Echoes of the 2021 meme stock saga reverberated across financial markets this morning as unclear Coin with the ROAR meme and video game retailer GameStop have seen meteoric growth fueled by social media nostalgia. Catalyst? The return of a familiar face – Keith Gill, better known by his online nickname “Roaring Kitty”.

The cat’s claws are coming in again

Retail investors panicked after Gill, a superstar in the online investing community on Reddit’s WallStreetBets forum, posted a cryptic message suggesting a significant stake in GameStop.

The post containing a photo of the “Uno Reverse” card sparked huge speculation. Shortly thereafter, Gill reaffirmed his bullish stance, revealing that he owns a whopping 5 million shares of GameStop stock worth about $116 million based on Friday’s closing price.

In the 20 minutes that followed Gill’s post, GameStop’s stock price rose 20% to $27.50 on the Robinhood night markets. The raise followed the stock’s Friday closing price of $23.14. The stock is up nearly 40% this year, likely as a result Gill’s sudden return.

This disclosure caused a wave of shock in the market. Shares of GameStop, famed for its volatility during the 2021 meme stock frenzy, surged more than 100% on Monday at a high in pre-open trading.

NOW: GameStop gains popularity after the Reddit account that sparked 2021 meme mania posted a $116 million bet https://t.co/0mnyJF4lIf pic.twitter.com/rpRdA2AIWL

— Bloomberg Markets (@markets) June 3, 2024

While the price eventually stabilized and achieved an impressive 88% gain, the outcry from retail investors was undeniable. The ROAR meme coin, seemingly named after Gill’s internet personality, saw GameStop’s price surge more than 300%, reaching a high of $0.001643.

The rebirth of meme stocks?

Sudden raise in both ROAR and Game stop reignited the debate over meme resources. These assets, often highly volatile and driven more by internet buzz than classic financial indicators, have captured the imagination of retail investors in 2021. Gill, who played a key role in the initial GameStop saga, appears to be a key player in realizing this potential resurgence.

However, analysts remain cautious. GameStop itself is in a precarious position, having recently sold a huge chunk of stock to shore up its finances amid ongoing net losses and projected declines in sales. The company’s long-term prospects remain uncertain, raising questions about whether this is a true resurgence or simply a nostalgic echo of 2021.

Comparing noise with reality

The recent rise in ROAR and GameStop presents a classic risk-reward scenario for investors. Early entrants who buy at lower prices stand to make significant profits. However, the inherent volatility of meme stocks creates a significant risk of significant losses.

Featured image from HubPages, chart from TradingView