CRON Cronos Group Inc.
$3.51
Cronos Group Inc. Q3 F2026 Earnings Call Transcript
AI Conference Call Analysis
Sign in or subscribe to read.Stephanie
Conference Operator
Good morning. My name is Stephanie, and I will be your conference operator today. I would like to welcome everyone to Kronos' 2026 Third Quarter Conference Call. Today's call is being recorded. At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Harrison Aaron, Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Development. Please go ahead.
Harrison St. Aaron
Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Development
Thank you, Stephanie, and thank you for joining us today to review Kronos' 2026 Q3 Financial and Business Performance. Today, I am joined by our Chairman, President, and CEO, Mike Gorenstein, and our CFO, Anna Shlimak. Kronos issued a news release announcing our financial results this morning, which is filed on our EDGAR and CDAR profiles. This information and the prepared remarks will also be posted on our website under Investor Relations. Before I turn the call over to Mike, let me remind you that we may make forward-looking statements and refer to non-GAAP financial measures during this call. 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 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 are available on our website. Lastly, we will be making statements regarding market share information throughout this conference call, and unless otherwise stated, all market share data is provided by HiFire. We will now make prepared remarks, and then we'll move to a question and answer session. With that, I'll pass it over to Kronos' Chairman, President, and CEO, Mike Gorenstein.
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Thanks, Harrison. Kronos delivered an outstanding third quarter. Organically achieving records across net revenue, gross profit, and adjusted EBITDA, reflecting the successful execution of our borderless product strategy across each region in which we operate. Starting with Israel, Kronos delivered its 11th and 2nd quarter of record net revenue, growing 33% year-over-year, or 19% growth, on a constant currency basis, with the Peace Naturals brand reinforcing its leadership position based on pharmacy data collected by Kronos. Our value brand Lit also drove growth in the quarter. Turning to Canada, we delivered record net revenue, with our brands generating 41% year-over-year retail sales growth relative to industry-wide sales growth of 1%. The Spinach brand posted another standout quarter, with its market-leading share gains underscoring the effectiveness of our innovation engine. In Canada, Spinach maintained its number one position in vapes for the third consecutive quarter, The total vape market share expanding to 11.4%. Within the vape cartridge subcategory, Spinach held its number one position for the fourth consecutive quarter, with market share expanding to 12.1%. In the all-in-one vape subcategory, Spinach share expanded to 10.2%, as our Puffer's all-in-one innovation continues to gain market traction. In the third quarter, we continue to leverage our proven flavor development process, introducing two new flavor profiles to the Spinach Vape cartridge line, the Strawberry Banana 1.2 gram vape and the Sweet Citrus Ponce 1 gram liquid diamond vape. We followed this up in October with a reintroduction of the seasonal limited edition Sweet Green Apple 1 gram vape. In edibles, Sour's remained Canada's number one brand for the ninth consecutive quarter, with Market Share rising to 21.8% and Share Within Gummies expanding to 23.6%. In Q3, Sour's by Spinach fully blasted offerings were four of the top seven edibles used in Canada, including the number one edible nationwide, the fully blasted Blue Raspberry Watermelon 10-pack. In September, we expanded the Sours by Spinach product lineup with the launch of the Fully Blasted Blue Raspberry Lemonade Gummies, the brand's first gummies infused with 100% live resin. In October, we introduced the Caramel Green Apple flavor to our Fully Blasted Sours portfolio for the first time, with a limited edition offering available this fall. In flour, Spinach ranked number 3 in Canada, with market share expanded at 6.1%. and the two spinach skews among the top seven selling flower products nationwide. Strong product demand continues to drive tight flower supply, even with the additional capacity from our late 2025 GroCo expansion. In pre-rolls, spinach continued to climb the ranks to number five in Canada, with market share rising to 3.3%. Within infused pre-rolls, spinach ranked sixth, with market share increasing to 3.8%. In traditional free rolls, spinach also ranks 6th, with market share increasing to 3%. Turning to our other international markets outside Israel, we delivered record net revenue, which increased by 7x year-over-year, or from $1.9 million to $13.2 million, led by continued robust demand in Germany. Our expanding international footprint continues to be a meaningful growth driver as we execute our borderless product strategy. In October, we completed our acquisition of Canadalar, the largest adult-use cannabis company in Europe, and I'm excited about what this means for Kronos. The Netherlands is a unique market, and it's different from the adult-use markets we've seen legalized in North America. The retail cannabis framework has existed for nearly 50 years under a policy where coffee shops were tolerated by the government to sell cannabis in a restricted manner and, from the perspective of the consumer, has