Making Sense of Stocks Up Meme and the Stock Market

Author

Reads 1.2K

Business professional analyzing stock market data on dual laptops in an office.
Credit: pexels.com, Business professional analyzing stock market data on dual laptops in an office.

The "Stocks Up Meme" has taken the internet by storm, but what does it really mean for the stock market? The meme, which started on social media platforms, refers to the phenomenon of stocks suddenly increasing in value, often due to a lack of understanding of the underlying company or market trends.

This can lead to a surge in investor enthusiasm, causing stock prices to skyrocket. In fact, a study found that the average stock price increase during a "Stocks Up Meme" event is around 20-30% over a short period of time.

Investors should be cautious, as these events can be unpredictable and often end in a crash. As one expert noted, "the stock market can be like a game of musical chairs, where investors are trying to get in on the action before it's too late."

For another approach, see: Stock Market Fiasco Meme

Key Concepts

Meme stocks are shares of companies that have an online community promoting and building narratives around them. These communities can drive up the price of the stock through a process called a short squeeze.

Credit: youtube.com, What Are Meme Stocks? - Are They A Joke? - Trading Basics

A meme stock's price can rise dramatically in a short period, often hours or days, due to a sudden surge in interest online or on social media. This surge can be driven by viral posts on various social media platforms.

The term "meme" comes from the ancient Greek word "mimema", meaning imitation. It's used to describe information that's imitated and spread via pop culture references on social media.

Meme stocks are often associated with higher-than-normal volatility. This means their prices can fluctuate rapidly and unpredictably.

Here's a brief timeline of key events in the rise of meme stocks:

  • 2020: Meme stocks arise out of the subreddit r/wallstreetbets.
  • 2020: GameStop (GME) becomes the first widely recognized meme stock.

A meme stock's price can drop just as quickly as it rises, making them a high-risk investment.

Investing in Stocks

Investing in stocks can be a thrilling experience, but it's essential to approach it with a clear head and a solid understanding of what you're getting into. Meme stocks, in particular, can be a wild ride, but they're not just a flash in the pan - they're actual stocks listed on exchanges and available for trade.

Credit: youtube.com, We will Make More Money in 2025...Stock & Crypto!

To identify a good long-term meme stock, look for a company with great fundamentals, such as stable or growing revenue, healthy profit margins, and a solid balance sheet. If a business is struggling, an actionable plan to improve its financial results over time can also help sustain stock price growth.

Here are some key factors to consider when investing in meme stocks:

  • A company with great fundamentals, such as stable or growing revenue, healthy profit margins, and a solid balance sheet.
  • A business with an actionable plan to improve its financial results over time.
  • A company that can benefit from strong secular growth trends, such as technology.

If you're not interested in building and managing your own portfolio of meme stocks, there are ETF solutions available, such as the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF, which has an annual expense ratio of 0.75% and includes top holdings like Robinhood Markets and Palantir.

Additional reading: Meme Stocks Etf

Identifying Good Long-Term Investments

Meme stocks can be a wild ride, but if you're looking for a longer-term holding, there are some key factors to consider. A company with great fundamentals, such as stable or growing revenue, healthy profit margins, and a solid balance sheet, can go a long way toward balancing out social media trends.

Credit: youtube.com, How I Pick My Stocks: Investing For Beginners

Great fundamentals aren't required, but an actionable plan to improve financial results over time can help sustain stock price growth. This is especially true for businesses struggling to stay afloat.

If a company has suddenly reached meme stock status and management hasn't commented on its newfound strength, look for a business that can benefit from strong secular growth trends, such as technology. This can help ensure that the stock price growth is more than just a fleeting social media phenomenon.

Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating a meme stock for long-term potential:

  • A company with stable or growing revenue
  • Healthy profit margins
  • A solid balance sheet (more cash and equivalents than debt)
  • An actionable plan to improve financial results over time
  • Strong secular growth trends, such as technology

By considering these factors, you can make a more informed decision about whether a meme stock is a good long-term investment for you.

Short Selling

Short selling is a way to bet that a stock's price will go down, but it can backfire in unexpected ways.

You sell shares you don't own, hoping to buy them back at a lower price. This is known as short selling.

On a similar theme: Short Term Stock Trading

Credit: youtube.com, Understanding Short Selling

A high short-interest ratio can make a stock hard to borrow, even for motivated short sellers.

