Company Overview - Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. is a commercial mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on originating senior secured loans primarily to state-licensed cannabis operators in limited-license states in the United States [4] - The company has closed over $2.8 billion in credit and equity investments to date and operates offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, and London [4] Upcoming Earnings Release - The company plans to issue its earnings release and supplemental financial information before the market opens on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 [2] - A conference call and live audio webcast will be held on the same day at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, which will be open to the general public [2][3] - The interactive teleconference can be accessed by calling (833) 630-1956 for domestic callers and (412) 317-1837 for international callers [2]

Group 1 - Mortgage REITs offer better returns than standard REITs but often involve high leverage, complicating the assessment of their portfolio strength [1]

Industry Overview - The cannabis real estate sector is gaining renewed attention, with the U.S. cannabis industry showing robust fundamentals, reaching approximately $30.1 billion in legal sales in 2024, growing about 4.5% year over year [1] - Analysts project the U.S. cannabis market to reach $76 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate near 11% [1] - Regulatory momentum is building, with lawmakers pushing for federal reform, which could enhance banking access and reduce financing barriers for cannabis operators [1] Company Profiles Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR) - IIPR is the largest publicly traded cannabis REIT in the U.S., owning over 100 properties across 19 states, focusing on long-term triple-net leases with state-licensed cultivators and processors [3] - The company provides essential infrastructure for multi-state operators, enabling steady income through fixed contractual rents [3] - IIPR's balance sheet is conservative, with low leverage and substantial liquidity reserves, maintaining steady rental income despite industry headwinds [6] NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. (NLCP) - NLCP combines industrial and retail cannabis real estate holdings, owning over 30 properties in 12 states by 2025, utilizing a sale-leaseback model [7] - The REIT's properties include dispensaries and production facilities leased to established multi-state operators, providing balanced exposure to both wholesale and consumer-facing segments [7] - NLCP reported total quarterly revenue of approximately $12.9 million in 2025, with net income around $7 million, indicating continued earnings stability [9] Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (REFI) - REFI provides structured debt and commercial mortgage loans to cannabis operators, financing acquisition and expansion projects across multiple states [10] - The company managed loan principal balances exceeding $400 million, with an average yield near 17%, and reported quarterly net interest income of around $13 million [12] - Non-performing loans represented less than 1% of total assets, highlighting the strength of REFI's underwriting standards [13] Financial Performance - IIPR's funds from operations (FFO) showed resilience, with management actively renegotiating leases to stabilize revenue [6] - NLCP's disciplined underwriting and conservative financing strategy have allowed consistent rent collection, even amid financial stress in parts of the cannabis sector [9] - REFI's strong liquidity and disciplined credit monitoring help the company navigate potential market downturns, providing a steady income stream for investors [13]

Group 1 - Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NASDAQ:REFI) is a majority shareholder in Vireo Growth Inc. (CSE: VREO), which has signed merger agreements with Proper Cannabis, Deep Roots Harvest, and WholesomeCo Cannabis [1][2] - The merged entity will operate 48 dispensaries, nine cultivation facilities, and have 1,043,500 square feet of production and manufacturing space across seven states [2] - Vireo has valued the merger deals at approximately $397 million and announced a $75 million equity offering at $0.625 per share [2]

Group 1 - Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.47 per share for Q3 2025, equating to an annualized rate of $1.88 per common share [1] - The dividend is payable on October 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2025 [1] Group 2 - Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. is a leading commercial mortgage REIT that focuses on originating senior secured loans primarily to state-licensed cannabis operators in limited-license states in the U.S. [2] - The company has closed over $2.8 billion in credit and equity investments to date and operates offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, and London [2]

