GameStop shares surge 103% as dormant Reddit user returns

GameStop shares surge 103% as dormant Reddit user returns
A supposed $116M position in the stock triggered a frenzy.
JUN 03, 2024
By  Bloomberg

GameStop Corp. shares more than doubled after the Reddit account that drove the meme-stock mania of 2021 posted what appeared to be a $116 million position in the game retailer.

The June 2 screenshot by Keith Gill, who goes by DeepF— Value on Reddit, shows five million shares bought at $21.27 per share. It was the account’s first post in three years. The screenshot, which also included 120,000 call options worth $65.7 million due to expire on June 21, couldn’t be verified. The options would allow him to buy the stock at $20 per share.

GameStop shares rose as much as 103% in premarket trading on Monday, before paring the advance. If premarket gains hold, the stock is set to add about $8 billion to its market capitalization.

On social media platform X, Gill, using his account handle “Roaring Kitty,” also posted an image of a UNO reverse card, which is used by players in the game to change the card-pickup direction. The post had attracted more than 5.3 million views in about eight hours since its publication at about 8 p.m. Sunday New York time.

pic.twitter.com/zUuccrKWZr

— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) June 3, 2024

“Recent renewed interest in meme stocks, coming as the main US indices struggle to make new highs, is a sign of excessive over exuberance and is more likely a negative portent given the rising headwinds in the markets,” Robert Lea, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, said.

Gill had largely been silent on social media since he rallied day-traders on Reddit in 2021 to buy the stock to push back on short sellers, arguing then that the company was poised to “reinvent” itself as a premier gaming hub.

In mid-May, he returned to X with an image of a video gamer leaning in, fueling anticipation that he will actively return to the market.

GameStop shares have fallen more than 50% since a two-day rally triggered by his mid-May post. The stock famously soared more than 2,000% in early 2021, bringing the meme-stock frenzy into the broader public consciousness.

In his last previous post on Reddit on April 16, 2021, Gill posted a screenshot that showed he held 200,000 GameStop shares, or about $30.9 million worth at the time.

Gill posted his latest Reddit post on r/Superstonk subforum on Reddit, which is “a place for theoretical discussions about GameStop stock.”

Latest News

Finra tags South Florida BD with $105,000 in penalties linked to margin accounts.
Finra tags South Florida BD with $105,000 in penalties linked to margin accounts.

Newbridge Securities failed to supervise advisors using margin in clients’ accounts, according to Finra.

Stephen Langlois stepping down as Kestra Financial bares transition plans
Stephen Langlois stepping down as Kestra Financial bares transition plans

With plans to retire, the outgoing president of the Texas-based IBD giant will be replaced by the giant RIA's current head of wealth management this spring.

Financial advisors keeping close eye on rising 'fear index'
Financial advisors keeping close eye on rising 'fear index'

The VIX, or so called "fear index," is shifting higher with increased market volatility, causing wealth managers to ready themselves for anxious client calls.

BMO Capital Markets to pay $40M in SEC settlement
BMO Capital Markets to pay $40M in SEC settlement

Canadian bank's capital markets arm reportedly failed to detect representatives' misleading disclosures involving $3 billion of mortgage-backed "sliver bonds" sold over a multi-year period.

Veteran EM debt team departs Wamco for Jackson Financial's PPM
Veteran EM debt team departs Wamco for Jackson Financial's PPM

Move marks the largest single batch of exits as the Franklin Templeton subsidiary continues to navigate fallout from alleged breaches by star manager Ken Leech.

SPONSORED Three key trends that will drive advisors’ planning in 2025

AssetMark Group CEO explains why the great wealth transfer, succession planning, and personalization will be key for advisors in the new year.

SPONSORED Why RIAs might consider investing more in trust services

A trust delivery model not only increases the value of an advisor and a firm but is also a natural addition to any firm’s succession plan.