Buy Aurora Stock: How to Invest in ACB and What to Look Out For

Last Updated on March 28, 2019

As more and more studies show the health benefits of medical marijuana, countries across the globe are legalizing the production and sale of cannabis drugs. If you are looking to put some marijuana growth in your portfolio, one way is to invest in Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian medical marijuana company rapidly expanding into global markets.

This guide looks at how to assess Aurora’s future growth opportunities, value Aurora stock, and find the best Aurora stock brokers as the cannabis drugmaker seizes its first mover advantage.

Should you invest in Aurora?

If you want to invest in cannabis stocks, then look yonder to the Canadian stock exchanges. In the US, because cannabis production and sale are illegal activities at the Federal level, exchanges do not want to list cannabis stocks. In Canada where both medical and recreational marijuana usage are legal, the money is flowing to Aurora stock, and over 100 other listed cannabis stocks.

With 40 completed acquisitions, Aurora has become a global cannabis industry consolidator. The company is rapidly growing as it rolls smaller marijuana operations into its business spanning cannabis and oil production to retail sales.

Pros of buying Aurora stock

A giant footprint in the global medical marijuana market
The medical cannabis company has a 20 percent market share in the Canadian adult use market and sells to 22 other countries. As the use of medical marijuana is legalized in more markets, Aurora is well positioned with production and distribution networks across five continents.

New inroads into Latin America and South America
Aurora’s recent acquisitions of ICC Labs and Mexico’s Farmacias Magistrales SA makes it the medical cannabis market leader in Latin and South America.  Another way to play this lucrative market is to buy Canopy growth stock – another Canadian company acquiring cannabis companies south of the US.

A turnaround titan as an advisor
Billionaire partner in Trian Fund Management Nelson Peltz has agreed to help Aurora with its global expansion plans.The non-executive Chairman of The Wendy’s Company has an incentive in the option to buy 20 million Aurora shares to use his network as director of multinational corporations to assist Aurora’s global expansion.

Cons of buying Aurora stock

Production problems and the gray market
Capacity constraints in the Canadian market have hit cannabis stocks as some buyers have returned to the gray market to fill orders. ACB is increasing production of its top ranking cannabis strains. In derivatives, Aurora’s Radient facility in Edmonton is upgrading from 200 kilograms to 1,000 kilos per day of oil extraction to avoid another shortage.

Falling cannabis prices
In 2018, the Canadian government imposed a 10 percent retail tax on consumer and medical cannabis. Aurora is absorbing this tax rather than passing it onto the consumer. Meanwhile, the company is offsetting a decline in the price of cannabis and cannabis oil by expanding into international markets that pay a premium for cannabis products.

Legalization of medical marijuana
Though over 20 countries have legalized medical cannabis or cannabis-derived products, the medical cannabis market suffers from the ‘reefer madness’ stigma attached to recreational drug use. Aurora’s medical prescription members have increased sevenfold to 70,000 in a year, signifying changing attitudes towards medical marijuana and a reason to buy cannabis stocks focused on medical uses.

Aurora Stock: Current Prices and Summary

Are you ready to buy cannabis stocks but are not sure where to invest your money? ACB stock benefits from the reefer madness around recreational marijuana stocks, but as a medical marijuana company is valued as a life sciences stock. At 62, Aurora’s price-to-sales ratio (P/S) seems high compared to 6.6 for the pharmaceutical industry. The price reflects a forecasted flourishing of cannabis product sales as dried products and oils for medical use become legally available in more global markets. The cannabis drug maker has increased revenues at an average annual rate of 44 percent over the last six quarters, while improving earnings on an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) basis. Here’s the break away. Aurora’s average annual revenue growth rate is forecast to jump to 296 percent over the next two years. ACB is on track to reach positive EBITDA in 2019 and full profitability in 2021. Aurora Cannabis Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as ACB.

Aurora price chart

ACB price quote

Best Aurora Stock Brokers

Pros:	✅Social trading leader – copy trading available ✅CySec & FCA regulated ✅Great for beginners ✅ Crypto CFDs too ✅Paypal ✅Over 6 million users worldwide ✅Low fees ✅Large number of stocks available ✅ High order volume ✅ Quick verification	✅ Daytraders ✅ Demo account ✅ Low commissions ✅ Good quality news flow available ✅ Good set of analytical tools	✅Self-directed or management portfolio investment plans ✅Low trading fees ✅Robo-avisor features ✅ Great mobile platform ✅ High order volume
Cons:	❌Withdrawals can be slow	❌Limited order types ❌Not many deposit options ❌Customer service is not very effective ❌Unregulated broker	❌Experienced investors only ❌Account fees ❌High financing rates
Spreads	• Spreads from 2 pips • Flat fee on withdrawal	•Fees are built into spread. • Spread cost : 0.35 • Unregulated broker	• Spreads from 2 pips
Number of stocks available	4,000	2,500	1,500
Financing rate	8.9%	7.9%	13.9%
Visit broker:	Visit Broker	Visit Broker	Visit Broker

How to Buy Aurora Stock – Tutorial

How to buy Aurora stock on eToro

eToro has established itself as a reputable and trusted broker among traders since it launched in 2007. The leading online broker for social trading is regulated in several jurisdictions, including by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Popular features include social feeds, research and One Click Trading. If you are deciding whether to buy Aurora shares on eToro, review these pros and cons.

