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Cannabist Co Holdings Inc. (CBSTF)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q2 2025 revenue was $86.35M, down 1% QoQ and 31% YoY; GAAP gross margin compressed to 19.9% on inventory obsolescence and deliberate inventory reduction, while adjusted EBITDA was $8.48M with margin up 30 bps QoQ to 9.8% .
  • Versus S&P Global consensus, revenue beat (actual $86.35M vs $80.10M estimate), but EPS and EBITDA missed (GAAP EPS -$0.16 vs -$0.03 estimate; EBITDA -$7.93M vs $8.40M estimate). Estimates marked with asterisks are from S&P Global and subject to their methodology. Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
  • Balance sheet and footprint actions advanced: senior note maturities extended to at least Dec 2028, Florida license sale closed ($5M), two California store sales closed, and a post-quarter agreement to sell three Pennsylvania dispensaries (~$10M) while pivoting to wholesale in that state .
  • Management highlighted ongoing SKU rationalization and pricing architecture work; wholesale revenue rose 16% QoQ to $18.39M (21% of total). Cash ended at $15.46M (from $18.94M in Q1). Capex was $2M; 2025 capex expected to average $2–3M per quarter .
  • Stock fell ~8.8% post-earnings; catalysts ahead include adult-use launches in Delaware (began Aug 1) and additional store openings in Ohio and Virginia .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 30 bps QoQ to 9.8% despite revenue down 1% QoQ, reflecting cost take-out and footprint simplification .
    • Wholesale momentum: revenue up 16% QoQ to $18.39M, increasing mix to ~21% of total; management sees continued benefit from SKU rationalization and pricing work .
    • Balance sheet progress: debt maturity extension to Dec 2028 (option to 2029) closed May 29; post-quarter, agreed sale of PA dispensaries (~$10M) with supply agreement to preserve optionality for adult-use .
  • What Went Wrong

    • GAAP gross margin compressed sharply to 19.9% (vs 38.4% in Q2’24) on inventory obsolescence (primarily NY) and inventory reduction across eight markets; adjusted gross margin fell to 33% from 36% in Q1 .
    • GAAP EBITDA was negative (-$7.93M) and GAAP EPS was -$0.16, reflecting elevated taxes (280E), interest expense, and losses on disposal groups amid restructuring .
    • Liquidity declined: cash ended $15.46M (from $18.94M in Q1); retail count fell to 53 after two CA store sales, with ongoing divestitures still creating near-term disruption .

Management quote: “We made critical progress in managing the balance sheet…extending the maturity of all senior debt obligations to at least December 2028…[and] brought cash onto the balance sheet…closing on the sale of our remaining license in Florida and 2 retail locations in California.” — CEO David Hart .

Financial Results

MetricQ4 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025
Revenue ($, Millions)$96.138 $87.440 $86.350
GAAP Gross Profit ($, Millions)$33.898 $29.285 $17.153
GAAP Gross Margin (%)35.3% 19.9%
Adjusted Gross Margin (%)35.7% 33%
Adjusted EBITDA ($, Millions)$7.054 $8.293 $8.483
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (%)9.5% 9.8%
GAAP EPS (Diluted)$(0.12) $(0.07) $(0.16)
Cash & Equivalents ($, Millions)$33.607 $18.936 $15.456
Capex ($, Millions)$1.7 $2.0 $2.0

Notes: Q1 GAAP gross margin not explicitly disclosed in press materials; adjusted gross margin provided by company. Adjusted metrics per company definition .

Segment/Channel Revenue

ChannelQ2 2024Q2 2025
Dispensary ($, Millions)$106.093 $67.960
Cultivation & Wholesale ($, Millions)$19.097 $18.390
Total ($, Millions)$125.190 $86.350

Key KPIs

KPIQ1 2025Q2 2025
Wholesale Mix of Revenue~18% ~21%
Active Retail Count (period-end)55 (then 53 post-MSAs) 53
Top 5 Markets by RevenueCO, MD, NJ, OH, VA CO, MD, NJ, OH, VA
Cash ($, Millions)$18.936 $15.456

Vs. Estimates (S&P Global)

Metric (Q2 2025)Consensus*ActualResult
Revenue ($)$80.10M*$86.35M Bold beat
Primary EPS-$0.029*-$0.16 Bold miss
EBITDA ($)$8.40M*-$7.93M Bold miss

Values retrieved from S&P Global.*

Why the quarter looked this way: Management cited inventory obsolescence (primarily NY) and inventory reduction initiatives as drivers of gross margin pressure; adjusted EBITDA improved sequentially on cost reductions and footprint optimization .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Capital ExpenditureFY 2025 (per quarter)$2–$3M per quarter (Q1 guide) $2–$3M per quarter (Q2 reiterated) Maintained
Store Openings20251 Virginia, 3 Ohio (1 Ohio in Q3) 1 Virginia, 3 Ohio (1 Ohio in Q3) Maintained
Balance Sheet—Senior NotesN/AShareholder approval pending (Apr 29) Maturities extended to Dec 2028 (option to 2029) closed May 29 Finalized/Executed
Pennsylvania StrategyPost-Q2N/ASell 3 PA dispensaries (~$10M) and pivot to wholesale; retain adult-use optionality New disclosure
Revenue/Margins/EPS2025Not providedNot providedN/A

Company did not provide explicit revenue, margin or EPS guidance.

