Cronos Group Inc. Price & Performance (CRON)

These forward looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially materially from expectations are detailed in our earnings materials and our SEC filings that are available on our website. By which any forward looking statements made during this call are qualified in their entirety. Information about non GAAP financial measures, including reconciliations to U. S. GAAP can also be found in the earnings materials that are available on our website. Lastly, we will be making statements regarding market share information throughout this conference call unless otherwise stated all market share data provided by HiFire. [indiscernible] With that, I'll pass it over to Cronos' Chairman Cronos, President and CEO, Mike Gornstein.

Thank you, Anna, and good morning, everyone.

Three years ago, when I returned as Cronos' CEO, set ambitious goals to deliver robust top line growth improve margins and right size our operating expenses. Today, I'm proud to say that these goals are coming to fruition. And can be seen throughout the business. We get another quarter of solid results our unwavering commitment to disciplined operating expenses we're showcasing our ability to drive growth while enhancing efficiency across our business. Year over year, we grew annual net revenue by 35% we nearly doubled our adjusted gross margins and continue to exercise discipline in the management of our operating expenses. Our 2024 results are evidence that our business is performing. And we continue to lead the global cannabis industry in product innovation and exceptional quality. Boltered by our robust balance sheet, we are in an exceptional position to see future growth opportunities. And further strengthen our leadership in the markets we serve. We look forward to 2025 In 2024, we invested in GrowCo, to expand its cultivation and production capabilities in order to ensure consistent supply of high quality cannabis at greater scale. This strategic move was aimed to improve operational efficiency reduce costs and optimize margins by leveraging advanced growing techniques We are eager for the new supply from that investment to come online.

In order to feed the growing demand in the markets we operate in and new markets that have become available to us. I feel confident that we have positioned ourselves to better meet growing consumer demand maintain product quality and support our expanding portfolio of brands and products. In a prudent and thoughtful way. Our expansion of Groco is progressing well. In Q4, Health Canada approved amendments to the site's perimeter and we expect to finish construction of the expanded cultivation and processing facilities in Q2. With first harvest and sales for the new area expected to begin in the second half of twenty twenty five. Up until the first sales from the expanded facility, we had the option to purchase up to 80% of Grosco's total production. Once expansion sales begin, Cronos will have the option to purchase up to 70% of the total production from the facility. The Groco expansion positions us to capitalize on Canadian domestic demand will fuel international growth opportunities in 2025. The past year, I've been incredibly proud of the strides we've made in R and D. Including product development and innovation. Cronos has achieved significant advancement in cannabis genetics, with improvements not only in new strains of meat consumer preferences, but also reaching new levels of cannabinoid yield.

This is a result of years spent dedicated to our breeding and tissue culture. Consumers are consistently shopping for a flower value proposition based on a price potency equation our genetics are helping us meet this demand. Which has cemented us as the top performing flower brand in Canada and internationally. Now turning to brand updates.

I'm happy to share that Spinach's end of the year is the number one cannabis brand in Canada by Mark Jerry?

Solidifying its leadership position. This achievement is fueled by number one rankings in both edibles and flower a number four position in vapes, a number seven in pre Cronos. SPINCHE's consistent market share growth is a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation and delivering differentiated products that resonate consumers in the highly competitive Canadian adult use market. In the gummy category, our industry leading sours product captured 23% market share in Q4, with five of the top 10 best selling edibles in Canada, all part of the Sours lineup.