Pros

Cons

Start trading Aurora stock on eToro?

Step 1: Register your account

First, start by opening your eToro account here. Fill out your basic profile information. To determine your investor risk profile, you will be asked to answer a few short questions about your investment experience, knowledge and style, as well as your risk-return tolerance.

Step 2: Verify your identity

Attach and submit proof of identity for verification. US-based accounts are not accepted.

Step 3: Fund your account

eToro provides a wide variety of payment methods. Check to see if your preferred method is available in your country.

Step 4: Trade Aurora stock

On eToro, you can invest in Aurora through traditional securities trading and social investing. To help you find the best investments for your portfolio, eToro assigns the portfolio of every trader a risk score based on the volatility – average daily price movement – of the instruments invested in on a scale of 1–6, 6 representing the highest risk. Here are three ways to invest in Aurora stock on the leading social trading platform.

Step 4A: Place an Aurora stock trade

We have chosen to invest in the Horizon Medical Marijuana ETF (HMMJ), which provides diversified exposure to medical cannabis stocks. Aurora (ACB) stock is a top holding. Click on Trade. Select Market (current price) or other price level you want to enter the market at. Enter the amount you want to trade and leverage (X1, X2, X5). Your Stop Loss and Take Profit levels are preset by you. You can also set up a One Click Trade option and preset the above parameters. (The stock profile page provides social feeds, stats, charts and research. Social feeds often provide helpful technical analysis tips and updates on how a stock is trading relative to various benchmarks.)

Step 4B: Place a CopyTrader™ trade

Choose from the selection of copy traders by reviewing their risk score, trading performance stats, charts, and portfolio. Also check out the traders on the Editor’s Choice List. Copying a portfolio that holds Aurora is a way to buy Aurora stock while diversifying risk. Click Copy. From the copy trade box, choose the amount you want to trade and the copy trade stop limit. Press Copy.

Step 4C: Place a CopyPortfolios™ trade

Choose a portfolio among dozens of investment themes. CopyPortfolios™ copies multiple portfolios and traders following that theme. We chose the CannabisCare portfolio, which consists of medical cannabis stocks that trade as biotechnology stocks. Since Aurora is a top holding, CannabisCare is another way to invest in Aurora stock.

Review the risk profile and portfolio performance. Click on Invest. From the Invest box, choose the amount you want to invest and the stop investing limit. That’s it! To open your eToro click here.

How to buy Aurora Stock on Markets.com?

The official online broker of the Arsenal Football Club provides all the basic tools and education a retail trader requires. markets.com is owned by Playtech, a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Like its PlaytechOne one wallet – the one account solution for playing on casino, poker, sports and other gaming sites – markets.com seeks to provide quick and easy access to a good range of investment products. If you are deciding whether to buy Aurora shares on markets.com, review these pros and cons.

Pros

Cons

Start trading Aurora stock on markets.com

Step 1: Register your account

You will be prompted to download the markets.com mobile app to register. After filling in basic profile information, a brief questionnaire on investment experience and knowledge, as well as income and assets, will determine your trading level and leverage. 1:30 is the leverage for the average retail investor. So with a $500 deposit, you can trade up to $15,000.

Step 2: Fund your account

If depositing by credit card, you will need to first have it verified. Click on Verify Credit Card on the My Account Page.

Step 3: Verify your identity

Attach and submit proof of identity and a utility bill for verification. Residents of the USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and some other countries are restricted.

Step 4: Trade Aurora stock

On Markets.com, you can choose to invest in Aurora stock, or a wide range of ETFs and indexes. Other securities include forex, cryptocurrencies (a handful of majors), bonds, blends, and grey markets in Uber and Lyft ahead of their IPOs. Trending Now displays a list of top moving stocks.

The Aurora stock profile provides basic stock price charting information and a market sentiment indicator. Place the trade by choosing the Buy or Sell button.

How to buy Aurora Stock on Plus500?

Novice retail traders may find this platform lacks the trading interface, research tools and education they depend on for general guidance. The experienced trader with their own tools, stock data and news will be at home with the simple, intuitive interface and over 100 technical indicators. Traders who qualify for a professional account (with a minimum portfolio value of €500k) can raise their leverage levels, for example, from 1:5 to 1:20 for stock trades. If you are deciding whether to buy Aurora shares on plus500, review these pros and cons.

