Stock Soars Then Slips as Retail Frenzy Cools
Shares of Beyond Meat soared more than 100% early Wednesday before trimming gains, closing the session up just 15% after briefly dipping into negative territory. The stock hit an intraday high of $7.69, a dramatic leap from Tuesday’s $3.62 close, but settled above $4 by midday.
The wild rally follows an extraordinary week fueled by renewed meme stock mania. On Monday, Beyond Meat surged over 127% after Roundhill Investments added the company to its Meme Stock ETF (MEME). This sparked a short squeeze, with over 63% of the stock’s float sold short, according to FactSet.
Distribution News Boosts Sentiment
Beyond Meat extended gains Tuesday with a record 146% spike after announcing it will expand distribution through Walmart. The news temporarily reignited optimism around a company whose shares have steadily declined since their IPO in 2019, when they briefly traded above $230.
Despite recent jumps, Beyond Meat remains far from its peak. It has posted annual declines for five consecutive years, including losses of 47% in 2021, 81% in 2022, 27% in 2023, and 57% in 2024. The stock is still down over 3% in 2025 year to date.
Debt Woes and Market Volatility Linger
Last week, Beyond Meat hit a low of just 65 cents after finalizing a debt deal that spooked investors, triggering a 67% weekly decline. The rebound this week evokes comparisons to the pandemic-era meme stock phenomenon, when Reddit forums like WallStreetBets orchestrated rallies in companies such as GameStop and AMC.
Retail sentiment on Reddit remains mixed. One user posted that they bought 10,000 shares at $7.50, prompting another to reply, “You’re already down 7k, impressive.” Another joked, “You know the economy is cooked when BYND stock is making a comeback.”
Market Euphoria or Bubble Warning?
The return of speculative trading in beaten-down stocks like Beyond Meat may reflect broader market euphoria, despite ongoing concerns about overvaluation and a potential AI-driven bubble. Even Roundhill’s meme ETF — once shuttered due to lack of interest — was relaunched this month to capture renewed appetite among retail investors.
Whether Beyond Meat’s sudden rally marks a sustainable turnaround or a short-lived retail pump remains to be seen. For now, it’s a reminder that sentiment, not fundamentals, can still move markets in unpredictable ways.
