FEATURE American cannabis companies have traded in the shadow of their Canadian counterparts whose stocks list on the big exchanges that shun U.S. operators because of the weed’s federal illegality here.

Are marijuana stocks on U.S. exchanges a good buy now? The marijuana industry gets a lot of hype, but look past the smoke and analyze pot stocks on their fundamentals and technicals.

There's no question Americans are facing unprecedented stresses these days. Data suggests some Americans are relying on vices such as alcohol, tobacco and cannabis to get through the health crisis. At the same time, gamblers have been driven online for the time being due to casino closures.When times are good, people like to celebrate with a drink or a smoke or a roll of the dice. When times are hard, they turn to these activities as a distraction or a means of self-medication. Regardless of how you feel about the activities themselves, here are seven "sin stocks" to buy that Morningstar analysts say have significant upside.Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM)Philip Morris is one of the largest global tobacco companies and holds nearly a 30% market share of the international cigarette and heated tobacco markets.Analyst Philip Gorham says Marlboro customer loyalty is extremely high and Philip Morris has considerable pricing power. The company has a first-mover advantage in heated tobacco, but it remains to be seen whether or not heated tobacco can completely offset lost cigarette volumes over time. Gorham says a successful launch of iQOS in the U.S. would generate completely incremental revenue given the company currently has no U.S. products.Philip Morris shares also pay a sizable 6.9% dividend.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $98 price target for PM stock.See Also: 7 Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Or Sell Cronos Group Inc (NASDAQ: CRON)Cronos is one of the "big four" Canadian legal producers of cannabis and owner of brands such as PEACE NATURALS, COVE and Lord Jones. Cronos reported impressive 180% revenue growth in the first quarter, but it also reported a $45 million operating loss.Analyst Kristoffer Inton says write-downs associated with lower prices due to oversupply in the Canadian market were the cause of the loss. However, Inton says Cronos' write-downs are shrinking, whereas other cannabis producers' losses are growing. Morningstar is projecting Canadian cannabis demand will grow 20% annually over the next decade, and Cronos has the balance sheet to expand its market share.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $8.50 fair value estimate for CRON stock.Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS)Las Vegas Sands is an international casino operator that owns casino resorts and hotels in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore. Analyst Dan Wasiolek says Macau and Singapore are the keys to the bull case for Las Vegas Sands.Macau accounted for about 59% of Sands' earnings in 2019, and Singapore was another 31%. Wasiolek says Sand's has a dominant position in the high-growth Cotai Strip in Macau, and it has a duopoly in place in Singapore through at least 2030. COVID-19 shutdowns in Las Vegas and a 97% drop in gross gaming revenue due to COVID-19 may be scary, but Wasiolek estimates Las Vegas sands has 18 months of liquidity at nearly zero revenue.Mornigstar has a Buy rating and $62 fair value estimate for LVS stock.British American Tobacco PLC (NYSE: BTI)British American Tobacco is an international