5/7/2026

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Trulieve Cannabis Corporation First Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. My name is Chloe, and I will be your conference operator today. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I would now like to introduce your host for today's conference, Christine Hersey, Chief Corporate Affairs and Strategy Officer for Trulieve. You may begin.

speaker
Christine Hersey
Chief Corporate Affairs and Strategy Officer

Thank you. Good morning, and thank you for joining us. During today's call, Kim Rivers, Chief Executive Officer, and Jan Rees, Chief Financial Officer, will deliver prepared remarks on the financial performance and outlook for TrueLeave. Following the prepared remarks, we will open the call to questions. This morning, we reported first quarter 2026 results. A copy of our earnings press release and PowerPoint presentation may be found on the investor relations section of our website www.trueleave.com. An archived version of today's conference call will be available on our website later today. As a reminder, statements made during this call that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements, and these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical results or from our forecast including the risks and uncertainties described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Item 1A, risk factors of the company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as well as our periodic quarterly filings. Although the company may voluntarily do so from time to time, it undertakes no commitment to update or revise these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. During the call, management will also discuss certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with the United States generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP. We generally refer to these as non-GAAP financial measures. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for TRULY's financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is available in our earnings press release that is an exhibit to our current report on Form 8K that we furnished to the SEC today and can be found in the investor relations section of our website. Lastly, At times during our prepared remarks or responses to your questions, we may offer metrics to provide greater insight into the dynamics of our business or our financial results. Please be advised that we may or may not continue to provide these additional details in the future. I'll now turn the call over to our CEO, Kim Rivers.