Pros

Cons

Start trading Aurora stock on Plus500

Step 1: Register your account

You will be prompted to download the Pllus500.com mobile app to register. Select between a Demo and Real Money account. After filling in basic personal information, you will gain access to the unlimited demo account. Before you can use it, you will be prompted to answer a few questions to establish your investor risk profile.

Step 2: Fund your account

When you are ready to trade with real money, fund your account. Three payment options are provided. You may be asked to verify your payment method.

Step 3: Verify your identity

Attach and submit proof of identity for verification.

Step 4: Trade Aurora stock

Plus500 offers a wide variety of investment instruments, including stocks, ETFs, indexes, forex and cryptocurrencies. For the advanced investor, options trading is also available on many stocks. Query Aurora and the price quotes for the stock appear on the screen.

All stock information and the Buy/Sell commands are displayed on the general stock page for the serious trader who wants to execute quickly. The bottom half of the page displays the price chart and provides access to a broad selection of technical analysis indicators.

A Brief Overview of the History of Aurora

Aurora Cannabis was founded in 2006 in Alberta, Canada. In 2014, the company received Federal licenses to grow and sell cannabis. Licenses to produce and sell cannabis oils followed. While managing rapid growth in its medical cannabis products, Aurora has established itself as a respected leader in medical marijuana research. Its research arm has been involved in over 40 clinical and pre-clinical studies investigating the medical benefits of marijuana.

Aurora is expanding into global markets through acquisitions and partnerships. Notably, in 2017, Aurora bought the largest EU distributor of medical cannabis Pedanios GmbH. In 2018, Canadian competitors CanniMed and MedReleaf were acquired. The same year, with the buy of ICC Labs and Farmacias Magistrates SA, Aurora became the leader in medical cannabis in Latin America. The purchase of hemp companies is part of its strategy to enter the wellness market. With over 40 acquisitions, Aurora has diversified from production and derivatives to consumption products and retail distribution in more than 20 countries on five continents.

Aurora Shares: Forecast 2019–2023

Large institutional investors are signalling it is time to buy cannabis stocks by increasing their investments in Canada’s cannabis stock sector. The entrance of the big funds is a sign the sector is becoming profitable. Indeed, Aurora expects to have positive EBITDA by mid-year. New production facilities are lowering operating costs and will contribute to positive operating cash flow this year. With its production and distribution foothold in global markets, Aurora is on schedule to turn a profit over the next two years.

2019 – Production ramp up

Aurora plans to increase cannabis production to 150,000 kilograms by the end of March. The new Sky facility will be producing 100,000 kilograms a year while the Radient facility will increase oil production by five times current levels. New ways of consuming medical cannabis, including soft gels and vape cartridges, will lift sales. The median analyst Aurora stock price forecast is 13.75, with a low of 10 and high of 16.

2020 – Smoking retail channels

New retail channels got off to a strong start in 2019 and should be smoking in 2020. Products shipped to provincial news outlets contributed to a threefold revenue increase in Q2. Other retail outlets coming online include the large network of North American liquor stores from the Alcanna purchase. European subsidiary Aurora Deutschland is distributing cannabis products in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg. Production at new facilities will leap to 500,000 kilos by mid-2020 to meet this demand. Low-to-median growth is forecasted for Aurora stock.

2021 – Hemp and wellness products

Aurora’s acquisition of Agropro, Hempco and ICC are part of its strategy to sell into the high growth hemp and wellness marketplace. The Radient facility’s expansion adds capacity for 10,000 kilos per day of industrial hemp. Hemp is also a reason to invest in Nike, and other clothing and shoe brands making hemp items without animal products to appeal to the rapidly growing green consumer market. These companies will drive demand for Aurora’s hemp. Median-to-high growth is forecasted for Aurora stock.

2022 – Edible consumer markets

In addition to medical cannabis and hemp, edibles and beverages are two promising markets able to leverage Aurora’s global distribution network for cannabis products. Aurora will be announcing product plans in 2019–2020. Another way to invest in cannabis-infused edibles and beverages is to buy Canopy Growth stocks. Constellation Brands has invested $4 billion in this Canadian competitor. Median-to-high growth is forecasted for Aurora stock.

2023 – Medical marijuana first mover

As the market becomes more competitive for medical marijuana, Aurora’s top ranked cannabis strains will strengthen its reputation and brand identity with consumers. In the medical market, in particular, a reputable brand has more value. This first mover advantage will help Aurora charge premium prices. Median-to-high growth is forecasted for Aurora stock.

Conclusion

The pace of medical marijuana legalization is accelerating around the globe. Most recently, South Korea has legalized medical marijuana and Japan has okayed imports of cannabis drugs. With its combination of production and distribution capabilities in cannabis and hemp markets worldwide, investors who buy Aurora shares gain a gateway to the global medical cannabis market, as well as the opportunity to invest in hemp stock.

When you are ready to buy stock, we recommend doing so via a regulated online broker such as eToro if you’re a UK customer, and Ally Invest for U.S. customers.

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