TFSA Investors: 1 Little-Known Stock That Has Doubled Like Shopify (TSX:SHOP) in 2019

Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) stock has outperformed so far in 2019, but this little known cannabis play has defied industry odds.

| More on:

High-growth stocks are best stashed in a TFSA, no matter how high they appreciate, investors don’t have to worry about potential capital gains taxes in the future.

Shopify’s (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) stock has been a darling for TFSA growth investors over the past few years due to its massive share price gains over the period which top 656% since three years ago.

Shares have always been expensive, but investors have continued to push the valuation up a 117% year-to-date as the market still sees further growth in the company’s client base, merchandise processing volumes and, most important, profitability potential as visionary Tobias “Tobi” Lütke and his team continue to innovate and build a more robust ecosystem around the business.

Revenue has continued to grow exponentially over the past three years to US$1.07 billion last year and the latest guidance is for invoices worth US$1.555 billion for a further 45% growth in the top line for 2019 and the company’s operating losses have been narrowing significantly and consistently over several recent quarters.

This firm is indeed a great tech business being built that strongly speaks to the dreams of every aspiring entrepreneur globally to open an online shop and get all supporting services inside the ever-expanding Shopify ecosystem to a growing merchant population that reached the one million mark recently.

That said, there’s this fast-growing cannabis related firm that has continued to impress against all industry odds as pears tumbled this year.

Valens GroWorks

Little-known Valens GroWorks Corp (TSXV:VGW) is the new leader in the provision of extraction services for cannabis and hemp biomass to the budding marijuana industry,

Valens stock has been one of the hottest tickers on the TSX’s junior and incubatory exchange platform, the TSX Venture. Price gains stand about 110% so far in 2019 and shares have returned a 734% investment return over the past three years.

Unlike other cannabis tickers that have largely tanked this year, Valens has continued to impress in 2019.

The company’s latest financial reports for the third quarter of 2019 showed a sequential revenue growth of 87% over the second quarter. Gross margins have expanded unbelievably from just 38% of revenue in February to 58% in May 2019  before hitting the 78% mark for the quarter ended in August this year.

This was a massive quarter-on-quarter improvement that enabled the company to report its first quarterly net profit this year (a big 36% net profit margin) and positive adjusted EBITDA margin of over 59%.

Business is expected to grow further into the next year after the company won a contract with Shoppers Drug Mart to be the third-party supplier of cannabis oil products to the pharmaceuticals retailer’s online stores.

Further, Valens is poised to partake in the cannabis 2.0 edibles market too. Management announced a new five-year deal with Iconic Brewing that will see the company manufacture over 2.5 million cannabis beverages.

The small firm has impressive profitability profiles and there’s growth potential here after a recent acquisition. My only concern is whether its current clients will not build their own extraction facilities to avoid outsourcing the value addition service in the long term, but the company is winning new long-term contracts from the best financed industry players right now.

It may be fine to assume that VGW may maintain its specialist niches for a long time to come.

Fool contributor Brian Paradza has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tom Gardner owns shares of Shopify. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Shopify and Shopify. Shopify is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Tech Stocks

Hourglass and stock price chart
Tech Stocks

3 Stocks Every Long-Term Canadian Investor Should Consider

Here's why Constellation Software (TSX:CSU) stock, Waste Connections (WCN) stock, and another growth stock to buy should belong in your…

Read more »

alcohol
Tech Stocks

This $150 Stock Could Be Your Ticket to Millionaire Status

Shopify stock offers a growth-first approach that could help prospective investors move closer to achieving millionaire status.

Read more »

Rocket lift off through the clouds
Tech Stocks

Stocks That Nobody’s Talking About – Until They Explode Higher

Explore potential stocks that could become major players. Do not miss out on these promising investment opportunities.

Read more »

e-commerce shopping getting a package
Tech Stocks

This Canadian Stock Is 40% Off its Highs and Built to Hold Forever

This Canadian company’s underlying business continues to show strength and it well-positioned to capitalize on digital shift.

Read more »

Happy golf player walks the course
Tech Stocks

How Investing $50,000 in These 3 Stocks Could Help You Reach $1 Million by Retirement

Explore the strategies to reach a million-dollar retirement, ensuring you are not solely dependent on government support.

Read more »

person enjoys shower of confetti outside
Tech Stocks

A Top-Performing U.S. Stock That Canadian Investors Really Should Own

This top-performing U.S. stock is likely to deliver significant growth led by AI infrastructure boom, which makes it a compelling…

Read more »

chip glows with a blue AI
Tech Stocks

The AI Infrastructure Boom Is Just Getting Started: Here Are 2 Stocks to Buy

These Canadian companies are well-positioned to capitalize on growth spending on AI infrastructure and deliver significant growth.

Read more »

A person builds a rock tower on a beach.
Tech Stocks

2 Canadian Growth Stocks I Expect to Skyrocket in the Next Year

Given their solid financial results and healthy growth prospects, these two growth stocks could deliver superior returns in the coming…

Read more »