Cannabis Central: Canadian LPs Dramatically Outperforming American MSOs So Far In 2021

The 30 stocks in the munKNEE Pure-Play Pot Stock Index are up 34.1%, on average, YTD. The 10 Canadian Licensed Producers (LPs) in the Index are up 56.5%, on average, with 8 advancing by more than 19%. The 20 American Multi-State Operators (MSOs) are UP "only" 24.4%, on average, YTD, in comparison, with 12 advancing by more than 20%.

The best performers YTD are as follows, in descending order:

Licensed Producers

1. Tilray (TLRY) +130.4% to $19.03/share
2. Aphria (APHA) +87.4% to $12.97/share
3. Hexo (HEXO) +79.9% to $6.62/share
4. Cronos (CRON) +49.6% to $10.38/share
5. Canopy (CGC) +44.2% to $35.52/share
6. Organigram (OGI) +36.8% to $1.82/share
7. Aurora (ACB) +28.4% to $10.67/share
8. Neptune (NEPT) +19.2% to $1.86/share

Valens went up only 13.8% over the past three weeks and only Rubicon declined in price (by 7.8%) over that time period.

Multi-State Operators

1. Medicine Man (SHWZ) +100.0% to $3.04/share
2. Acreage (ACRDF/ACRHF) +87.1% to $9.71 combined
3. Vireo Health (VREOF) +68.2% to $2.49/share
4. Harvest Health (HRVSF) +46.8% to $3.17/share
5. Trulieve (TCNNF) +33.9% to $42.38/share
6. Charlotte's Web (CWBHF) +27.3% to $4.20/share
7. TerrAscend (TRSSF) +27.0% to $12.76/share 
8. Harborside (HBORF) +25.5% to $1.97/share
9. cbdMD (YCBD) +25.4% to $3.70/share
10. Cresco (CRLBF) +25.3% to $12.37/share
11. Curaleaf (CURLF) +22.4% to $14.65/share 
12. Ayr Strategies (AYRWF) +20.9% to $28.75/share

Of the remaining 7* constituents Jushi went up 18.8%; 3 others (Green Thumb, Columbia, Indus) went up less than 10%; IM Cannabis remained unchanged in price; Planet 13 declined by -1.8%; and C21 declined by -13.5%. (*Acreage counts as two stocks but only 1 constituent.)

The above stocks that are up substantially YTD suggest that the companies are well managed, well-financed, and executing their respective business plans in such a manner as to have the confidence of serious marijuana stock investors and, as such, they deserve your attention.

Conversely, the stocks that have performed poorly YTD compared to their peers suggest that, at best, the weakness in their share prices is behind them which either makes them excellent prospects going forward or, at worst, suggest that the companies are being poorly managed and have dismal prospects going forward.

In either case, this shows why it is paramount that in-depth due diligence be undertaken before investing in any such stocks.