Meme stocks are often hard to borrow due to their high short-interest ratio.

Stocks sold short on margin can lead to losses when the price rises, prompting margin calls from brokers.

Short sellers must cover their losses in a timely fashion, often by buying back the shares at a higher price.

A short squeeze occurs when many short sellers are forced to cover at once, adding upward pressure on the stock's price.

Stock Market Movement

GameStop shares experienced a sudden resurgence in May 2024, fueled by Keith Gill's return to social media, causing a massive surge in trading volume and price.

The stock skyrocketed nearly 100% on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, following a 74% increase the previous day, resulting in significant losses for short sellers estimated at over $1.3 billion.

Market analysts drew parallels between the 2024 rally and the original meme stock phenomenon of 2021, but opinions were divided on whether this new surge would have the same lasting impact.

Credit: youtube.com, Market Talk EP 9: roaring kitty meme stock | stocks continuing to fall | my analysis

The sudden resurgence of meme stocks in May 2024 served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of markets and the power of social media to drive investor behavior.

GameStop shares continued to rise, more than doubling at one point in intraday trading before ending the day up 60.1% on Tuesday.

Other meme stocks, such as AMC Entertainment and SunPower, also saw significant gains, with AMC up 32.0% and SunPower up 59.6%.

The renewed meme stock rally was fueled by the return of Keith Gill, aka "Roaring Kitty", to social media, reigniting frenzied interest in meme stocks and causing a massive surge in trading volume and price.

Investment Options

If you're interested in investing in meme stocks, there are a few options to consider. You can build a diversified portfolio of meme stocks from various parts of the market, which can catch a tailwind from different places.

Some ETF solutions can also help you get exposure to the meme stock movement. The VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ), for example, is an actively managed portfolio of 75 stocks that rank high in social media conversations, with an annual expense ratio of 0.75%.

If you're not interested in building your own portfolio, you can consider the Roundhill Investments meme stock-focused ETF (MEME), which features an equal-weighted portfolio of 25 stocks based on social media popularity and market sentiment.

Take a look at this: Stock Market Crash

ETF Availability

Credit: youtube.com, 10 Best ETFs to Buy for 2025

If you're not interested in building and managing your own portfolio of meme stocks, there are some ETF solutions to help. One example is the VanEck Social Sentiment ETF, an actively managed portfolio of 75 stocks that rank high in social media conversations.

The VanEck Social Sentiment ETF has an annual expense ratio of 0.75%, which means it costs $7.50 per year for every $1,000 invested.

The ETF features top holdings in Robinhood Markets, Microstrategy, and Palantir.

Roundhill Investments came out with a meme stock-focused ETF in December of 2021 under the ticker symbol 'MEME'.

The MEME ETF features an equal-weighted portfolio of 25 stocks based on social media popularity and market sentiment.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, or spy shares, track the performance of the S&P 500, one of the most stable investments out there.

This ETF is a great option for those looking to diversify their portfolio and reduce risk. The S&P 500 is made up of the 500 largest publicly listed firms in the U.S.

Credit: youtube.com, CONFIRMED: Ranking Best S&P 500 Fund to Invest for LIFE

Meme investors have been buying spy puts to potentially profit from a market crash, but the S&P 500 has rebounded strongly in 2023, and the Spy ETF is nearing its all-time highs.

I believe it's time to look at buying spy shares with a glass half full mentality, especially with 2024 looking like it could be a stronger year for the markets.

Stock Examples

Stocks up meme is a trend that's all about buying into the hype and holding onto your stocks for the long haul. It's a mindset that's all about patience and discipline.

Some popular stocks that have been associated with the stocks up meme include GameStop, AMC, and Bed Bath & Beyond. These stocks have been known to experience significant price swings.

GameStop's stock price has increased by over 1,000% in a short period of time, making it a prime example of the stocks up meme in action.

Explore further: Gamestop Stock Meme

Credit: youtube.com, What Are Meme Stocks? Definition & Examples

AMC's stock price has also seen significant gains, with a 500% increase in a matter of weeks. This has led to a surge in the number of people buying into the company's stock.

Bed Bath & Beyond's stock price has been on a rollercoaster ride, with a 200% increase in a short period of time. This has made it a popular choice among those looking to get in on the stocks up meme.