Industry Overview - The U.S. cannabis industry is projected to exceed $33 billion in sales for 2024, with potential annual revenues surpassing $50 billion by 2030, driven by new state markets and expanding consumer demand [1] - Recent discussions among U.S. lawmakers regarding cannabis reform and the recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services to reclassify cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act have generated optimism for investors [1] Ancillary Cannabis Stocks - Ancillary stocks, which provide real estate, equipment, and financing, are essential in the cannabis market as they avoid plant-touching risks, offering safer exposure to industry growth [1] - Three key ancillary cannabis stocks to watch are Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR), NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. (NLCP), and Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (REFI) [3][5] Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR) - IIPR is the largest publicly traded cannabis REIT, owning over 100 properties across 19 states, primarily focused on leasing to state-licensed cannabis operators [7] - The company reported total revenue of $77.8 million, a 9% year-over-year increase, with net income of $40.5 million, highlighting its profitability [8] - IIPR maintains a high occupancy rate above 97% and pays a quarterly dividend of $1.80 per share, appealing to income-focused investors [9] NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. (NLCP) - NLCP owns approximately 33 properties, including 15 cultivation facilities and 18 dispensaries, operating under long-term triple-net leases across various states [12] - The company generated revenue of $51.2 million and net income of $26.1 million over the trailing twelve months, with a net margin of about 51% [14] - NLCP offers a quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share, translating to an annual yield of around 12%, making it attractive for income-oriented investors [15] Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (REFI) - REFI specializes in providing credit to licensed cannabis operators, having deployed over $2.8 billion in credit and equity investments across the sector [19] - The company reported $62 million in interest and dividend income, with total revenue of $56.6 million and net income of $38.1 million, resulting in a net margin near 67% [20][21] - REFI offers an annual dividend of $2.06 per share, yielding nearly 15%, and analysts project a price target near $20, indicating significant upside potential [21][22] Investment Outlook - As the cannabis industry matures, ancillary companies like IIPR, NLCP, and REFI provide reduced regulatory risks while capturing sector growth [23] - These companies present compelling opportunities for investors seeking exposure to cannabis without the volatility associated with plant-touching operators [23]

Industry Overview - The US cannabis industry generated nearly $36 billion in legal sales in 2024, with projections to exceed $70 billion by 2030, indicating significant growth and demand for cultivation and retail facilities [1] - Recent federal rescheduling news, specifically the recommendation to move cannabis to Schedule III, is expected to reduce taxes for operators and improve profitability, potentially increasing tenant strength and enhancing REIT stability [1] Company Analysis: Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) - IIPR is the largest cannabis-focused REIT in the US, with a portfolio of over 100 properties across 19 states, totaling more than 9 million rentable square feet [3] - The company reported revenue of over $62 million in the latest quarter, with net income exceeding $25 million and earnings per share near $0.86, maintaining a quarterly dividend of $1.90 [5] - IIPR's strategic diversification includes a $270 million investment into a life sciences platform, with a blended yield exceeding 14% [5] Company Analysis: NewLake Capital Partners (NLCP) - NLCP owns 34 properties across 12 states, including 19 dispensary properties and 15 cultivation facilities, structured as long-term triple-net leases [6][8] - The company reported revenue of approximately $12.9 million and net income of $7.3 million in the second quarter, with a quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share [8] - NLCP's conservative approach and focus on leasing to licensed operators in limited-license states help reduce volatility and spread risk [6] Company Analysis: Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance (REFI) - REFI operates as a commercial mortgage REIT, originating senior secured loans totaling over $420 million across about 30 portfolio companies [9][12] - The company maintained a quarterly dividend of $0.47 per share, with distributable earnings per share at $0.51, indicating strong credit performance [12] - REFI emphasizes conservative lending standards and broad diversification, with a loan pipeline exceeding $650 million, reflecting strong demand for capital [12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The loan portfolio principal totaled $421.9 million as of June 30, with a weighted average yield to maturity of 16.8%, slightly down from 16.9% in the first quarter [8] - Net interest income for Q2 was $14.4 million, an increase from $13 million in Q1, primarily due to non-recurring fees and new deployments [12] - Distributable earnings per share increased to $0.52 from $0.47 in Q1, with a book value per common share of $14.71 as of June 30 [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The cannabis pipeline increased from $462 million to nearly $650 million, driven by M&A activity and operational restructurings [6] - Gross originations during the quarter were $16.5 million, with $10 million from refinancing and $6.5 million from existing borrowers [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a strong relationship with the New York Social Equity Fund, with 23 dispensaries operating successfully [24] - The New York market is developing well, with improvements in product quality and competition against the illegal market [26][27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to create a differentiated, low-leveraged risk-return profile insulated from cannabis equity volatility [7] - The strategy focuses on deploying capital in limited license jurisdictions with low leverage profiles to support sound growth initiatives [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in outperforming long-term despite near-term uncertainties in the financial services industry [7] - The company is optimistic about the growth of the cannabis industry and its ability to support that growth through its robust platform [6] Other Important Information - The company has extended its credit facility with no change in economic terms, enhancing its ability to support growth [6] - The CECL reserve for expected credit losses increased to approximately $4.4 million, representing 1.1% of outstanding principal [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the sequential increase in the pipeline? - The increase was driven by M&A activity, operational reorganizations, and refinancings of existing debt [19] Question: How does the company view prepayments in the portfolio? - Prepayments are both a marker of success and capital to be redeployed into new opportunities, with early Q3 prepayments being larger than expected [21][22] Question: Can you provide an update on the New York market? - The relationship with the New York Social Equity Fund is strong, with 23 dispensaries operating successfully, and the market is developing well [24][26] Question: How is the demand and supply side of the market currently? - The wait-and-see approach makes sense given the cost of capital options, with larger public operators participating selectively [30][31] Question: How does having multiple funding sources benefit the company? - Multiple funding sources allow for greater flexibility and competitiveness, leading to a higher quality and more diversified portfolio [33]

