The marijuana industry has been a hotbed of investment activity, and there have been plenty of ups and downs in the share prices of cannabis stocks over the past several years. Given how new the industry is and how much competition there is among up-and-coming players in the space, it can be daunting to decide how to invest in a way that's both prudent yet also gives you a chance at strong returns.
Conservative investors often look for ways to ride on the coattails of industry insiders, and one strategy that's been surprisingly effective so far in 2019 is also quite simple. Investing in the two cannabis companies that have made major deals with third-party consumer goods giants -- Canopy Growth (CGC 15.03%) and Cronos Group (CRON 4.66%) -- has been a huge success so far in 2019, outpacing even the strong returns of the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ 5.43%):
Data source: YCharts. Chart by author.
Marijuana investors have greater confidence in these stocks because they know their partners are committed to their success. Constellation Brands (STZ 0.74%) understands the potential consumer shift from alcohol toward cannabis as legalization efforts widen, and it's working hard to put Canopy in the best possible position to use its distribution and marketing expertise. Similarly, Altria Group (MO 0.70%) has recognized the secular decline in cigarette smoking, and embracing Cronos Group's ability to provide alternatives for smokers is a no-brainer.
Meanwhile, cannabis companies that haven't yet come up with partnerships have fallen behind their counterparts. Tilray (TLRY) in particular has been a notable laggard, and although a 16% gain in just a month would ordinarily be cause for celebration, many shareholders would be happier if Tilray could attract a high-profile partner like Constellation or Canopy. If that were to happen, it's possible that Tilray's gains would come a lot closer to Canopy's and Cronos Group's.
Check out the latest Tilray, Cronos, and Canopy Growth earnings call transcripts.