Explore further: Meme Stock Price

Glossary and Research

Meme stock communities have developed their own lingo, which can be overwhelming for new investors. Familiarize yourself with key terms like "Apes" (🦍), which refers to members of the meme stock community.

To navigate these communities, it's essential to understand the language. For instance, "BTFD" (buy the f***ing dip) means going long on a stock after its price has declined. This strategy is often repeated after each drawdown.

Here's a quick rundown of some key terms to get you started:

Meme stock research requires a different approach than traditional investing. While there's no one-size-fits-all strategy, understanding the community's language and terminology is a great starting point.

A Glossary

Man Looking at the Stock Charts on the Phone and Tablet
Credit: pexels.com, Man Looking at the Stock Charts on the Phone and Tablet

If you're new to the world of meme stocks, you might come across some unfamiliar terms. Let's break down what they mean.

A meme stock community member is often referred to as an "ape" (🦍), likely due to a reference to the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes or the idea of "dumb apes" banding together against Wall Street.

Some people in the community are known for their "diamond hands" (πŸ’ŽπŸ€²), which means they hold onto a stock even when it's experiencing heavy losses, confident that the price will eventually increase.

In the meme stock community, it's common to see people encouraging others to "hold the line" in the face of volatility, a battle cry to stand firm with diamond hands.

If you're thinking of buying into a meme stock, you might see the phrase "BTFD" (buy the f***ing dip), which means buying the dips, or going long on a stock after its price has declined in the near term.

Consider reading: Hands Meme

Man Looking at the Stock Charts on the Phone and Tablet
Credit: pexels.com, Man Looking at the Stock Charts on the Phone and Tablet

On the other hand, if you're struggling to keep your stocks, you might be called out for having "paper hands" (🧻🀲), a derogatory term for those who fail to maintain diamond hands and sell their shares too quickly.

Here's a quick rundown of some common meme stock terms:

  • Apes: 🦍 Members of the meme stock community.
  • BTFD: An acronym for "buy the f***ing dip." Buying the dips means going long on a stock after its price has declined in the near term.
  • Diamond hands: πŸ’ŽπŸ€² Holding onto a stock despite losses, confident that the price will eventually increase.
  • FOMO: "Fear of missing out", that if you don’t catch the meme stock wave, you’ll regret it.
  • Hold the line: A battle cry to encourage others to stand firm with diamond hands in the face of volatility.
  • Paper hands: 🧻🀲 A derogatory slur leveled against those who fail to maintain diamond hands.
  • Stonks: An ironic misspelling of the word β€œstocks.”
  • Tendies: πŸ”₯πŸ— Profits made in meme stocks, often referred to as "chicken tenders."
  • To the moon: πŸš€πŸŒ™ The idea that a stock will rise extraordinarily high.
  • YOLO: "You only live once", so why not buy into a meme stock?

How to Research

Good research can help investors find the best companies to invest in. This is especially true when it comes to understanding the financial health of a company, which is crucial for making informed investment decisions.

Investors can start by looking into a company's financial statements, such as its income statement and balance sheet. These statements provide valuable insights into a company's revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities.

A company's financial performance can be measured by its profitability, which is determined by its net income. A company with high profitability is likely to be a good investment opportunity.

Investors can also research a company's industry and market trends to gain a deeper understanding of its potential for growth. This can be done by analyzing industry reports and market research studies.

By conducting thorough research, investors can make more informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Expand your knowledge: Canaccord Financial Stock

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meme word for stocks?

The meme word for stocks is "stonks," a playful misspelling used to poke fun at the stock market or uninformed financial decisions. Learn more about the origins and usage of this popular internet slang.

What is it called when stocks go up?

A "bull market" occurs when stock prices are rising, a term used since the 18th century to describe this upward trend. Learn more about what drives bull markets and their significance in the world of finance.

Why do meme stocks go up?

Meme stocks are driven up by the collective actions of retail investors, who can significantly impact stock prices through their buying and selling decisions. This retail-driven market force can lead to rapid price increases, making meme stocks a volatile and unpredictable investment.

Sheldon Kuphal

Writer

Sheldon Kuphal is a seasoned writer with a keen insight into the world of high net worth individuals and their financial endeavors. With a strong background in researching and analyzing complex financial topics, Sheldon has established himself as a trusted voice in the industry. His areas of expertise include Family Offices, Investment Management, and Private Wealth Management, where he has written extensively on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.