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🔥 $MSOS: Survive and Advance

GM Everyone,

It’s a brand-new week, and last week is already in the rearview — where we left it with a tidy 10% gain for $MSOS ( ▼ 8.08% ) , pullbacks and all. We’re starting the pre-market in the green, but let’s not forget: pre-market rallies have a reputation for being the market’s version of catfishing.

Stay sharp.

💸 The Tape

Rubicon Organics (TSXV: ROMJ) (OTCQX: ROMJF) has made a name for itself by proving that premium, organic cannabis isn’t just a vibe—it’s a business model that works. The Canadian LP just dropped its Q2 2025 results, and the numbers hit fresh highs.

Record Revenue, Record Profits
Q2 net revenue hit $15 million, up 24% year-over-year, making this the company’s highest-ever quarter. Gross profit and operating profit also broke records, with $1 million from operations and $1.4 million in Adjusted EBITDA. Even better? Positive operating cash flow of $0.8 million—rare air in cannabis land. CFO Glen Ibbott says Rubicon’s “financial discipline” is paying off, though he’s warning investors to expect some short-term bumps as the company brings its shiny new Hope Facility online.

Market Share Muscle
Rubicon continues to punch above its weight in key categories:

  • 5.2% share in premium flower and pre-rolls

  • 15.1% in resin vapes

  • 26.2% in premium edibles

  • And the bragging rights to Canada’s #1 topical SKU

That’s the kind of portfolio coverage most producers dream about.

Scaling Supply, Carefully
To keep up with surging demand, Rubicon scooped up the Hope Facility, a 4,500 kg bump in annual capacity—a 40% increase that takes total production to 15,500 kg. But here’s the kicker: no revenue contribution until 2026. Investors will need patience while Hope gets licensed and ramps up, with $1–2 million in expected startup costs hitting the back half of 2025.

Brand Power + Genetics = Moat
With award-winning labels like Simply Bare Organics and 1964 Supply Co., Rubicon is leaning hard into brand loyalty and SKU rationalization trends. Meanwhile, its proprietary genetics library keeps the premium pipeline flowing—new drops like Pink Drip, Sunset Runtz, and the wonderfully named “Luv Affair” are designed to keep consumers hooked.

Looking Abroad, But Staying Grounded
International demand is calling, and Rubicon has begun test exports. But the company is wisely keeping Canadian customers first, especially as rivals chase higher-margin overseas markets.

The Bottom Line
Rubicon has now delivered positive Adjusted EBITDA in nine of the last ten quarters, making it one of Canada’s most consistently profitable LPs. With strong brands, expanding capacity, and growing consumer loyalty, Rubicon isn’t just selling premium cannabis—it’s becoming a premium cannabis company.

📈 Dog Walkers

$HITI ( ▲ 4.31% ) Gives Guidance

What’s Going On Here: High Tide is setting up for a record Q3, and the guidance suggests they’re about to deliver a statement quarter that Wall Street underestimated. Management pegs revenue at C$147–150M, implying 7–9% sequential growth and 12–14% year-over-year growth—all above analyst consensus of ~C$146M. Gross margin is expected to come in at C$38.5–40M, or 9–13% higher sequentially. The real kicker: Adjusted EBITDA guidance of C$9.6–10.6M, implying 19–31% sequential growth and notably topping consensus of C$8.4M.

CEO Raj Grover highlighted that same-store sales jumped 7.4%, the fastest pace in two years, underscoring the strength of the Canadian retail platform that remains underappreciated by the market. The company also positioned this as more than just a domestic growth story: with its recent majority acquisition of Remexian Pharma GmbH in Germany, High Tide is planting its flag on the global cannabis stage.

Bottom line: while analysts were penciling in modest gains, High Tide seems poised to clear the bar with room to spare. Investors should circle September 15—when full results drop—as the day High Tide’s “retail-forward” model proves it has global ambitions.

$CBSTF ( ▼ 12.7% ) Sells Off PA Retail Assets

What’s Going On Here: The Cannabist Company is pruning its Pennsylvania footprint with the precision of a master gardener—snipping off three dispensaries while fertilizing its wholesale roots. The Company announced the $10 million all-cash sale of its Columbia Care Pennsylvania affiliate to VP Investment Holdings, the group behind Restore Integrative Wellness Center. The deal hands over dispensaries in Scranton, Allentown, and Wilkes-Barre, which will be swiftly rebranded under the Restore banner.

But this isn’t just a garage sale. The Cannabist Co. secured a supply agreement with VP Holdings, ensuring that its cultivation arm, gLeaf, keeps the shelves stocked with its products. Translation: fewer retail headaches, more wholesale reach.

CEO David Hart framed the transaction as part of a bigger cleanup act—streamlining operations, bolstering liquidity, and sharpening focus on the Company’s Saxton, PA grow-processor facility, which now becomes the centerpiece of its Keystone State strategy. And should Pennsylvania finally embrace adult-use, Cannabist will be sitting pretty with strong cultivation and wholesale channels.

Financial advisors CLD Advisory and legal eagles Foley Hoag LLP made sure the transaction was watertight, while Restore lined up Ballard Spahr LLP.

🗞️ The News

📺 YouTube

Cannabis Stocks Reset After Options Expiry: What’s Next This Week | TDR Cannabis in 5

What we will cover:

✅ It’s Monday, August 18th, and the cannabis industry is starting a new week with momentum. Earnings season is behind us—and for once, it wasn’t a disaster. Operators held their ground, showing resilience across revenues, margins, and balance sheets. With the fundamentals intact, attention now turns to Washington.

The key question: will Donald Trump announce cannabis rescheduling, and if so, when? He recently confirmed his administration is “looking at it,” with a decision possible in the coming weeks. For investors, that means every appearance from Trump, the DEA, or the DOJ could move cannabis stocks.

Last week’s late dip wasn’t about weak earnings—it was market mechanics. MSOS, the U.S. cannabis ETF, was driven under $5 to burn option holders around the $4.50 and $5 strikes, reportedly pushed by Toronto desks. With OPEX behind us, the “shackles” are off and the group is free to trade on news again.

Beyond Washington, there are other catalysts to watch: • States: Pennsylvania adult-use chatter, Texas hemp crackdowns, New York licensing fixes, and North Carolina medical progress. • Enforcement: Raids and seizures that reinforce the regulated market. • International: Germany imported record medical cannabis volumes in Q1 2025, even as regulators propose restrictions—an evolving dynamic for Canadian LPs like Tilray and Canopy. • Corporate moves: Post-earnings 8-Ks, refinancings, and store updates.