effectively operated like a legal market that entire time. There's no excise tax policy that disadvantages the legal market. The experiment gives retailers more product formats and the ability to carry more inventory than those in the tolerated market. The experiment prohibits wholesale transactions between growers and solvent-based extraction is not allowed. Retailers within the experiment also compete with stores in the legacy tolerated market in neighboring municipalities, which have fewer available product formats. All of this mitigates some of the volatility we see in other new adult use markets. That said, like every new adult use market, we still expect price compression now that suppliers have had a chance to ramp up and meet demand. But with a base purchase price of less than 3x trailing adjusted EBITDA, we didn't make this acquisition with the expectation of short-term price stability or immediate growth. Despite the 50-year-old coffee shop network, this market is still quite immature. Until the experiment, the supply side had never been tolerated like the retail side, so it hasn't had the benefit of years of sustained investment in R&D and operational efficiencies. And the experiment opens the door to new formats such as vapes and gummies. That is where we think we can add value, by implementing efficiencies from our production experience across Kronos and investing to bring our borderless products to the market. We think that, over time, these investments will compound, as they have in the other markets in which we operate. We believe that upside is amplified by the potential expansion of the experiment in the future. This fits our strategy. Build a portfolio of borderless products and take them into new markets as regulations open. In conclusion, we see three ways this acquisition could deliver asymmetric value over the long term. One, introducing our borderless products and improving operational efficiency. Two, benefiting from the potential expansion of the experiment, which currently covers less than 10% of the population. And three, leveraging the Netherlands as a platform to establish our branded products across Europe. We're very excited about the long-term potential here, and we're just getting started. Now, I'll turn it over to Anna to walk you through our third quarter financial.
Anna Shlimak
Chief Financial Officer
Thanks Mike and good morning everyone. In the third quarter of 2026, Crotus reported consolidated net revenue of $63.5 million, a 75% increase year-over-year. The net revenue increase was primarily driven by higher cannabis flower sales in Israel, Canada and other countries, specifically Germany, and higher cannabis extract sales in the Canadian market. We note that historically there can be seasonal softness in the Canadian Provincial Board purchasing in Q4 versus Q3, and that sales internationally outside of Israel can be lumpy from quarter to quarter due to the timing of export permits and shipments. Gross profit in the third quarter was $32.3 million, representing a 76% growth year-over-year from Q3 2025. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to higher average sales prices, largely driven by a mixed shift to Israel and other countries which carry no excise taxes, and higher sales volumes. Higher sales volumes led to both higher net revenue and efficiencies from overhead cost absorption. As we noted last quarter, gross margins may vary from quarter to quarter due to factors including seasonality, product and geographic mix, production volumes, and potential price compression. Accordingly, we believe our gross margin performance over a trailing 12-month period provides more useful context than any single quarter. Total operating expenses were $23.3 million in the quarter, a year-over-year increase of $4.4 million, driven by increases in G&A and sales and marketing expenses. The 23% year-over-year increase in operating expenses compares to 75% net revenue growth year-over-year, with total OPEX as a percentage of net revenue declining from 52% in Q3 2025 to 37% in Q3 2026. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter was a record $17.1 million, an improvement of $11.4 million year-over-year, driven by higher gross profit, partially offset by high operating expenses. Turning to the balance sheet and cash flow statement, the company ended the quarter with $841 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, and non-current interest-bearing deposits. Up $14 million from Q2 2026, driven by $34 million of cash flow from operations, which benefited from $12 million in working capital inflow. Partially offset by $10 million of CapEx spend, $9 million of share repurchases, and $1 million negative foreign exchange impact. In addition to this $841 million, we hold $18 million of loans receivable and $5 million of other investments. In summary, we delivered records across net revenue, gross profit, and adjusted EBITDA on Q3, as we continue to experience strong business momentum driven by focused strategy and our team's dedication and execution. With that, we'll now open the call for questions.
Stephanie
Conference Operator
Thank you. At this time, we'll conduct the question and answer session. As a reminder, to ask a question, you will need to press star 11 on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. To withdraw your question, please press star 11 again. Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. Our first question is from Kenric Tai of Canaccord Genuity Capital Markets. Your line is now open.