tobacco company that owns brands such as Lucky Strike, Newport and Camel and generates 45% of its revenue from the U.S. market.While cigarette volumes are likely in secular decline, Gorham says British American's accelerated volume declines in fiscal 2019 may be particularly troubling to investors. However, he says the company may be best-positioned to capitalize on the next generation of tobacco products, including its Vype and Vuse vaping brands an Glo heated tobacco brand. Gorham says British American's buyout of Reynolds American was a solid strategic move given its pricing power and the value of its assets.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $59 target for BTI stock.Anheuser Busch Inbev NV (NYSE: BUD)Anheuser Busch Inbev is the world's largest brewer and owner of brands such as Budweiser, Beck's and Corona.Gorham says the worst of the downturn may be yet to come for Anheuser Busch, but the company has plenty of liquidity to navigate the crisis. In the longer term, he says the company's near monopoly and cost advantages in developed markets make the stock a solid investment, and its potential for free cash flow generation isn't fully priced in at current levels. Gorham projects volumes will fall 20% in the first half of 2020 and only 7% in the second half of the year.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $96 fair value estimate for BUD stock.Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO)Altria Group is one of the world's largest tobacco companies, but it's also one of the most diversified sin stocks. In addition to being the parent company of Philip Morris USA, Altria has a more than 10% ownership stake in Anheuser Busch, a 35% stake in vaping leader JUUL, and a 45% stake in cannabis stock Cronos.Gorham says COVID-19 has certainly disrupted Altria's business, but its underlying business trends in the first quarter appear to be solid. Cigarette shipment volume was up 6%, and management reiterated its guidance that industry-wide volume will drop between 4% and 6% this year.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $54 fair value estimate for MO stock.See Also: 7 Best-Performing Stocks Of 2020: Buy, Sell Or Hold?Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ)Constellation Brands is one of the world's largest producers of wine, spirits and imported beer and owns brands such as Arbor Mist, Black Velvet and SVEDKA. Constellation also recently upped its ownership stake in leading Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corp (NYSE: CGC) to nearly 40%.Analyst Nicholas Johnson says Constellation's beer business should help support numbers for now, and the sell-off in the stock has pushed it to "egregiously cheap" levels. In fact, given his bullish long-term outlook for Constellation, Johnson says it's his top stock pick in the pure-play beverage group.Morningstar has a Buy rating and $215 price target for STZ stock.Latest Ratings for CRON DateFirmActionFromTo May 2020StifelMaintainsHold Apr 2020Piper SandlerDowngradesOverweightNeutral Apr 2020B of A SecuritiesDowngradesBuyNeutral View More Analyst Ratings for CRON View the Latest Analyst RatingsSee more from Benzinga * Here's How Much Investing 0 In The 2018 Cronos Listing Would Be Worth Today * The Road To Recovery For Las Vegas Casino Stocks * Cannabis Stock Rally Puts Short Sellers In The Red For 2020(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Cronos (CRON) saw a big move last session, as its shares jumped more than 8% on the day, amid huge volumes.

