Shares of Tilray (NASDAQ:) closed up slightly last Friday at $12.17, but then dropped more than 7.5% yesterday to close at $11.23. The movement is being watched closely after Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett predicted last month that the Canadian-based cannabis grower’s push to ramp up its expansion into the United States would come “sooner rather than later.”
The prediction came with the projection that the expansion would take the form of the company acquiring several pot producers to meet its aggressive sales goals.
When Tilray unveiled its last at the end of July, CEO Irwin Simon openly discussed the company’s intention to explore acquisitions in the US, particularly in the packaged food and alcoholic beverage sectors that would strategically align with its objectives.
Shares of Tilray have dropped substantially in 2021, losing about 60% of their value since hitting a high of $29.19 in February.
So with the stock price low, the recent statements from the CEO and analysts consensus estimates all pointing in a positive direction, bargain hunters might want to keep the ticker on their radar.
Cannabis Market Keeps Expanding
It is now estimated that the worldwide cannabis market will top the $50-billion mark by 2025.
That was the headline from a new report issued last week by New Frontier Data, a US-based global cannabis sector analytics and research consultant. The data points to a 115% expansion of the global marijuana sector when compared to 2020, with the largest market found in North America, where legal restrictions continue to pose challenges for industry stakeholders.
This year, according to 2021 estimates by New Frontier, just over half of current sales in the sector will come from recreational-use sales, with that segment of the market accounting for about 56%. But by 2025, that portion of the market is expected to grow to account for almost 66% of a much larger market.
Medical-use marijuana is expected to grow as well, but at a much slower rate. According to the New Frontier report, it will reach $17.5 billion in 2025, up from $12.9 billion by the end of 2021. The jump represents a 35% increase.