Why Hexo Stock Soared 18% on Thursday

Hexo (TSX:HEXO)(NASDAQ:HEXO) stock soared 18% after news that its debt would be taken over by Tilray (TSX:TLRY)(NASDAQ:TLRY) stock.

Amy Legate-Wolfe

Amy became interested in investing in 2018 after having her first daughter. After receiving a masters degree in journalism from Western University, she became frustrated that the finance industry remained a confusing place for Canadians like her: new parents, millennials, and other young people who needed to understand their finances. Now, Amy focuses on tech companies and renewable energy for growth opportunities, coupling that with long-term investing strategies and equities. She also provides investors with a daily newsletter, Canada Stock Digest, for daily market updates. Before joining Motley Fool Canada, she wrote for major news organizations including HuffPost, CTVNews.ca, and CBC. When she’s not researching investing strategies, Amy’s time is pretty much monopolized by her two wild daughters, but in what little spare time she has she loves to do yoga, go on walks with her dog, and travel with her husband. Follow Amy on LinkedIn and Canada Stock Digest. Favorite Investment Quote: “October: This is one of the particularly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February.” – Mark Twain

Published March 3, 2022 1:30 pm EST

Hexo (TSX:HEXO)(NASDAQ:HEXO) shares soared 18% on Thursday from market close the day before after a strategic partnership with Tilray (TSX:TLRY)(NASDAQ:TLRY) was announced.

What happened?

Hexo stock jumped 18% with the news that Tilray would buy up to US$211 million of the cannabis company’s debt. Once its rival Tilray would have the opportunity to have a major stake in the cannabis producer. After years of financial trouble, the terms give Hexo stock far more favourable debt-repayment options.

In the deal, Hexo stock provides Tilray stock with $20 million in interest payments for the first year, with about $0.04 per share on future earnings. This would give them $50 million in cost savings shared with Hexo. The deal would reach completion in the next two years. The notes would be purchased at $0.90 per share. Hexo currently trades at $0.80 as of writing.

So what?

This comes as Hexo stock continues to go through a massive shakeup. Last month, it saw the departure of several board members over share price concerns. This came down to not having enough cash on hand to pay down debt, leading many investors to wonder when profit could ever be made.

With the new deal, Tilray stock saved Hexo stock from its uncertain financial future, and now has a major stake for any growth potential. As a low-cost cannabis producer, the company’s growth initiatives are exactly what Tilray wants, according to Chief Executive Officer Irwin D. Simon.

More news from Hexo announced that the company also has a renewed agreement with KAOS Capital for a $180 million equity backstop in the company. It now has a “newly strengthened balance sheet” that will remain covered in the future.

Now what?

That’s the big question. Will Hexo stock be able to renew its focus on those growth initiatives with the debt out of the way? That seems to be the case. And if Tilray stock purchased the shares at $0.90, that means it likely believes the stock will surpass $1 in the next year or so.

So, what’s next for Hexo stock? Hopefully, investors will soon hear about all these growth initiatives we’ve been promised for months now. If so, this could be a stock that easily doubles in the next year.

Shares of Hexo stock are up 10% as of writing, with Tilray stock down 3%.