For years, the marijuana industry was the hottest investment on Wall Street. Over the past 13-plus months, cannabis stocks have been raked over the coals. Regulatory-based supply issues in Canada, high tax rates on legal-channel pot products in key U.S. states, and the inability of many North American pot stocks to access traditional forms of financing have quickly pulled the rug out from beneath this blazing hot industry.

Colorado Representative Ed Perlmutter joins Yahoo Finance’s Zack Guzman to discuss the future of cannabis in the U.S., along with his outlook on future stimulus legislation.

Cannabis investors sometimes have to take earnings results with a grain of salt. Relying just on sales and net income figures can lead to incorrect conclusions. Cronos has recorded a positive net income figure in each of its past five quarterly results.

Aurora Cannabis stock spiked and other marijuana stocks rallied after the pot producer beat expectations and touted its efforts to cut costs.

It was a choppy week in the stock market, before investors headed home for a long three-day weekend. Let's use that extra day to look at some top stock trades for next week. Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow No. 1: Alibaba (BABA) Click to EnlargeSource: Chart courtesy of StockCharts.comAlibaba (NYSE:BABA) stock is falling about 6% despite reporting strong earnings and revenue results. Despite the stumble, the charts still look constructive.BABA stock ran into a roadblock around $220, but held the backside of prior downtrend resistance (blue line) ahead of the print. After Friday's fall though, shares lost this level, as well the 20-day moving average.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsNow down near $200, shares are coming up into the 50-day moving average. Aggressive bulls may consider buying this dip, giving the quality of the earnings. However, conservative buyers may consider waiting. * 7 Top-Rated Biotech Stocks to Buy on the Hunt for a Vaccine That's as potentially stronger support near $194 comes into play with the 200-day moving average. On a rebound, I want to see shares reclaim downtrend resistance. Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow No. 2: Beyond Meat (BYND) Click to EnlargeSource: Chart courtesy of StockCharts.comBeyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) had a relatively quiet week. The stock continues to form a narrowing wedge after its big post-earnings rally.That has bulls optimistic that a break higher may come into play, while bears are hoping the stock runs out of momentum. On the downside, keep an eye on $130. Below this level and below last week's low at $127.21 could spell trouble for the bulls.On the upside, a move over last week's high at $147.55 puts a potential rally to $160 in play. I do like this trade on a break of either level, but prefer the long side for two reasons.First, earnings are out of the way and the reaction was bullish. Second, there are fewer hurdles in the way on a breakout as opposed to a breakdown, with the 20-day moving average coming into play at $122.40. Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow No. 3: Canopy Growth (CGC) Click to EnlargeSource: Chart courtesy of StockCharts.comCanopy Growth (NYSE:CGC) made some great moves today -- and even gave traders an excellent day-trading situation.Friday's rally is interesting. On the one hand, CGC's move is impressive and the stock is rotating over last month's high. I love that. But at the same time, it's coming into the 200-day moving average near $20 and the 200-week moving average near $21.80.That's not a great scenario, although a rally over these market could put the mid-$20s in play. Keep these levels in mind on the upside. On the downside, watch $18.25. That was the April high, and a dip to this level that holds as support could be a buying opportunity. Top Trades for Tomorrow No. 4: Cronos Group (CRON) Click to EnlargeSource: Chart courtesy of StockCharts.comSticking with the cannabis industry, Cronos Group (NASDAQ:CRON) is moving nicely too. Shares are also rotating over last month's high, but could have a bit more room to run.Watch the $6.70 area for possible support on a pullback. On the upside, look for a gap-fill up toward $7.15, with the 200-day moving average and the $8 mark acting as more significant upside marks.This group can move intensely in both directions. But using levels can help pinpoint when the move is real vs. a fake-out. Have a happy Memorial Day weekend.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner * America's Richest ZIP Code Holds Shocking Secret * 1 Under-the-Radar 5G Stock to Buy Now * The 1 Stock All Retirees Must Own The post 4 Top Stock Trades for Tuesday: BABA, BYND, CGC, CRON appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) stock has skyrocketed by a triple-digit percentage in recent days after the Canadian cannabis producer reported better-than-expected fiscal 2020 third-quarter results. You might think that after this huge gain, Aurora is outperforming rival Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON), which posted Q1 results earlier this month that were below expectations. Which of these two marijuana stocks is the better pick going forward?

The stock of Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON) ended the week on a high note, rising more than 8% on Friday to outpace the gains of the broader market. Cronos has a major CBD asset in its Lord Jones product line. Although the results of the study, conducted by researchers at the University of Lethbridge in Canada, were published last month, they are only now hitting the news media and getting on the radar of investors.

With rising revenue and a strong balance sheet, Cronos Group might just be able to stay afloat amid the pandemic.

Canopy Growth and Cronos Group have more cash on hand than most other cannabis companies, but are they buys?

Aurora Cannabis spiked late Wednesday after the Canadian pot producer announced an acquisition to enter the U.S. retail CBD market for the first time.

Q1 2020 Cronos Group Inc Earnings Call

Shares of several top Canadian cannabis producers soared today after one of their peers, Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB), reported better-than-expected fiscal 2020 third-quarter revenue growth after the market closed on Thursday. Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) stock was up 13.4% as of 3:38 p.m. EDT on Friday, while shares of Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON) and OrganiGram Holdings (NASDAQ: OGI) were up 10.3% and 13.5%, respectively. Investors now appear to be increasingly optimistic that the rest of the Canadian cannabis industry could also enjoy a turn for the better after a challenging period following Aurora's surprisingly positive results.