Our fully blasted Sours innovations featuring ten milligrams of THC per piece have been partially or particularly well received by consumers. In Q4, we launched two new fully blasted products, [indiscernible] As well as the new CBD berry variety pack, which debuted in BC at the December. Each riding pack contains 30 gummies with thirty milligrams of CBD in each gummy in three flavors, blue raspberry watermelon, strawberry mango and blueberry Additionally, our Lord Jones brand has made significant strides in the chocolate category. Finishing the year as the third best selling chocolate brand in Canada. In January, we also launched a new Lord Jones chocolate fusion display Fudge Browning, which features an even ratio of CBN, CBD and THC. Spinach continues to show its strength in the flower category, holding the number one spot for Q4 and full year 6% market share. This success is driven by popular genetics like GMO cookies wedding cake, space case, and sour chem available in a variety of sizes The ongoing achievements of our green program and the operational excellence of Grothels further cemented our leadership in this category. Ensuring consistent delivery of quality products to meet consumer demand. While spinach showed strong growth in flower in 2024, and we still see strong demand, do not expect that growth to continue until the back half of twenty twenty five.

Additional supply from the Cronos expansion becomes available. In order to prepare for the next phase of growth, we will continue to strategically allocate the existing supply across spinach in Canada and Peace Naturals internationally. In Q4, we released Blue Monster pre rolls under a new regional Quebec Our regional brand Sonique is tailored to meet the unique preferences and needs of the Quebec market.

Offering products that resonate with the province's distinct cannabis culture.

The brand's strategic approach ensured the capture of the essence of Quebec's market Cronos combining local insights with exceptional product development to build trust and loyalty among cannabis enthusiasts in the region. Our strategy has always been to develop a portfolio of best selling and disruptive branded products that we can launch in new markets as cannabis regulations open globally. The Spinach brand becoming the number one best selling brand in Canada is validation of our strong capabilities. And we're just getting started in expanding our winning portfolio of borderless products and bringing them to markets globally. Now moving to Israel, our team there has shown remarkable performance throughout Q4. Record volumes sold and the highest sales per quarter in 2024. Cronos Israel has built significant momentum throughout the year despite a very competitive market with evolving dynamics including increased competition, tariff threats, declining patient growth, entrance of HMOs and the ongoing Middle East conflict. Despite all of this, the Peace Natural's brand and product portfolio continues to grow Peace Naturals portfolio was overhauled with a revised pricing strategy with focused cultivars that meet the needs of our patient base. Here are cultivars like Wedding Cake and GMO. Along with changes implemented in the portfolio, drove growth throughout 2024.

Peace Naturals ended the year as the number one flower brand in Israel, with 24% market share and the brand's oil offerings and it is the fourth most popular brand with 9% market share I'm incredibly proud of our turnaround on this market and look forward to launching more quality products in 2025. Internationally, we've made significant progress in the markets we've entered. And are excited about the opportunities ahead. In Germany, our Peace Naturals brand is getting strong traction continues to grow. Market penetration is a big focus for us in 2025.

We're confident in the momentum we're building, especially as we're offering the same high quality products propelled us to the number one position in flower in Canada. With this foundation, we believe we have a clear ability to win and are well positioned to capture greater market share in Germany and elsewhere.

Similarly, in The UK, while still early, we're already seeing promising growth with Keith Naturals and our enthusiastic enthusiastic about the significant potential for expansion in the submarket market.

These developments underscore our commitment to becoming a global leader in the cannabis industry. We've ended the year strong and I'm proud of the accomplishments we've made throughout 2024.

Protos maintains the strongest balance sheet in the industry with cash and cash equivalents of $859,000,000 reinforcing our ability to invest in growth, innovation and global expansion. Each quarter showed significant year over year revenue increases, highlighting our continued market expansion and sales momentum. Now, I'll turn it over to James to walk through the fourth quarter financials.

Thanks, Mike, and good morning, everyone. In 2024, we increased net revenue 35% year over year $117,600,000 with strong performance in Canada and Israel and international markets picking up well.

Operating expenses declined by $5,000,000 versus the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA improved by 45% year over year and operating cash flow improved by $51,700,000 to positive $18,800,000 I will now review our fourth quarter twenty twenty four results which now includes the consolidation of Cronos financials.

