SNDL Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial and Operational Results

SNDL Inc. reported its financial and operational results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023. All financial information in this press release is reported in millions of Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. SNDL has also posted a supplemental investor presentation and shareholder letter on its website, found at https://sndl.com.

The Company will hold a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. MDT) on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The conference call details can be found below.

Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial and Operational Highlights

• Record net revenue for 2023 of $909.0 million compared to $712.2 million in 2022, an increase of 28%. Net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $248.5 million, compared to $240.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 3%, with sequential growth in the Cannabis Retail and Cannabis Operations segments.
• Gross profit grew to a record $190.4 million, or 21% of sales, for 2023, compared to $140.4 million, or 20% of sales, in the previous year, representing an increase of 36%. Record gross profit of $57.3 million, or 23% of sales, for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $43.6 million, or 18% of sales, in the fourth quarter of 2022. This improvement underscores the benefit of our supply chain optimization strategy, including the closure of the Olds, Alberta cultivation facility in October 2023.
• Cash flow was negative $84.5 million in 2023, compared to negative $278.7 million, a 70% year-over-year improvement. In the fourth quarter of 2023, cash flow was negative $6.9 million, compared to negative $11.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 42% improvement. SNDL achieved positive cash flow in the second half of 2023, totaling $9.6 million.
• Positive free cash flow¹ achieved in the second half of 2023, totaling $17.7 million. This achievement was marked by positive free cash flow of $16.3 million in the third quarter of 2023 and $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, despite the working capital build up in anticipation of the holiday season in the latter quarter.
• Operating income loss of $162.8 million for 2023, partly attributable to restructuring charges of $19.6 million and goodwill impairment of $29.0 million. This compares to a loss of $347.8 million in the previous year, marking a 53% improvement driven by revenue and margin expansion. Operating income loss of $84.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, including $13.3 million of restructuring cost and $29.0 million of goodwill impairment, compared to a loss of $154.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 45% improvement.
• Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations² was $29.2 million in 2023, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations loss of $15.8 million in the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $3.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations loss of $7.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 147% improvement.
• 2023 was a transformational year for SNDL, laying the groundwork for enhanced financial and operational performance in 2024 and beyond.
  • Acquired The Valens Company Inc. (“Valens”), creating a low-cost vertically integrated Canadian cannabis company.
  • Optimized the Cannabis Operations footprint by closing the Olds, Alberta facility and transitioning remaining cultivation activities to Atholville, New Brunswick, while consolidating manufacturing and processing activities in Kelowna, British Columbia.
  • Optimized and rationalized the Company’s cannabis brand and SKU portfolio.
  • Enhanced the proprietary data program in the Cannabis Retail segment, significantly boosting margin profits.
  • Enhanced the leadership team by appointing a new Chief Financial Officer and President of Cannabis, among other key senior roles.
• $766.7 million of unrestricted cash, marketable securities and investments and no outstanding debt, with $195 million of unrestricted cash at December 31, 2023. SNDL has not raised cash through share offerings since June 2021.

“2023 was a year of significant financial success for SNDL, including record-breaking revenue and gross profit, and the achievement of free cash flow in the second half of the year,” said Zach George, Chief Executive Officer of SNDL. “The generation of stabilized free cash flow continues to be a top priority for our team, and I am proud that we delivered on this stated objective during the last two quarters. This period was foundational as we acquired Valens, welcomed top-tier leaders and streamlined our balance sheet, positioning SNDL for improved performance in 2024 and beyond. In our Cannabis Operations, we undertook a comprehensive overhaul, establishing a solid foundation for future success. We refined our brand portfolio, optimized our operational footprint, and enhanced our procurement strategies, with early signs of a positive impact in 2024. We continued to build on the Liquor Retail segment’s stable base, focusing on strategies that enhance margins through our data program, improved inventory management, and emerging e-commerce program. We delivered record results in revenue, gross profit, and cash flow within our Cannabis Retail segment, driven by the expansion of both our owned portfolio and network data programs. We also announced the launch of SunStream USA Group through our joint venture partner, SunStream Bancorp Inc., highlighting our commitment to the U.S. market as a key catalyst for growth. Our consumer-centric approach and relentless focus on quality is the cornerstone of our strategy, supported by a strong balance sheet and improving operations. This approach lays the groundwork for a business positioned to create value for shareholders through high-quality unadjusted earnings and robust free cash flow.”