Core Insights - Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. reported quarterly earnings of $0.51 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.45 per share, and showing a year-over-year increase from $0.50 per share [1] - The company achieved revenues of $14.43 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.78%, although this represents a decline from $15.02 million in the same quarter last year [2] - The stock has underperformed, losing approximately 14.2% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 7.9% [3] Earnings Performance - The company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times over the last four quarters [2] - The earnings surprise for the latest quarter was +13.33%, following a previous surprise of +2.22% [1][2] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.48, with expected revenues of $14.19 million, and for the current fiscal year, the EPS estimate is $1.81 on revenues of $56.17 million [7] - The estimate revisions trend for the company was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, to which Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance belongs, is currently ranked in the top 32% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8] - Another company in the same industry, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.30 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of +31.3% [9]

Company Overview - Chicago Atlantic is a commercial mortgage REIT and lender focused on state-licensed cannabis operators[11] - The company has closed over 100 cannabis loans across its platform[9] - Since its inception in 2019, the origination team has closed over $28 billion in credit facilities, with $22 billion to cannabis operators[11] - The company is evaluating a near-term pipeline of approximately $650 million in potential loans[9] Portfolio Highlights - The outstanding loan principal is $4219 million with a gross portfolio yield of 168%[9] - The real estate collateral coverage in the current portfolio is 12x[9] - The top 10 loans account for 616% of the total principal outstanding[28] - Floating-rate loans constitute 407% of the portfolio, while fixed-rate loans make up 593%[29] Financial Performance - For the three months ended June 30, 2025, net income was $887 million, or $042 per basic share[75] - Distributable Earnings for the quarter were $1085 million, or $052 per basic share[76] - The company's total assets as of June 30, 2025, were $4552 million[71] Market Opportunity - The U S cannabis industry is estimated to reach $35 billion in retail revenue in 2025 and is projected to grow to $69 billion by 2031[55] - Chicago Atlantic estimates the current value of the U S cannabis debt market to be $12 billion, with the company holding approximately 18% market share[57] - Assuming the company maintains its 18% debt market share, the private credit opportunity could grow to over $4 billion by 2031[58]