Welcome to the Cannabis Countdown. In This Week's Edition, We Recap and Countdown the Top 10 Marijuana and Psychedelic Stock News Stories for the Week of May 18th - 24th, 2020.Without further ado, let's get started.* Yahoo Finance readers, please click here to view full article.10\. FULLY UPDATED - These 2 Companies Could Be Turning LSD, Magic Mushrooms, Ketamine and MDMA into the Next Blockbuster DrugsInvestors Who Missed the Last Bull Market in Weed Stocks or Got in Too Late Should Start Researching the "Shroom Boom" ImmediatelyEarly cannabis investors and business minds are positioning themselves in the world of Psychedelic Medicine as the flow of smart money hits the market. Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) founder Bruce Linton and Billionaire "Mr. Wonderful" Kevin O'Leary from Shark Tank, are going all-in on what they think is a much bigger opportunity than the Cannabis Boom.Backed by popular demand, we have fully updated this article, which we originally published on 03/28/2020 to reflect the many significant developments that have occurred in the Psychedelics space over the past two months. Within a matter of hours, after the original version was released, it quickly went viral becoming our most viewed article off all-time within two days. Because the article is still experiencing very high traffic, we felt it was necessary to fully update it so our readers could have access to the most up to date information possible. In our opinion, the newly updated version is even better than the original so we highly suggest giving it a read if you're interested in learning about Psychedelic Medicine and the top investment opportunities in the sector.READ FULL SHROOM BOOM ARTICLE9\. Cannabis Boom 2.0: Here's Why 'Some Pot Stocks' Are Soaring Like We Haven't Seen Since 2018While the 1.5 Year Cannabis Correction Tested the Nerve of Investors, it Also Exposed the Weak Companies and Similar to the Dot-Com Bubble, Separated the Winners from the LosersCannabis Stocks are back in vogue following a lengthy bear market, which began at the same time Canada legalized adult-use marijuana in October 2018. With many of the losers of the 'Canadian Cannabis Bubble' now gone or close to it, the field has been narrowed down creating a more attractive environment for the winners to flourish and their share prices to continue rising. Check out our full list of winners and losers from the Cannabis Boom 1.0. This list of Pot Stocks will help investors focus their attention on the companies with the highest chance to succeed during the new Cannabis Boom 2.0, which is taking place in the world's largest marijuana market.READ FULL CANNABIS BOOM 2.0 ARTICLE8\. Psychedelic Stocks May Be One of the Most Undervalued Opportunities, Here's How to Play the Thriving New SectorSurging Investor Demand Continues to Be Concentrated into a Limited Number of Psychedelic StocksAs the Psychedelics industry continues to blossom, the current circumstances have created a situation for investors that has enormous potential upside. As more companies attempt to enter the burgeoning space, investors would be wise to focus their investment dollars on the proven sector leaders such as Champignon Brands (OTCQB: SHRMF) and MindMed (OTCQB: MMEDF).READ FULL PSYCHEDELIC STOCKS ARTICLE7\. These 2 Pot Stocks Have the Most Cash to Weather the DownturnCanopy and Cronos Have More Cash on Hand Than Most Other Cannabis Companies, But Are They Buys?Many marijuana companies have little by way of cash on hand to fund their operations, and many of them will have to take on additional debt -- or find ways to reduce their expenses -- to survive. Fortunately, some pot companies have a boatload of cash on their balance sheets. Let's look at two of these companies: Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC) and Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON).READ FULL CANNABIS CASH ARTICLE6\. It's Time to Revisit Psychedelic Drugs That Are Proving Useful for HealthPsychedelic Drugs May Be Banned Around the World at the Moment, But That May Not Be the Case for Much LongerAs we learn more about how useful such treatments can be, it's opening a wide range of opportunities for the proven industry leaders like Champignon Brands (OTCQB: SHRMF) and Mind medicine MindMed (OTC: MMEDF). We're now seeing a wide range of other companies like The Yield Growth Corp. (CSE: BOSS), NewLeaf Brands (CSE: NLB), Pharmadrug Inc. (CSE: BUZZ), Numinus Wellness Inc. (TSXV: NUMI) enter the potential lucrative psychedelics space looking for a piece of the action.READ FULL PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE ARTICLE5\. Cronos Group Can "Dominate" the American CBD Market: Raymond JamesDespite Ongoing Murkiness in the U.S. CBD Market Stocks Like Cronos Should Get a Boost From Aurora Cannabis' Recent Breakthrough CBD DealThat's according to analyst Rahul Sarugaser from Raymond James who reviewed the current state of affairs in a recent update to clients where he reiterated his "Market Perform 3" rating for Cronos Group (NASDAQ: CRON). Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) made a splash this week with the purchase of U.S. CBD company Reliva.READ FULL CRONOS GROUP ARTICLE4\. Champignon Brands Sponsors Group Focused on Medical Psilocybin Access Aimed at Palliative Cancer PatientsThe TheraPsil Coalition Will Start in 2020 Seeking Legal Access to Psilocybin for British Columbians With a Palliative Diagnosis and Psychological DistressChampignon Brands (CSE: SHRM) announced they have sponsored TheraPsil, a BC-based non-profit coalition of healthcare professionals, policy-makers and community leaders seeking legal access to psilocybin for British Columbians with a palliative diagnosis and psychological distressREAD FULL CHAMPIGNON BRANDS ARTICLE3\. Trulieve Hits Milestone, Opens 50th -- And Largest -- U.S. DispensaryAccording to Trulieve, the Newly Opened Dispensary is Located in Daytona Beach, Bringing the Company's Total Stores in Florida to 48Trulieve (OTCQX: TCNNF) has cut the ribbon on its latest store, marking its 50th retail location. Located at 812 West International Speedway Boulevard, Trulieve's newest location is one of the company's largest. It spans about 6,000 square feet, and includes about 1,500 square feet of showroom space and 14 selling points.READ FULL TRULIEVE ARTICLE2\. Aurora Cannabis to Enter U.S. Market with Million of Acquisition of CBD Brand RelivaAurora Says it's Entering the U.S. Market by Acquiring Hemp-Based Cannabidiol Company RelivaAurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) will acquire all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Reliva, while Reliva members will receive roughly US$40 million in Aurora's common shares.READ FULL AURORA CANNABIS ARTICLE1\. 3 Stocks to Buy for Psychedelic ProfitsBuy These Psychedelic Stocks to Get in on an Increasingly Popular Trend in HealthcarePsychedelic research is clearly gaining traction, and investors should take note. Here are three top Psychedelic Stocks to buy now: 1. Champignon Brands (OTCQB: SHRMF) 2. MindMed (OTCQB: MMEDF) 3. Revive Therapeutics (OTCPK: RVVTF)READ FULL PSYCHEDELIC STOCKS ARTICLEPhoto by Roberto Valdivia on UnsplashSee more from Benzinga * Cannabis Countdown: Top 10 Marijuana And Psychedelics Industry News Stories Of The Week * Cannabis Countdown: Top 10 Marijuana And Psychedelic Stock News Stories Of The Week * Cannabis Countdown: Top 10 Marijuana And Psychedelics Industry News Stories Of The Week(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Over the last 20 months, they have been impacted by valuation issues, a thriving black market, lower than expected demand, high inventory levels, mounting losses, health issues from the vaping scandals, and much more. The investor euphoria that surrounded cannabis stocks when Canada legalized marijuana for recreational use seems like a distant dream. The marijuana sector is still at a nascent stage and is expected to grow at a rapid pace in the upcoming decade.

Due to the continued public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, to mitigate risks to the health and safety of our communities, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders, Cronos Group will be conducting the meeting in a virtual-only format via live audio webcast. Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will have an equal opportunity to participate in the 2020 Annual and Special Meeting online regardless of their geographic location, including a chance to ask questions and vote. The Company’s proxy statement describing the formal business to be conducted at the meeting and containing detailed instructions about how to participate in the meeting is available on the Investors section of the Company’s website at https://ir.thecronosgroup.com/investor-relations.

Over a year after Aurora Cannabis Inc. executives started publicly talking about making a push into the U.S. market, the company has made its move: the $40 million all-stock purchase of a cannabidiol maker called Reliva.