YCBD vs XXII

For growth investors, 22nd Century Group, Inc.

(XXII) is the stronger pick with 48. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 5% for cbdMD, Inc. (YCBD). The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, cbdMD, Inc.

(YCBD) delivered a total return of -99. 9%, compared to -100. 0% for 22nd Century Group, Inc. (XXII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: YCBD returned -100. 0% versus XXII's -100. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), cbdMD, Inc.

(YCBD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 66β versus 22nd Century Group, Inc. 's 1. 60β — meaning XXII is approximately 142% more volatile than YCBD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, 22nd Century Group, Inc. (XXII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 27% versus 108% for cbdMD, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), 22nd Century Group, Inc.

(XXII) is pulling ahead at 48. 1% versus -1. 5% for cbdMD, Inc. (YCBD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: 22nd Century Group, Inc. grew EPS 99. 9% year-over-year, compared to 39. 1% for cbdMD, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, YCBD leads at -18. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

cbdMD, Inc.

(YCBD) is the more profitable company, earning -10. 6% net margin versus -28. 7% for 22nd Century Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps -10. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: YCBD leads at -11. 3% versus -64. 9% for XXII. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — YCBD leads at 56. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

In this comparison, XXII (100.

0% yield) pays a dividend. YCBD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, cbdMD, Inc.

(YCBD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 66)). 22nd Century Group, Inc. (XXII) carries a higher beta of 1. 60 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (YCBD: -100. 0%, XXII: -100. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (YCBD (Healthcare) and XXII (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: YCBD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; XXII is a small-cap high-growth stock. XXII pays a dividend while YCBD does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.