Common wisdom holds that growth stocks and dividend stocks are two fundamentally different things, and for most of the companies in the cannabis industry, that's true. Most competitors are focused on growing their businesses rather than on rewarding shareholders with distributions of excess capital, so they typically don't pay dividends.
But for investors who want exposure to the overall growth of the cannabis sector and also a stream of income, there are a couple of stocks that might be of interest.
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1. AFC Gamma
AFC Gamma's (AFCG -0.09%) full name is Advanced Flower Capital, and it's structured as a real estate investment trust (REIT). AFC issues secured loans to marijuana businesses so that they can purchase real estate or expand their operations. So, as the cannabis industry in the U.S. expands rapidly over the next few years, the company should see an explosion of demand for its services.
What's more, the fragmented legal landscape means that cannabis companies tend to have trouble finding financing from traditional sources, so there aren't too many competitors for AFC. Moving forward, its loan pipeline includes at least 48 candidates in review, so there's no shortage of opportunities.
With $204 million in loans disbursed, the company's portfolio grants it average annual cash returns between 12% and 20%. But investors should be aware that AFC isn't even a year old yet, so the long-run returns could be significantly different. So far, it hasn't had any issues with maintaining a profit margin upwards of 90%. And, because all of its loans require collateral in the form of real estate, the risk of losing significant capital if a customer defaults is fairly low.
In terms of its payout, its dividend yield is currently around 7.45%, which is quite good. The main thing that investors need to watch out for is equity dilution, which will soon occur as a result of the latest stock offering that's expected to close on June 28.
2. Innovative Industrial Properties
Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR -0.84%) makes a steady stream of income by doing sale leaseback transactions with medical cannabis cultivators. In its sale leasebacks, IIPR purchases a cannabis cultivation facility from its current operator, then leases the same property back to its new tenant.
These transactions are advantageous for IIPR because they create a new revenue stream, and they're also helpful for its customers that need a cash infusion. Over time, IIPR's holdings grow, as does its incoming revenue, both of which give it the stability needed to return capital to investors.
The company's customers include some of the most well-known businesses in the industry, such as Cresco Labs, Green Thumb Industries, and Curaleaf. On average, its leases have a length of 16.7 years, and 100% of its real estate holdings are currently leased. So, investors can count on its incoming revenue to be relatively secure over time. Plus, it owns real estate in some of the most dynamic cannabis markets in the U.S., like California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, which means that IIPR is well positioned to grow along with the market.
IIPR's dividend yield is only 2.9%, which is on the lower side for a REIT. But its dividend has risen steadily over time, so investors who hold the stock for the long term will see their cost basis drop significantly. And management is steadily pushing forward with new acquisitions, ensuring that its cash flows will keep expanding.
So far in 2021, the company has acquired two new properties and expanded one of its existing properties to increase its capacity and value. Expect more growth in the future, but keep an eye on its debt load, which could become substantial over the next few years as it gobbles up cultivation real estate.
