Meme Stocks

Extracted Attributes

• Definition

  Shares that gain significant popularity among retail investors through social media.

• Primary Driver

  Internet memes and online discussion threads.

• Investor Demographic

  Often young and inexperienced retail investors.

• Price Characteristic

  Often trade at prices exceeding their estimated fundamental value.

• Market Characteristic

  Highly speculative and volatile.

• Key Social Media Platforms

  Reddit (r/wallstreetbets), X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube.

• First Successful Meme Stock

  GameStop Corp (GME).

• Regulatory Stance (SEC Chair Gary Gensler)

  Viewed as social media-driven hype rather than illegal market manipulation.

Timeline

• GameStop (GME) became the first successful meme stock, with its price rising significantly, marking the beginning of the meme stock phenomenon. (Source: NerdWallet, Investopedia, BullishBears, SEC Staff Report)

  2021-01-01

• AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (AMC) experienced a significant price pump, from approximately $5.17 to $726.20 by June 2021. (Source: BullishBears)

  2020-12-01

• AMC reported broadly flat revenue at $951.4 million and an improved net loss of $163.5 million for Q1 2024. (Source: IG International)

  2024-03-31

• A resurgence of meme stocks occurred, driven by Keith Gill's ('Roaring Kitty') return and investment in GameStop. (Source: Summary, Related Document)

  2024-05-01

Meme stock

A meme stock is a stock that gains popularity among retail investors through social media. The popularity of meme stocks is generally based on internet memes shared among traders, on platforms such as Reddit's r/wallstreetbets. Investors in such stocks are often young and inexperienced investors. As a result of their popularity, meme stocks often trade at prices that are above their estimated value – as based on fundamental analysis – and are known for being extremely speculative and volatile.

Web Search Results

• Meme Stocks: Up to 398% Annual Performance

  A meme stock is a share of a company that quickly jumps in price due to the attention of a dedicated online following. Meme stocks usually gain popularity through discussion threads on community forum sites such as Reddit and social media platforms. The first successful meme stock was GameStop Corp (GME) U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Staff Report on Equity and Options Market Structure Conditions in Early 2021. Accessed May 14, 2024. View all sources . [...] ## How meme stocks work Without their cult followings, meme stocks are not necessarily valuable assets. These online communities, such as the popular Reddit forum WallStreetBets, coordinate buying and selling efforts to influence stock prices. With enough online support, meme stocks can maintain elevated stock prices regardless of the underlying company's worth. [...] GameStop may have started the meme stock mania, but others have followed in its footsteps. Today there are entire indexes of meme stocks, but even these struggle to paint an accurate picture of the constantly-changing meme stock landscape. For example, below are the five best-performing stocks in the Solactive Roundhill Meme Stock Index, ordered by one-year returns. But this index doesn't capture the most recent meme stock rally: Real estate app Opendoor.

• What Are Meme Stocks and Are They Real Investments?

  A meme stock refers to the shares of a company that have gained viral popularity due to heightened social sentiment. This is usually due to activity online and particularly on social media platforms. These online communities can dedicate heavy research and resources toward a particular stock. Meme stocks often have heavier discourse and analysis in discussion threads on websites like Reddit and posts on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. ### Key Takeaways [...] Meme stocks are shares of companies around which online communities have formed to promote and build narratives. GameStop (GME) is widely regarded as the first meme stock. GameStop's price rose as much as 100 times over several months when its meme community crafted a short squeeze. Meme stocks have generated slang and language that's used in online forums and social media. [...] Learn about our editorial policies Updated March 27, 2025 Reviewed by Gordon Scott Reviewed by Gordon Scott Full Bio Gordon Scott has been an active investor and technical analyst or 20+ years. He is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT). Learn about our Financial Review Board Definition Meme stocks are shares of companies around which online communities have formed to promote and build narratives. ## What Is a Meme Stock?

• What are meme stocks | Fidelity

  Let’s dive into the latest in the land of meme stocks and why it might matter for you. ### What is a meme stock? A meme stock is one whose trading activity is pumped up via social media—particularly on Reddit, X, and YouTube. The use of memes, which are tweaked images, videos, text, etc., is a central component of how the usually positive reviews of these stocks are copied and spread across the internet. The creators of these posts are largely individual investors. [...] The type of stock that became a meme stock is also worth thinking about. Meme stocks are largely companies with brands that are recognizable to some degree to individual investors, compared with other stocks that may not have as much resonance with regular investors. They were also stocks that had seen better days. [...] May 23, 2025 4 min Great, you have saved this article to you My Learn Profile page. Meme stocks Clicking a link will open a new window. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Print # Meme stocks What to do about the periodic wild trading in GameStop, AMC, and other meme stocks. Fidelity Viewpoints ### Key takeaways So-called meme stocks are a group of stocks that receive heightened social media coverage among individual investors. Trading meme stocks presents some unique risks and challenges.

• Best Meme Stocks to Watch in October 2025 | IG International

  Here's everything you need to know about meme stocks in 2024, including 10 of the highest trending shares. Written by Charles Archer Financial Writer What is a meme stock? A meme stock is a publicly listed company from any sector which gains traction due to an increased interest amongst retail traders on popular social media platforms like Reddit. These online communities partake in in-depth discussions speculating on the price performance of particular stocks. [...] In Q1 2024 results, revenue was broadly flat at $951.4 million, though the net loss improved to $163.5 million compared to the loss of $235.5 million in Q1 2023. AMC has in the past diluted shareholders when it spikes in order to take advantage of the financial optionality created by meme volatility. GameStop The original meme stock, GameStop is one of the world’s largest video game retailers, selling video games, gaming consoles, accessories and collectible merchandise.

• Meme Stocks List: What They Are, Names, and Examples

  Meme stock investors are often quite nostalgic for companies that were once thriving. I think you can think of some retail brands I’ll discuss later. But other than those, nostalgic meme stocks include names like Blackberry, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Nokia. Just thinkBANG stocks. [...] The list of meme stocks seems to get longer each week. Whichever ticker symbols are trending or being discussed in groups liker/WallStreetBetsbecome meme stocks. Here are a couple of obvious meme stocks and a couple that you might not even realize are. Image 5: Meme Stocks GameStop ### 1. GameStop (NYSE: GME) [...] ### AMC Chart Image 7: Meme Stock AMC This is an example of meme stock $AMC. Notice in December 2020, the price got pumped from $5.17 to $726.20 in June 2021 and then dumped down to the current price of $5.08. ### 3. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Yup, the great Tesla is also a meme stock. Well, kind of. Tesla is just popular everywhere: on Wall Street and in Reddit forums. It might be one of the only stocks that both sides agree on.