Major Cannabis Merger Approved In New York: Can Weed Stock Investors Take Advantage?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 10 2024
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Merger Approval: RIV Capital Inc. and Cansortium Inc. have received approval from the New York Cannabis Control Board for their merger, expected to close by the end of 2024, allowing them to cover 25% of the U.S. population with extensive cultivation and retail operations.
Market Implications: The merger presents a significant opportunity for cannabis investors, enhancing RIV Capital's supply chain position through its partnership with The Hawthorne Collective and leveraging Cansortium's operational expertise in key markets.
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Analyst Views on SMG
Wall Street analysts forecast SMG stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SMG is 64.09 USD with a low forecast of 51.37 USD and a high forecast of 74.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
5 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 65.420
Low
51.37
Averages
64.09
High
74.00
Current: 65.420
Low
51.37
Averages
64.09
High
74.00
About SMG
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is a manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's segments include United States (U.S.) Consumer, Hawthorne and Other. The U.S. Consumer segment consists of its consumer lawn and garden business in the United States. Its consumer lawn and garden brands include Scotts and Turf Builder lawn fertilizer and Scotts grass seed products; Miracle-Gro soil, plant food and gardening products; Ortho herbicide and pesticide products, and Tomcat rodent control and animal repellent products. The Hawthorne segment is engaged in providing nutrients, lighting and other materials used for indoor and hydroponic gardening in North America. Its key brands include General Hydroponics, Gavita, Botanicare, Agrolux, Gro Pro, Mother Earth, Grower’s Edge, HydroLogic Purification System and CYCO. The Other segment primarily consists of its consumer lawn and garden business in Canada.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Scotts Miracle-Gro Reports Wider Q1 Loss, Maintains Full-Year Growth Targets
- Financial Decline: Scotts Miracle-Gro reported a net loss of $125 million in Q1 2026, translating to a loss of $2.16 per share, which is significantly worse than the $69.5 million loss reported in the same quarter last year, indicating revenue weakness during the typical slow season.
- Divestiture of Cannabis Business: The company classified its Hawthorne Gardening cannabis unit as discontinued operations, reporting losses of $77.2 million, sharply up from $3.4 million a year earlier, highlighting increased volatility in this segment.
- Sales Drop: Quarterly sales fell by 3% to $354.4 million, missing the consensus estimate of $358 million, suggesting challenges in a competitive market environment.
- Stable Outlook: Despite short-term challenges, Scotts reaffirmed its fiscal year outlook ending September 2026, projecting adjusted earnings from continuing operations between $4.15 and $4.35 per share, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
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Scotts Miracle-Gro Announces Divestiture Plan and Share Repurchase Program
- Divestiture Plan: Scotts Miracle-Gro is in advanced discussions to sell its Hawthorne subsidiary to Vireo Growth, Inc., with an expected closing in the fiscal second quarter of 2026, which will provide immediate margin-accretive benefits and further optimize its business structure.
- Share Repurchase Program: The Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program of up to $500 million, expected to commence in late 2026, aimed at enhancing shareholder returns while supporting the company's financial priorities through strategic capital allocation.
- Financial Performance: For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, U.S. Consumer net sales reached $328.5 million with a gross margin rate of 25.0%, indicating improved competitiveness and profitability, despite a net loss of $0.83 per share, which shows year-over-year improvement.
- Future Outlook: The company reaffirms its fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting low single-digit growth in U.S. Consumer net sales and non-GAAP adjusted net income per share between $4.15 and $4.35, reflecting confidence in the long-term growth prospects of its core business.
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