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Thank you, Christine. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. This is an incredibly exciting time for the cannabis industry. President Trump delivered on his promise to address cannabis reform with two decisive actions. First, Attorney General Todd Blanch reclassified medical marijuana to Schedule III, effective immediately. Second, A.J. Blanch announced the continuation of the formal rulemaking process to more broadly reclassify marijuana. We applaud President Trump and his administration for this historic shift in federal policy that more closely aligns with scientific evidence, current medical practice, and state laws. These developments have major positive implications for Trulieve. First, reclassifying medical marijuana to Schedule III acknowledges the medical benefits of marijuana and eases restrictions on research. Robust scientific research can now be conducted using medical marijuana that Americans buy in dispensaries every day. This research can help delineate which doses and form factors are most likely to benefit patient groups with specific indications and symptoms. Second, state licensed operators can register with the Drug Enforcement Agency to manufacture, distribute, and dispense medical marijuana. For Trulieve, this is important because the majority of our business serves medical patients. Today, we have 206 dispensaries supported by over 3.5 million square feet of production capacity in four states that are strictly medical marijuana operations. As outlined in the final order by DOJ, state licensed operators have 60 days to apply for registration, and those applications are deemed approved in the interim period until final registration. We have already applied to register our 206 dispensaries in medical-only markets. We would like to thank Attorney General Blanch and his team for having the registration portal launched quickly. Third, following the reclassification of medical marijuana, the Treasury Department announced that state-licensed medical marijuana businesses are able to deduct ordinary expenses as medical marijuana is no longer subject to the punitive 280E tax burden. This change applies to the current tax year and is reflected in our first quarter results. We look forward to additional guidance from the Treasury Department and appreciate the clarity provided on this issue. Finally, the formal process to address the classification of marijuana more broadly has resumed with a new hearing scheduled to begin on June 29th and conclude no later than July 15th. Given the expedited timeline and significant body of data that has already been examined, we are optimistic that marijuana rescheduling can be finalized this year. We expect that reclassification to Schedule III will remove the 280E tax burden from non-medical operations. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the commitment by the administration to definitively reschedule marijuana. Given all of these changes, we are actively exploring options for Trulieve to uplift to a major U.S. exchange and address the outstanding uncertain tax position. We remain confident in our overall strategy and our ability to further solidify our position as an industry leader. Turning now to our first quarter results. Our team continues to deliver stellar financial and operational performance with industry-leading margins and robust cash generation underpinned by outstanding customer retention. First quarter revenue of $287 million was in line with guidance and seasonal trends. First quarter growth margin of 59% reflects operational efficiencies, low production costs, and our disciplined approach to promotional activity. Adjusted EBITDA of $100 million, or 35% margin, was driven by expense control in our core business. During the quarter, we raised $60 million in senior notes and generated $56 million in operating cash flow. both of which contributed to our quarter end cash balance of $353 million. First quarter retail results were in line with seasonal patterns as traffic dipped slightly and average basket size was flat compared to the fourth quarter. Our team did a phenomenal job managing through the post-holiday period in January to meet customers where they are while maintaining margins. Traffic improved in March, rebounding to the same traffic level as December. Holiday performance on 4-20 was strong, with traffic and units up 40% and 26% respectively compared to last year. Record wholesale revenue increased 37% compared to last year, reaching $22 million due to strength in Maryland and Pennsylvania. In Ohio, our production partner realized higher sales of branded products, including Modern Flower and Roll One. While wholesale demand remains strong, our team continues to carefully balance growth and counterparty risk. Turning now to our key initiatives this year, we are concentrating efforts in four strategic areas. One, expanding access to cannabis. Two, investing in growth initiatives. Three, growing our loyal customer base. And four, elevating our branded product portfolio. I'll begin with expanding access to cannabis, which is a critical part of our mission. For over a decade, Trulieve has been working tirelessly to open up markets, bring more products to patients, and reduce the stigma associated with cannabis. Advocacy efforts at federal, state, and local levels highlight the many benefits of regulated cannabis to key stakeholders. Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule 3 sends a powerful signal that reform is achievable, setting the stage for additional measures. The majority of Americans favor common-sense cannabis reform, and we look forward to supporting these efforts. In Texas, Trulieve was granted a conditional license for the Texas Compassionate Youth Program, or TCAP, medical marijuana program. Our team has submitted due diligence materials and is working to finalize the license. A recent poll by Fabrizio Lee and Associates showed that while the majority of Texans approve having medical marijuana available in the state, only 11% of those surveyed were aware of the TCAP program. We believe there is a meaningful opportunity to raise awareness and provide greater access for patients in need. With over 145,000 patients today, telehealth consultations for patients in satellite pickup locations The TCAP program is poised for meaningful growth over the next few years. We look forward to contributing to the success of the program with education and high-quality products. In Georgia, legislation to expand the medical cannabis program is expected to be signed by Governor Kemp or automatically commence next week. The medical cannabis program expansion includes new qualifying conditions such as HIV, IBS, and lupus, and new form factors including vapes. Rulemaking to allow sale of new products could be completed as early as the fourth quarter of this year. The patient count in Georgia recently passed 35,000, and we have applied to open one additional dispensary to meet growing demand. Given the reclassification of medical marijuana to Schedule 3, we are hopeful that sales of approved medical marijuana products through independent pharmacies in Georgia will resume. As a reminder, Georgia was the first state to allow licensed independent pharmacies to dispense medical cannabis to registered patients. truly supplied cannabis products to pharmacies for a short period until the DEA required the pharmacies to cease dispensation. With rescheduling and our applications for DEA registration, we are hopeful that pharmacies may again dispense medical cannabis products in the future. Alongside efforts to expand access to cannabis, we are investing in growth initiatives that align with our long-term objectives to build a leading cannabis company. Investments this year include retail and production upgrades and expansion in our existing footprint, new market expansion in Texas, and technology to advance hyper-personalization of customer messaging. Year-to-date, we have opened seven new retail dispensaries in Florida and refreshed or remodeled 10 locations. In Texas, we began our initial investment, breaking ground on our production campus. Pending regulatory approvals, we plan to quickly launch production and retail operations to serve patients across the Lone Star State. Alongside expansion within our existing markets, we are actively evaluating potential acquisition opportunities. Investment in technology that enables more sophisticated hyper-personalization and targeted outreach kicked off in the first quarter. During our last call, we introduced Project Hyper, a multi-year project that upgrades our messaging capabilities by using AI to automate segmentation, decisioning, and execution to accelerate speed to market and real-time engagement. Project Hyper is well underway, and we expect to realize initial benefits through greater efficiency as soon as the fourth quarter of this year. Investments in our retail network, production sites, and technology provide competitive advantages today while setting the stage for future growth in new and existing markets. While expanding access and investing in growth initiatives are critical to long-term success, we are growing our loyal customer base through engagement, high-quality products, and world-class service. Engagement through paid media, physician engagement, and local community efforts continues to attract new patients and customers to Trulieve. Across our markets, we are allocating resources to reach new customers in digital and real-world environments. These efforts continue to gain momentum and drive store traffic as we make deeper connections in the markets we serve. Last year, we launched a mobile app in Florida, providing users with one centralized place for browsing, deals, reservation, and rewards. Since launch, over 150,000 customers downloaded the app, leading to 7 million user sessions. We plan to launch the app in Arizona later this year. In the first quarter, our rewards program surpassed 1 million members, reaching this major milestone just two years after initial launch. Rewards members continue to spend on average 2.4 times more than non-members, comprising 78% of first quarter transactions. We plan to introduce program tiers starting this month with Florida. This program enhancement enables greater rewards for customers who spend more, including exclusive offers, products, and events. Segmentation and personalized messaging based on purchase behavior, browsing activity, engagement history, and preferred communication channels enables more effective outreach and drives stronger results. We utilize segmentation today and are adding functionality based on more granular behavior-driven category preferences to yield higher conversion rates while improving marketing efficiency. Sending an appropriate message in the right channel at the right time to provide customers with information they care about reinforces customer satisfaction and retention. First quarter retention remains strong at 69% company-wide with 78% retention in medical-only markets. Serving customers with high-quality branded products is an essential ingredient to lasting success. In the first quarter, we sold over 12 million branded product units. In-house brands Modern Flower and Roll1 continue to resonate with customers, representing 45% of the branded products sold. Our Roll1 clutch all-in-one vape was recently launched in five new markets. The customer feedback for this compact, discreet vape has been fantastic. and unit sales are gaining momentum. In the flower category, we recently launched Legacy by Cultivar, premium quality craft flower. New original strains represent the culmination of years of work to select, refine, and nurture genetics from seed as part of our in-house breeding program. We will continue to identify white space in our branded product portfolio and the markets we serve as we develop and launch innovative new products. In summary, we are making demonstrable progress in all of our strategic priorities. As we approach mid-year, our team is dialed in and executing on our plan. With that, I'd like to turn the call over to our CFO, Jan Rees. Please go ahead.

