results in accordance with GAAP, the Company reports certain financial results that differ from what is reported under GAAP. Non-GAAP measures used by management do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company believes that certain investors and analysts use these measures to measure a company’s ability to meet other payment obligations or as a common measurement to value companies in the cannabis industry, and the Company calculates: (i) EBITDA from continuing operations and Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations as net income (loss), adjusted to exclude [provision for income taxes, finance expenses, depreciation and amortization, relief of fair value upon acquisition, share-based compensation, gain on extinguishment of debt, restructuring related charges, impairment of good will and intangible assets and certain other items which management believes are not reflective of the ongoing operations and performance, (ii) Adjusted EBITDA Margin from continuing operations as EBITDA from continuing operations adjusted for certain material non-cash items such as inventory write downs outside of the normal course of operations, share based compensation expense, impairment charges taken on goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, the gain or loss recognized on the revaluation of our contingent consideration liabilities, the gain or loss recognized on the remeasurement of the fair value of the U.S denominated preferred share warrants and other warrants liabilities, one time fees incurred in connection with our acquisitions and certain other adjustments management believes are not reflective of the ongoing operations and performance, (iii) Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, less capital expenditures for property and equipment, and (iv) General & Administrative expenses excluding stock-based compensation as a percentage of Revenue, net. Such information is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes this definition is a useful measure to assess the performance of the Company as it provides more meaningful operating results by excluding the effects of expenses that are not reflective of the Company’s underlying business performance and other one-time or non-recurring expenses.
