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Flora Growth Corp. (FLGC)·Q4 2022 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Record Q4 revenue of $11.5M, up 7% sequentially vs Q3; FY2022 revenue reached $37.2M (+314% YoY) with gross margin expanding to 39% (from 27% in FY2021) .
- Management reaffirmed FY2023 revenue guidance of $90–$105M and indicated roughly equal revenue contributions from House of Brands and Commercial & Wholesale, with Pharmaceutical “up to 10%” .
- Strategic execution advanced: closed acquisition of Franchise Global Health (FGH) in late Dec-2022 (1,200-pharmacy network in Germany), initiated export flows with Q4 product in Portugal for GMP sterilization/stabilization and follow-on shipments earmarked for Australia and Germany .
- Profitability headwinds persist: FY2022 net loss was $52.6M (including $26.2M impairment); CFO noted Q4 adjusted EBITDA was lower vs earlier quarters due to year-end adjustments and discounts; cash ended at $9.5M .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Record top line: “We…closed Q4 with $11.5 million in revenue, making it the highest revenue-generating quarter and year for the company to date.” — CEO Luis Merchan .
- Margin expansion and scale: FY2022 gross margin improved to 39% (from 27%) and gross profit rose to $14.4M, aided by higher-margin acquired businesses (JustCBD, Vessel) .
- International progress and distribution reach: Q4 product processed in Portugal with shipments to Australia and Germany; FGH acquisition adds German distribution with 1,200 pharmacies and multi-country network .
What Went Wrong
- Losses and non-cash charges: FY2022 net loss of $52.6M (vs $21.4M in 2021) driven by $67.7M in OpEx including ~$26.2M impairment; adjusted EBITDA loss was $18.3M .
- Q4 profitability pressure: CFO said Q4 adjusted EBITDA was lower due to year-end adjustments and discounting in House of Brands; company did not publish stand-alone Q4 P&L metrics beyond revenue .
- Liquidity compression: Cash and equivalents declined to $9.5M at 12/31/22 (from $37.6M at 12/31/21), with uses including ~$16M cash paid for JustCBD and working capital/inventory build .
Financial Results
Quarterly performance vs prior two quarters (oldest → newest):
Full-year YoY (context for magnitude of change):
KPIs and operating context:
Notes:
- Management explicitly stated they did not publish separate Q4 profitability metrics beyond revenue; CFO indicated lower Q4 adjusted EBITDA due to year-end discounts and adjustments .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We…closed Q4 with $11.5 million in revenue, making it the highest revenue-generating quarter and year for the company to date.” — CEO Luis Merchan .
- “Gross margin…increased from 27% to 39%…primarily due to the integration and revenue recognition of high-margin acquired businesses.” — CFO Elshad Garayev .
- “Product harvested and processed in Q4 is now in our partner facility in Portugal…with follow-on product shipments…to Australia and Germany.” — CEO Luis Merchan .
- “Adjusted EBITDA…for the quarter…was impacted…lower…due to year-end adjustments…discounts…primarily driven by our House of Brands division.” — CFO Elshad Garayev .
- “I…reaffirm the 2023 revenue guidance…between $90 million and $105 million.” — CEO Luis Merchan .
Q&A Highlights
- Q4 EBITDA and profitability: Management did not publish separate Q4 P&L beyond revenue; CFO indicated Q4 adjusted EBITDA was lower due to year-end adjustments and discounting; FGH’s lower gross margins expected to be partially offset by higher-margin cannabis revenue streams in 2023 .
- Exports and Germany: Guidance assumes current regulations; active exports of derivatives and flower from Colombia; Q4 products processed in Portugal with destinations including Australia and Germany; monitoring phased German rollout; Colombia nearing adult-use legalization could be a domestic catalyst .
- Capital position and inventory: Year-end cash ~$9.5M; 2022 cash uses included ~$16M for JustCBD, capex ~$1–1.5M, inventory build to support growth; Q4 saw robust finished goods and raw materials positioning for 2023 demand .
- FGH integration: All-stock deal; ~43.5M shares issued; purchase price allocation recorded ~$6.1M net identifiable assets and ~$3.7M goodwill; integration ongoing with ERP leverage and leadership continuity .
Estimates Context
- Consensus (S&P Global) for Q4 2022 revenue/EPS was unavailable at the time of writing due to request-limit constraints; management did not disclose Q4 EPS or full quarterly P&L. We therefore cannot assess beats/misses versus Street for Q4. Revenue reported: $11.5M; sequential +7% .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Execution on international strategy is visible: Q4 product processed in EU with follow-on shipments to Australia and Germany; FGH adds immediate German distribution footprint—catalysts for 2023 revenue mix shift toward Commercial & Wholesale .
- House of Brands remains the cash engine: Record Q4 campaign (Black Friday) and new vape line underpin organic growth; continued product innovation and cross-brand synergies should support gross margin resilience .
- Profitability remains the swing factor: Elevated FY OpEx (non-cash-heavy) and Q4 discounting pressure EBITDA; integration synergies and higher-margin export ramp are key to inflect margins in 2023 .
- Liquidity monitoring warranted: Year-end cash $9.5M with working capital tied in inventory; management expects limited capex needs but continued inventory investment aligned to fast-turning SKUs .
- Guidance credibility improved by Q4/FY print: FY2022 revenue met guidance; FY2023 revenue guide reaffirmed at $90–$105M with defined pillar mix, offering clearer milestones to track .
- Regulatory optionality: Colombia’s potential adult-use legalization and evolving German framework could expand TAM; management budgets conservatively against current rules, limiting downside from delays .
- Near-term focus: Track EU export conversion to recognized revenue, FGH integration milestones, and signs of margin improvement amid disciplined promotions.