speaker
Jan Rees
Chief Financial Officer

Good morning, and thank you, Kim. First quarter revenue was $287 million in line with guidance. New store openings, adult use momentum in Ohio, and wholesale growth were offset by ongoing pricing pressure and software consumer wallet trends. First quarter gross profit totaled 170 million, or 59% margin. Gross margin strength reflects economies of scale, operational efficiencies across our platform, and disciplined promotional management. We expect quarterly gross margin to vary based on product market mix, inventory sell-through, promotional activity, and idle capacity costs. First quarter SG&A was 105 million, or 37%, of revenue compared to 40% last year, driven by reduced operating expenses and lower campaign support. Adjusted SG&A at 31% of revenue was comparable to last year. First quarter net income was 2 million or one cent earnings per share, excluding non-recurring items, first quarter net income would have been 20 million or 10 cents per share. First quarter adjusted EBITDA was 100 million, representing a 35% margin and reflecting expense leverage across our core operations. Turning now to our tax strategy. As a reminder, we filed amended returns challenging the applicability of Section 280E to our business, and our balance sheet includes an uncertain tax position covering 2019 to the present. The UTP includes 280E tax liability refunds received from the IRS totaling more than $114 million and accrued interest. As Kim alluded to earlier, the first quarter income tax expense applies the normal tax rate. It does not include 280E tax liabilities for the first quarter. The increase in our uncertain tax position includes $15 million in interest on the UTP and $11 million of overpayments used to cover ordinary taxes. We remain confident in our position and our ability to address outstanding UTP. Moving on to the balance sheet. and cash flow. We ended the quarter with $353 million in cash and $290 million in debt. The first quarter operating cash flow was $56 million, capital expenditure was $13 million, and free cash flow totaled $42 million. Turning to our outlook, we expect second quarter revenue to increase by low single-digit percentage sequentially. Gross margin is expected to fluctuate quarter to quarter, but remain broadly in line with our recent performance. Consumer trends will influence retail results and margin. For full year 2026, we anticipate operating cash flow of at least $250 million and capital expenditure up to $85 million. Pending regulatory approvals, we may accelerate investment in taxes. We may update our outlook as regulatory and market catalysts evolve. With that, I turn the call back over to Kim.

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Thanks, Jan. Marijuana rescheduling is the first major policy shift in U.S. history. Rescheduling accomplishes several historic goals. First, it acknowledges the medical value of cannabis. Reducing the stigma on cannabis frees patients to more readily access needed medicine. Second, it removes barriers to research. Enabling critical research provides information and tools for physicians to effectively treat patients. Finally, it eliminates the punitive tax burden of 280E. Removing the tax burden reduces financial pressure on state legal operators, opening up pathways for new investments and greater conversion into a regulated marketplace. We applaud the Trump administration for delivering on its promise to address common sense cannabis reform, an issue that the vast majority of Americans agree is long overdue. We believe that rescheduling is the first major domino to fall, paving the way for broader reform efforts. While federal policy advances, state adoption and expansion of cannabis programs continues every year. Consumers benefit from greater choice and access to the products they rely on. Over the past decade, Trulieve has been on the forefront of change, opening new markets and providing millions of customers with access to safe, tested products in a normalized retail environment. This year, we are especially focused on expanding access in Georgia and Texas. Bolstered by our cash position, scaled platform, and laser focus on serving customers, we are ready to maximize the opportunities ahead. Trulieve grows one customer at a time, setting the bar for today and the decades to come. Thank you for joining us, and as I always say, onward.

speaker
Christine Hersey
Chief Corporate Affairs and Strategy Officer

At this time, Kim Rivers and Jan Rees will be available to answer any questions. Operator, please open up the call for questions.

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star then 1 on your touchtone phone. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. If at any time your question has been addressed and you would like to withdraw your question, please press star then 2. At this time, we will pause momentarily to assemble our roster. The first question today comes from Lou Cannon with Canaccord Genuity. Please go ahead.

speaker
Lou Cannon
Analyst, Canaccord Genuity

Thanks. Good morning, everyone. Kim, I wanted to go back to, in your prepared remarks, you talked about how you're actively exploring options when it comes to uplisting. I'm just curious to know what specific milestones are you looking for here, and then potentially what's your base case for when you might expect that an uplisting could occur?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, good morning, Luke. What I would tell you is that, as we said in the prepared remarks, we're actively pursuing all opportunities at the moment. We are not at this time prepared to go into additional details, but I would say stay tuned and, you know, I would say Trulieve is, I think we have a track record of pushing hard and moving as fast as possible.

speaker
Lou Cannon
Analyst, Canaccord Genuity

Great. And then secondly, something else that you called out was that you're actively evaluating acquisition opportunities. I'm curious to know, when it comes to overall deal flow, now that the news on rescheduling has landed and presumably other operators in the industry are more interested in transacting, have you seen deal flow pick up? And then are the multiples that you're seeing deals occur at, is it more or less in line with expectations?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

So we certainly are seeing deal flow pick up for sure, and valuations remain all over the place. So it's very dependent, obviously, on sophistication level, size, position of the company, private versus public, et cetera. So variability has not necessarily shifted, but I would say deal flow certainly has increased.

speaker
Lou Cannon
Analyst, Canaccord Genuity

Got it. Great quarter. Thank you very much. Thanks.

