GameStop, the video game retailer, experienced a significant surge in its stock price after it was revealed that a prominent Reddit user, known as Roaring Kitty or Keith Gill, had taken a large position in the company. According to multiple sources,
Roaring Kitty posted screenshots of his investment portfolio on Reddit showing that he held 5 million shares of GameStop worth $115.7 million and 120,000 call options with a strike price of $20 expiring on June 21st. The call options were purchased for approximately $5.68 each.
The news sent GameStop's stock price soaring in premarket trading, with shares up by over 73% at one point. The surge came after a three-year absence from the platform for Roaring Kitty, who gained notoriety during the 2021 meme-stock mania for his large positions in companies like GameStop and AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc.
The call options give Roaring Kitty the right to buy GameStop shares at $20 each before June 21st. If the stock price is above $20 on that date, he can sell his shares for a profit. The potential gain from these options alone is worth over $65 million based on current prices.
GameStop's market capitalization has grown to over $8 billion as of June 3rd, 2024. The company has been struggling to transition from brick-and-mortar sales to online gaming in the face of increasing competition from digital platforms and e-commerce giants like Amazon.
Roaring Kitty's investment in GameStop is not the only large position he holds. He also has significant investments in SunPower Corp., Beyond Meat Inc., BlackBerry Ltd., and Reddit Inc.
The surge in GameStop's stock price comes amidst a broader trend of meme-stock mania, with other companies like AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. and Bed Bath & Beyond also experiencing significant price increases due to retail investor interest on social media platforms like Reddit.
It is important to note that investing in individual stocks carries risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results. It is always recommended to do thorough research before making any investment decisions.