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ4 2024 (prior 2)Q1 2025 (prior 1)Q2 2025 (current)Trend
Balance Sheet/DebtAnnounced agreement to extend maturities; 70% noteholder support Noteholders approved arrangement; court approval pending Extension closed May 29; maturities to Dec 2028/option 2029 Positive completion
Footprint OptimizationDivested FL, VA (East), AZ; retail count fell to 59 Exited DC, sold 1 CA, closed 3 CO stores; retail 55 Sold 2 CA stores; PA dispo sale announced; pivot to wholesale Continued rationalization
Wholesale GrowthFY24 wholesale +11% YoY; Q4 mix 16% Q1 wholesale +3.5% QoQ; mix 18% Q2 wholesale +16% QoQ; mix 21% Improving mix
Pricing/SKU RationalizationIdentified supply chain/pricing actions SKU and pricing architecture in focus; retail GM up QoQ Continued SKU rationalization; adjusted GM down on obsolescence Mixed (margin pressure)
Adult-Use CatalystsAnticipated OH/DE catalysts in 2025 Prepared for DE adult-use; OH/VA openings planned DE adult-use launched Aug 1; OH/VA openings upcoming Executing
Regulatory/280EElevated tax expense; 280E headwind reflected in results (MD&A) Continuing headwind

Call references: management reiterated 10-market focus post divestitures and highlighted 30 bps adjusted EBITDA margin improvement; Delaware AU launch cited as a win .

Management Commentary

  • Strategic focus: “We will continue to take costs out of the business and right-size operations, while we enhance our product offering and improve pricing architecture…We are thrilled to have launched adult use at all three of our locations in Delaware on August 1…” — CEO David Hart .
  • Footprint pivot: Announced sale of 3 PA dispensaries (~$10M) with shift to wholesale and retained exposure for adult-use transition .
  • Liquidity/capex discipline: Ended Q2 with $15.5M cash; capex $2M in Q2 with $2–$3M per quarter expected for 2025 .

Q&A Highlights

  • Portfolio focus: “Once we complete the Florida, California and Illinois market exits, as well as the wholesale shift in Pennsylvania, [we] will be active in 10 markets…” — Management on footprint simplification .
  • Profitability levers: Management emphasized a ~30 bps sequential uptick in adjusted EBITDA margin and reiterated cost actions and pricing/SKU work as the core drivers .
  • Near-term catalysts: Team highlighted Delaware adult-use launch, plus planned Ohio and Virginia store openings in 2H’25 .

Estimates Context

  • Q2 2025 revenue beat S&P Global consensus ($86.35M actual vs $80.10M estimate). Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
  • EPS missed consensus (-$0.16 actual vs -$0.029 estimate) amid lower GAAP gross margin and higher taxes/interest during restructuring. Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
  • EBITDA missed consensus (GAAP EBITDA -$7.93M actual vs $8.40M estimate) while adjusted EBITDA was positive ($8.48M), underscoring definition differences between GAAP EBITDA and company-adjusted EBITDA. Values retrieved from S&P Global.*

Where estimates may adjust: Street models likely lift revenue (on the beat) but trim GAAP profitability to reflect lower gross margin (obsolescence) and tax/interest burden; adjusted EBITDA trajectory remains modestly positive given cost controls .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Mix shift and cost actions are working (sequential adjusted EBITDA margin expansion), but GAAP profitability remains pressured by inventory clean-up, interest expense, and 280E taxes; watch margin normalization as inventory right-sizing completes .
  • Wholesale is emerging as a growth/mix lever (21% mix; +16% QoQ), with PA pivot to wholesale and DE adult-use launch as incremental catalysts .
  • Balance sheet risk moderated with debt maturity extension to 2028/29; continued asset sales (PA) provide liquidity but reduce retail scale near term .
  • Liquidity is tight (cash $15.46M); execution on divestitures and restrained capex ($2–$3M/quarter) are critical to bridge to catalysts (OH/VA openings, DE AU scale-up) .
  • Trading setup: Revenue beat vs. consensus but EPS/EBITDA misses and margin compression drove negative stock reaction (~-8.8%); catalysts in 2H’25 (DE AU ramp, OH/VA openings) could support sentiment if gross margin stabilizes and adjusted EBITDA continues to expand .

References

  • Q2 2025 8-K 2.02 and press release:
  • Q2 2025 10-Q: statements and MD&A:
  • Q1 2025 8-K 2.02 and press release:
  • Q4 2024 8-K and press release:
  • Other relevant press releases during Q2: debt arrangement update (court approval):
  • Earnings call/transcript links: Investing.com and Seeking Alpha (content/gist):

S&P Global estimates disclaimer: Consensus figures in the Estimates sections are sourced from S&P Global and marked with asterisks; definitions/methodologies may differ from company-reported non-GAAP metrics.