Kenric Tai
Equity Research Analyst, Canaccord Genuity Capital Markets
Thank you, good morning, and congrats on a great quarter. Mike, if I could, just with respect to the performance in Germany, help us reconcile that given some of your peers' recent commentary. How much of that do you think is just reflective of strong demand pull for Kronos product versus some of the export timing, export timing lumpiness that Anna called out?
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
I think it's a great question. You know, I think there's been a lot of discussion about price compression. I think that, you know, while there is a real amount of price compression, we still see it as being something that's, you know, a creative overall margin-wise to our business. I think that generally we just haven't had the availability of supplies as long as it's allocation exercise. So there's certainly some lumpiness, but a lot of that is just we've had more supply available to send over as we've ramped up. We still see growth ahead in Germany, but I still look at us moving it out over a 12-month period.
Kenric Tai
Equity Research Analyst, Canaccord Genuity Capital Markets
Right. Thank you. And then just further to that, a follow-up. You've commented in your prepared remarks on tight supply despite the capacity expansion. Is any of what you're seeing out there and the success that you're enjoying in markets the likes of Germany sort of informing a rethink around that next phase of growth at GroCo or potential pull forward? or are you going to let the dust settle here before revisiting the timing of any further expansion?
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
It's not a great question. The most important thing for us is just making sure that when we look at expansion that we're not focused on just sort of bringing something online to meet a demand shortfall in a few months but that we're building something that's going to be durable and efficient for years to come. We take a really long-term view. We want to make sure that we cross every T, dot every I, but we are certainly looking at what can help drive future growth.
Kenric Tai
Equity Research Analyst, Canaccord Genuity Capital Markets
Thank you. Maybe just a quick final one. Anna, how comfortable are you with, if you were to sort of bracket the margin profiling quarter, what risks do you see around the current margin profile as you look to the fourth quarter? I think you called out some of that potential Canadian risk. Board Level Weakness, but more specifically when we look to 2027, given the movement in margins through the year, where are you comfortable or how comfortable are you with where we are?
Anna Shlimak
Chief Financial Officer
Sure. I think that trailing 12-month period provides kind of the best useful context for our margin, and you've seen that fluctuation throughout the year, so I think that's kind of where we're going to stick to. I would say moving forward, That's kind of where we think we'll be.
Kenric Tai
Equity Research Analyst, Canaccord Genuity Capital Markets
Okay, I'll leave it there. Thanks so much. I'll get back in queue and congrats again.
Stephanie
Conference Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from Ryan Neal of TD Cowan. Your line is now open.
Ryan Neal
Equity Research Analyst, TD Cowen
Hey everyone, this is Ryan on for Derek and thanks for taking my questions. Obviously in Canada, we've seen a dynamic where derivative categories have taken a significant share from flour over the years. I'm just wondering if you guys expect to see a similar dynamic in the Dutch market.
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
I think that is reasonable to expect, and I think that's something that when regulations permit, I would expect to see in just about any market over time. While the market there, as I said earlier, has been around for 50 years from a consumer perspective, the experiment is really the first opportunity to have legal sales. You have vapes and edibles. There have been pre-rolls. The main difference that we've seen in the Netherlands is just the prevalence of hash. Hash is pretty popular there compared to North America. It's a big part of our thesis is being able to bring those borderless products over, build real loyalty in some of those repeatable, defined products, and we think that trend will match North America.
Ryan Neal
Equity Research Analyst, TD Cowen
Great. And then maybe just one on the macro. Any update there would be great just in terms of if people are trading to more value products, etc.? ?
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
I think macro, we've definitely seen in Germany, I think is where a lot of people are focused on right now. But I think that has more to do with the market maturing. Any new market, you can expect to see price compression. You can expect that supply ramps up. You start to approach equilibrium. But we've seen relative stability overall in other markets. I think that it's just important, as long as we're offering a strong value proposition I think that you'll still have people seeing the value in kind of the mainstream category, but we have not really seen any major shifts outside of differences in product formats or what you would expect typical and seasonal shopping to reflect.
Pablo Zuanic
Equity Research Analyst, Zuanic & Associates
Great. Thanks, everyone, and congrats, Nicole.
Stephanie
Conference Operator
Thank you. Our next question is from Pablo Zueneck of Zueneck Associates. Your line is now open.
