TFSA Investors: 1 Little-Known Stock That Has Doubled Like Shopify (TSX:SHOP) in 2019

Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) stock has outperformed so far in 2019, but this little known cannabis play has defied industry odds.

| More on:

High-growth stocks are best stashed in a TFSA, no matter how high they appreciate, investors don’t have to worry about potential capital gains taxes in the future.

Shopify’s (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) stock has been a darling for TFSA growth investors over the past few years due to its massive share price gains over the period which top 656% since three years ago.

Shares have always been expensive, but investors have continued to push the valuation up a 117% year-to-date as the market still sees further growth in the company’s client base, merchandise processing volumes and, most important, profitability potential as visionary Tobias “Tobi” Lütke and his team continue to innovate and build a more robust ecosystem around the business.

Revenue has continued to grow exponentially over the past three years to US$1.07 billion last year and the latest guidance is for invoices worth US$1.555 billion for a further 45% growth in the top line for 2019 and the company’s operating losses have been narrowing significantly and consistently over several recent quarters.

This firm is indeed a great tech business being built that strongly speaks to the dreams of every aspiring entrepreneur globally to open an online shop and get all supporting services inside the ever-expanding Shopify ecosystem to a growing merchant population that reached the one million mark recently.

That said, there’s this fast-growing cannabis related firm that has continued to impress against all industry odds as pears tumbled this year.

Valens GroWorks

Little-known Valens GroWorks Corp (TSXV:VGW) is the new leader in the provision of extraction services for cannabis and hemp biomass to the budding marijuana industry,

Valens stock has been one of the hottest tickers on the TSX’s junior and incubatory exchange platform, the TSX Venture. Price gains stand about 110% so far in 2019 and shares have returned a 734% investment return over the past three years.

Unlike other cannabis tickers that have largely tanked this year, Valens has continued to impress in 2019.

The company’s latest financial reports for the third quarter of 2019 showed a sequential revenue growth of 87% over the second quarter. Gross margins have expanded unbelievably from just 38% of revenue in February to 58% in May 2019  before hitting the 78% mark for the quarter ended in August this year.

This was a massive quarter-on-quarter improvement that enabled the company to report its first quarterly net profit this year (a big 36% net profit margin) and positive adjusted EBITDA margin of over 59%.

Business is expected to grow further into the next year after the company won a contract with Shoppers Drug Mart to be the third-party supplier of cannabis oil products to the pharmaceuticals retailer’s online stores.

Further, Valens is poised to partake in the cannabis 2.0 edibles market too. Management announced a new five-year deal with Iconic Brewing that will see the company manufacture over 2.5 million cannabis beverages.

The small firm has impressive profitability profiles and there’s growth potential here after a recent acquisition. My only concern is whether its current clients will not build their own extraction facilities to avoid outsourcing the value addition service in the long term, but the company is winning new long-term contracts from the best financed industry players right now.

It may be fine to assume that VGW may maintain its specialist niches for a long time to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Ftse Global All Cap Ex Canada Index Etf right now?

Before you buy stock in Vanguard Ftse Global All Cap Ex Canada Index Etf, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Ftse Global All Cap Ex Canada Index Etf wasn’t one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $21,345.77!*

Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 24 percentage points since 2013*.

See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 4/21/25

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Brian Paradza has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tom Gardner owns shares of Shopify. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Shopify and Shopify. Shopify is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.

Confidently Navigate Market Volatility: Claim Your Free Report!

Feeling uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market lately? You’re not alone. At The Motley Fool Canada, we get it — and we’re here to help. We’ve crafted an essential guide designed to help you through these uncertain times: "5-Step Checklist: How to Prepare Your Portfolio for Volatility."

Don't miss out on this opportunity for peace of mind. Just click below to learn how to receive your complimentary report today!

Get Our Free Report Today

More on Tech Stocks

Tech Stocks

The Smartest Tech Stock to Buy With $4,000 Right Now

Down almost 50% from all-time highs, this tech stock offers significant upside potential to shareholders in May 2025.

Read more »

Income and growth financial chart
Tech Stocks

2 Canadian Stocks That Could Turn $10,000 Into $100,000

If you're looking for growth and income, these two are some of the best options out there.

Read more »

money goes up and down in balance
Tech Stocks

1 Magnificent Tech Stock Down 27% to Buy and Hold Forever

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL) is starting to look severely undervalued after its latest drop!

Read more »

ways to boost income
Tech Stocks

1 Undervalued TSX Stock Down 18% to Buy and Hold

This TSX stock remains down but is due for a huge comeback for investors.

Read more »

grow money, wealth build
Tech Stocks

This TSX Stock Down 20% Could Triple Your Money by 2028

Down 20% from its 52-week high, this TSX stock is positioned to more than triple investor returns over the next…

Read more »

money goes up and down in balance
Tech Stocks

The Smartest Canadian Stock to Buy With $600 Right Now

The Canadian stock market has some big winners trading at discounted share prices, ripe for the taking, and here’s one…

Read more »

Muscles Drawn On Black board
Dividend Stocks

The Best Canadian Stocks to Buy Right Away With $4,000

Seeking strength from your investments? Then these are the three stocks to consider first.

Read more »

Investor wonders if it's safe to buy stocks now
Tech Stocks

Where Will BlackBerry Be in 4 Years?

With fresh partnerships and a tighter focus, BlackBerry is trying to lay the foundation for long-term growth.

Read more »