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

Next question comes from Aaron Gray with Alliance Global Partners. You may go ahead.

speaker
Aaron Gray
Analyst, Alliance Global Partners

All right. Thank you very much for the questions today. You know, one thing I want to talk about is wholesale. You know, it's been a nice couple quarters for you guys, positive momentum. And while you've under-indexed relatives to some others in terms of the wholesale segment, you know, can you speak to some of the opportunities you're seeing there and how we should expect it to trend in the near to medium term?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Sure. Very, very proud of our wholesale team and our performance. Wholesale for us is certainly part of our strategic mix, but I would say secondary right behind our primary strategy of branded products through branded retail. That being said, after establishing a presence in a market such as, for example, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Ohio, where we have great penetration of our internal brands in our stores. We more recently have embraced the opportunity to take that brand affinity and expand it out into the wholesale channel in a more robust way. And we're seeing fantastic results, particularly around our core brands, such as Modern Flower, and Roll 1. And, you know, we mentioned on the call as an example of that, you know, the Roll 1 clutch has been a huge seller for us across both, again, internal branded retail and also on the wholesale channel. So we see it certainly as a bit of a growth opportunity for us, Aaron, and are, I think, you know, continuing to add doors and increase penetration, shelf penetration of existing doors quarter over quarter.

speaker
Aaron Gray
Analyst, Alliance Global Partners

Okay, great. Thanks for the color. Second question for me, just in terms of the potential hemp ban coming to fruition in November, how do you think about potential positive impacts for the domestic market as well as specifically for Florida? I know Florida is just a medical market today, but do you feel like there could be a big benefit there and potential things that you could do to set up there? Thank you.

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Sure. You know, we certainly see, you know, an opportunity of conversion from, you know, that broadly unregulated market and converted into a more regulated marketplace. We believe that that opportunity is significant in both Florida and Texas, actually, I think is another market that obviously will be entering and could the timing pair nicely with with the expansion of retail locations and the program in Texas alongside Central Band being more fully implemented. As you mentioned, the market size for hemp in Florida, in particular in Texas, is very large. And so even if you were to take a fraction of those customers and convert them into the regulated medical programs, it could be meaningful for sure. In terms of advanced work, we continue to focus on education. We mentioned in our prepared remarks launching activities where we're meeting customers where they are both digitally and physically. We refer to that as our ground game, and we have ramped that in a meaningful way in Florida, specifically being on the ground and in front of folks, having conversations at different events and in different venues. where folks may be interested in learning about the regulated program. And so that is laying track for, you know, for conversion opportunities ahead of, again, what could be a meaningful shift within the Florida landscape.

speaker
Aaron Gray
Analyst, Alliance Global Partners

Okay, great. Thanks for the detail there. I'll go and jump back in the queue.

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

Yes. The next question comes from Bill Kirk with Roth Capital Partners. Please go ahead.

