Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Inc logo

Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Inc(REFI)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$9.37
10/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for REFI

10/23/2026: REFI (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Inc. (REFI) is a specialized mortgage REIT primarily focused on providing senior secured loans to the US cannabis industry. Its core strength lies in its ability to navigate a complex regulatory landscape to secure high-yield returns, supported by disciplined collateral management. The primary investment story centers on the company’s role as a liquidity provider in an underserved market with potential growth tied to ongoing cannabis legalization. However, investors must consider the risks of industry concentration, credit defaults, and sensitivity to regulatory shifts. REFI is best suited for income-focused investors, with ongoing developments in federal cannabis legislation remaining a critical factor to monitor.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitThe company is primarily structured for income generation rather than aggressive capital appreciation.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum potential is generally limited unless specific favorable regulatory news triggers market interest.
Value investorMixed fitThe stock may present value depending on its discount to book value and the perceived credit quality of its loan portfolio.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company is explicitly designed as a dividend-paying vehicle for income-oriented investors.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe specialized nature of the cannabis industry and exposure to credit risk make this unsuitable for conservative, risk-averse portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highThe niche focus on the cannabis industry can lead to outsized price movements based on legislative headlines.
Valuation riskMediumMarket pricing of REITs is highly sensitive to interest rate expectations and the perceived quality of the underlying loan book.
Competition risk (Cannabis lending)Medium / highAs the industry matures, increased competition could compress interest margins for new loan originations.
Business qualityMediumThe business relies on the specialized expertise of its external manager, which introduces alignment and key-person risk.
Dividend incomeMedium / highDividends are dependent on the ongoing performance of borrowers, who operate in a high-risk regulatory environment.
Execution riskMediumThe ability to source and underwrite new loans successfully is essential to maintaining the dividend payout level.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -26.86%
Avg. Invested days 33
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
REFI receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
REFI has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 45.6%) and solid revenue growth (+15.2%) are partially offset by slightly negative earnings growth (-2.8%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
REFI's financial health is supported by strong profitability, including gross margin of 86.9% and operating margin of 57.1%. Liquidity is solid (4 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is REFI's strongest growth driver at +24.3% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+15.2%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (-2.8%, slightly negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 32.0% and approximately 88.5% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 11.51% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 6.71%
Fielder Capital Group LLC 3.83%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.08%
State Street Corp 1.95%
Segall Bryant & Hamill 0.74%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
REFI generates approximately $869 of gross profit, $571 of operating income, and $456 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and solid cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 0.00%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
REFI has a high-quality, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 240.07M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 6.84
1Y Target Price 15.12
Price to earnings Ratio 6.84
1Y Target Price 15.12
Volume (30-day avg) 233.3K shares
Beta 0.34
52 Weeks Range 8.76 - 11.41
Updated Date 10/24/2026
52 Weeks Range 8.76 - 11.41
Updated Date 10/24/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 20.00%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.37

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Senior Secured LendingInterest and fee income derived from loans to cannabis operators, secured by real estate.The company makes money by lending money to cannabis businesses, charging them interest, and paying that interest out to shareholders.
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Valuation

Trailing PE 6.84
Forward PE 7.12
Enterprise Value 367.22M
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.92
Enterprise Value 367.22M
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.92
Enterprise Value to Revenue 6.99
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 25.62M
Shares Floating 22.67M
Shares Outstanding 25.62M
Shares Floating 22.67M
Percent Insiders 11.51
Percent Institutions 32.03

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.