The company reported consolidated net revenue of 30,300,000.0 a 27% increase from the prior year period. Net revenue for Cronos, excluding Groco, was $28,200,000 representing an 18% growth year over year on a standalone basis. While Groco net revenue was $2,100,000 for Q4 twenty twenty four. The net revenue increase is primarily driven by higher flower and extract sales in Canada and higher flower sales in Israel and other countries. Gross profit in the fourth quarter was $10,800,000 equating to a 36% gross margin. Gross profit was positively impacted by an adjustment of $1,800,000 in connection with the finalization of the purchase accounting for the Cronos Groco transaction which resulted in a reduction of the fair value of inventory acquired and the corresponding inventory step up previously recorded in the cost of sales in Q3. Resulting in adjusted gross profit of 9,000,000 equating to a 30% adjusted gross margin.

We will continue providing this adjustment until the inventory that was stepped up to fair market value is purchase accounting adjustment has been sold through. As we believe it is useful in reviewing and evaluating our ongoing performance. For full year 2024, year over year adjusted gross profit improved by $18,600,000 and adjusted gross margin improved by 12 percentage points to 26%. Nearly doubling our gross margin from the prior year.

The increase is primarily driven by higher sales in cannabis flower and extract sales in Canada higher cannabis flower sales in Israel, production cost improvements. Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter was negative 7,200,000.0 representing a $7,600,000 improvement from the prior year period. The improvement was driven by increased revenue and higher adjusted gross profit. The disciplined approach to our operating expenses employed to date enabled us to achieve savings of $8,700,000 for 2024 versus the prior year for Cronos on a standalone basis.

With this, we achieved a high end of the range for our previously announced guidance of a reduction of $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 for standalone Kronos Cronos. The operating expense savings were driven by cost reductions in general and administrative, research and development and sales and marketing. Going into 2025, even with the addition of GOCO's OpEx, we expect our OpEx to remain flat. Addition, our reported CapEx includes previously announced facility expansion at Groco, something to be mindful of looking into 2025. Turning to the balance sheet and cash flow statement, the company ended the quarter $859,000,000 in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents were down $3,000,000 from Q3 twenty twenty four driven primarily by CapEx spend in Q4 twenty twenty four of $3,700,000 and FX fluctuations partially offset by cash from operations of $7,700,000 in 2024. On a full year basis, capital expenditure increased $9,700,000 year over year and improved automation capabilities in our Peace Natural campus During 2024, we generated $18,800,000 of cash from operating compared to 2023 where cash used was 42,800,000.0 representing an increase in cash flow from operating activities of $61,700,000 This change was primarily driven by a $32,800,000 tax payment made in 2023 connected to the previously disclosed relinquishment by Altria of its warrant to purchase additional shares of the company in 2022.

A $38,800,000 increase in net income after adjusting for non cash items during 2024, and higher interest received. As a result, free cash flow for Q4 twenty twenty four was positive $4,000,000 compared to a positive $15,000,000 in the prior year period. $51,900,000 improvement.

Our cash balance is stable and you can see the underlying fundamentals of our operations showing significant improvement. Looking back on the progress we've made, I share in Mike's confidence in the trajectory of the business and our preparedness for entry into new markets as they become available. With that, I would like to hand it back to Mike for a brief comment before going into Q and A. Throughout this past year, we have demonstrated strong performance across all quarters, driven by robust revenue growth, improved margins and disciplined cost management. We solidified our market leadership in Canada and Israel. Achieved significant milestones in international markets and continued to innovate with new product launches. A strong balance sheet and a clear strategic focus, Cronos is well positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities and enhance our position in the global cannabis industry.

As we look ahead, we remain focused on innovation, operational excellence, and strategic expansion. Our core business is performing exceptionally well we are well positioned to capitalize on the growing global cannabis market as we look forward to 2025. With that, I'll open the line for questions. Thank you. At this time, we'll conduct a question and answer I am showing no questions at this time.

Thank you for your participation in today's conference. This does conclude the program. You may now disconnect. [indiscernible]