speaker
Bill Kirk
Analyst, Roth Capital Partners

Good morning, everybody. Kim, first, thank you for your advocacy and your efforts to advance the industry. Where I wanted to start is on the retrospective relief. In particular, how far back do you think that could capture, and when do you think we get the guidance on that from Treasury and IRS? And I'm asking it in the context of how important that decision will be for determining how you make investments or how it could even impact the M&A that you may be considering?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Sure. So, you know, I think that the administration was, you know, very coordinated in the announcements that happened around rescheduling. You know, the fact that Treasury immediately issued that press release with some general color, I think, was you know, indicative of the expectation for them that's been set for them to move quickly. I think it's certainly helpful that in the order from the Attorney General, there was specific language around retroactivity. But, you know, I would tell you that that's all the indication that I have that I would expect this to be something that is front and center. for Treasury and that we should be, you know, getting certainly additional guidance as it relates to the allocation metrics, right, the allocation process that they alluded to in the press release for this year and future years. And then as far as retroactivity, I would hope that that is a fast follow. For us, we look at this as a when, not an if at this point, with very clear brackets around previous years and previous years' exposure. And as many folks know, and just as a reminder, have had a position as it relates to 280E for quite some time now and received refunds from the IRS and I believe are in a very good position to have a resolution as it relates to those outstanding years, again, here in the near term. I don't have any specific dates. I can just say that it, again, appears that there's a concerted effort to have a broad resolution to the taxes issue.

speaker
Bill Kirk
Analyst, Roth Capital Partners

Thank you. And as a follow-up, In the final order, you know, the Attorney General talks about the possibility of exports. So, I guess, how would you rank your excitement for that potential? And what would it take for you to ramp up supply at, I would assume, Jefferson County, if you decided that was an opportunity worth pursuing?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Yeah. So, you know, our legal counsel, as it relates to the export, the import-export portion of the treaty, that is a requirement under under the treaty pathway, if you will. I'm not sure yet, and I think we're awaiting additional guidance and clarity from the DEA as it relates to that being any sort of an automatic green light for international exports. And I think there's a little bit of conversation that needs to be had there given the tension between the fact that the program was set up specifically in reference to and incorporating the state structures. And obviously there's no state structure that would allow for any exportation. So I think there's some additional, there's certainly some additional, you know, kind of regulatory work to be done. be done there. Not to say that it's not an exciting prospect. With respect to international opportunity for Trulieve, we are very focused, as we said in our prepared remarks, on expanding and expansion within the U.S. We believe that there's incredible opportunity in front of us. Texas is a very large market, which we believe can be the size or potentially even bigger than The Florida market, Georgia, you know, I think we're very encouraged with conversations with the regulators there and the focus on being able to turn back on the independent pharmacy model in Georgia. There were 140-something pharmacies who were registered prior to the DEA turning that program off, and so I do think that there is a very real and near-term pathway for expansion in Georgia as well. So, you know, with respect to supply, we can, well, first of all, JustCo is fully utilized. That is the facility that supplies our primary operations in Florida. We do have other capacity that we could certainly bring online if there was a meaningful opportunity. But again, right now, I think first there would need to be some significant regulatory clarity and also, again, I would need to be convinced that the opportunities here within the U.S. are less attractive than perhaps international, and I'm not there yet.

speaker
Bill Kirk
Analyst, Roth Capital Partners

Thank you. Again, I'll pass it along.

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

All right. Thank you.

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

Next question comes from Russell Stanley with Beacon Securities. Please go ahead.

speaker
Russell Stanley
Analyst, Beacon Securities

Good morning, and thanks for the question. Maybe following up on Georgia and the potential to restart that pharmacy model, can you elaborate, I guess, on what the next steps are? Do you need a specific DEA approvals? What other milestones do you need in order to restart that?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Sure. So, our understanding is that the GMCC is in active conversation with the DEA so that they can get comfortable, that they can advise these independent pharmacies that they have the green light to go ahead and begin selling. We have let the GMCC know that we have our you know, our dispensary DEA registrations. Actually, yesterday, the DEA opened the portal to begin registering manufacturing, the manufacturing registrations, which cover, it's kind of a universal registration under the DEA, so that will cover cultivation, processing, distribution. Unfortunately, yesterday, there was some trouble on the site, but expect that to get worked out in short order And so once we have those DEA license numbers, we plan to then contact the GMCC again, let them know that we're ready to go, and that it then becomes a DEA to DEA prospect. We're also encouraging those independent pharmacies to also register as a dispensary, right, under the specific marijuana portal with the DEA. And I think once those steps are complete, Russ, we're in good shape to restart that aspect of the program.

speaker
Russell Stanley
Analyst, Beacon Securities

That's great. That's really exciting. Maybe just my second question is just around price compression. We've heard varying degrees of optimism from some of your peers, and I'm wondering what you're seeing in that regard in your core markets. Are you seeing any deceleration at this point and your thoughts on that environment. Thank you.