Pablo Zuanic
Equity Research Analyst, Zuanic & Associates
Thank you and good morning, everyone. Two questions on the Netherlands. First, when you talk about the expectation for the pilot to be expanded, are you talking within the current four years or after the pilot is completed in those four years? And related to that, We've seen compression in the, I mean, a decline in the number of coffee shops. I think we're at 70 or 71 right now. What's driving that? How quickly can the towns, you know, issue those licenses to other people? And is there room for the towns to add more coffee shops beyond the initial licenses? Thank you.
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Thanks. So, yeah, I was referring to the end of the period. I think that there is a lot of interest from other municipalities to come to the experiment. I think there has been talk of expanding prior to that date, but I think just given the legislative process, it feels like it's difficult. While we obviously welcome it, it's certainly not something we would rely on. And your second question, as far as the number of coffee shops, I think that's more specific to regulations and what's happening with any of the individual coffee shops. There are some that are scheduled to come back online, so I think we've still met out with a few extras in where we started, but nothing really happens that fast as far as what you have to do with the permitting, going through the different approval processes. but it's not business related, it's really more regulatory and specific to the coffee shop. So I think that you can see some more added and it's really up to the municipality as to whether or not more added. But some of these have had queues of like 15 years, I think one of the newer ones it took to actually be able to open up. So there's a lot of interest in people doing it but I think that generally you're seeing a pretty long road for these new stores to open.
Pablo Zuanic
Equity Research Analyst, Zuanic & Associates
All right, thank you. And then just another question on the Netherlands. So in terms of your capacity as greenhouse, you have the largest capacity. You operate more in the, I don't know if you call it value or mainstream segment. We're seeing more capacity from the other players, but those are more, I guess, higher-priced products indoor. Maybe they don't have the same cost flexibility that you have. So when we talk about price compression, in theory, that would benefit you because it would squeeze the profits of the others, whereas you are very well positioned in terms of what you have. But correct me if I'm wrong in terms of all that description. And the second part of the question, in terms of expanding the portfolio of products, you know, how quickly can you do that, especially on the extract side that you've talked about? Thanks.
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
I think that's a very fair characterization. Obviously, given the choice, we would be happy with where pricing is, but one of the reasons that we like the asset is because we do feel we have a differentiated supply base, and I think that's really important. We're not anywhere close to full utilization, so we're able to ramp up. We also think there's going to be cost improvements from different efficiencies that we can put in, especially in genetics. I think that's certainly something we feel gives us kind of a long-term upside here. And as far as what we can do on the derivative product, one thing that's interesting about this market is because there's no B2B sales between the different companies like you have in most of the other markets we look at, I think that the efficiency of the grow matters that much more because you're essentially using your own product as inputs. So I think that's something that we look at. And it's really for how quick we bring products to market. I think that we already have a lot of the development work done and the experience in making them. It's just doing so in a way that we can look at the calendar and make sure that we're giving them the proper attention that they need at retail to have the right messaging. We don't want to overcrowd or kind of Thank you. One last one regarding Germany. You know, I know we've talked a lot before
Pablo Zuanic
Equity Research Analyst, Zuanic & Associates
about investing in a route to market downstream in Germany. I believe you rely mostly on local distributors there and importers. But, you know, I know it's hypothetical, but assuming that the OGI Aurora transaction goes through, in my opinion, there's going to be a lot of overlap on the route to market in Europe, and maybe people and assets could come up and could be available, and that would be an opportunity for you to build your RTM or strengthen your RTM organically in Germany. Am I thinking about that right, and is that an opportunity?
Mike Gorenstein
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah, look, I think you're thinking about it right. We're always opportunistic. I think that for now what we've been focusing on is making sure that we're able to have the right supply and make sure that we have enough supply to meet demand. We feel that today we've had pretty good traction and been able to get to market, but I haven't felt that there's a squeeze or some sort of urgency where we're going to miss out on distribution assets if we didn't make an immediate move. But I think that, yeah, there will be more and more opportunities to do that. And so we're being patient and disciplined. But I think as long as we keep focusing on having the best available supply, we'll be in good shape for Germany.
Pablo Zuanic
Equity Research Analyst, Zuanic & Associates
Thank you.
Stephanie
Conference Operator
Thank you. This concludes the question and answer session. Thank you for your participation in today's conference. This does conclude the program. You may now disconnect.