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Sure. So, you know, what I would tell you is that we are starting to see stabilization in basket and, you know, after, you know, it's a fairly volatile year in 2025 post-election. Last year it was, there was just a lot of variability as it relates to consumer behavior. You know, in the quarter, typical for the quarter, we saw, you know, traffic kind of relatively flat on a year-over-year basis, a little bit down on a sequential basis, which is normal. But I think importantly, you know, the basket from Q4 to Q1 has stabilized significantly. it was down a bit year over year. But again, that stability that we've seen kind of also coming into Q2 is a good sign that we're not seeing, again, that broad volatility that we saw throughout 2025. So, you know, I think, again, Q1 in line with seasonal trends, we were a little soft in January and February, which is normal, and then rebounded into the back half of the quarter. And in March, you know, exited with traffic back to Q4 levels. So I think, you know, again, things are in the process. It appears to be normalizing. But of course, you know, we still are in a bit of a wait and see. We need a couple of, you know, consecutive quarters before we kind of call it. But we are starting to see early signs of stabilization.

speaker
Russell Stanley
Analyst, Beacon Securities

That's great. Thanks for the color. Congrats on the quarter. I'll get back in the queue. Thanks.

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

Again, if you have a question, please press star then one. The next question comes from Brenna Cunnington with ATB Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

speaker
Brenna Cunnington
Analyst, ATB Capital Markets

Hi, all. Thanks for taking our questions and congrats on the quarter. So just continuing on with the medical cannabis rescheduling theme and the DEA registration, do you think that there's a path for potentially shipping medical cannabis products between DEA registered entities in different states?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, I would tell you that I think that it's a little early to tell as it relates to that. I mean, again, I think that the... You know, the path that was created, I do think that that's the words that are being used by the administration as well as it relates to this new Schedule III pathway for state-licensed operators, again, folds in the state-specific requirements. under the state programs. And so, I think that likely there would need to be changes to the state programs prior to allowing any type of, you know, state by state activity, which is of course not allowed currently under any of those state programs. That would be my current read. Again, you know, certainly, would look forward to additional commentary and guidance from the DEA as things evolve here.

speaker
Brenna Cunnington
Analyst, ATB Capital Markets

Okay, understood. And then just looking at the balance sheet, so considering the significant amount of free cash flow that you're generating, and now with 280E being gone from the medical side, which is by far the majority of your business, does that potentially increase your appetite for share buybacks?

speaker
Kim Rivers
Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, I mean, I think that we are absolutely in an evaluation period at this point in time, I would say, right? There are a lot of moving parts, as we indicated, and a lot of different initiatives that we're reviewing, including, you know, potential M&A, and then obviously excited about exploring opportunities to, you know, to get on, you know, a U.S. exchange. So I think that, you know, for us, again, we want to make sure that we have a clear picture of the landscape, but it's something that the board is, you know, continues to evaluate.

speaker
Brenna Cunnington
Analyst, ATB Capital Markets

All right. Thanks for the cover. I'll jump back in the queue. Great.

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the call back to Christine Hersey for closing remarks.

speaker
Christine Hersey
Chief Corporate Affairs and Strategy Officer

Thanks, everyone, for your time today. We look forward to sharing additional updates during our next earnings call. Thanks again, and have a great day.

speaker
Chloe
Conference Operator

The conference is now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

Disclaimer

This conference call transcript was computer generated and almost certianly contains errors. This transcript is provided for information purposes only.EarningsCall, LLC makes no representation about the accuracy of the aforementioned transcript, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the information provided by the transcript.

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