GameStop $GME shops mainly sold physical video games. They would also stock many resale items. The physical locations capitalized on the same type of business that comic book shops often had by selling collectibles as well. Many projected that Game Stop had a very limited future and had been cut out of the supply chain as many electronic games are simply sold online in recent years.

Hedge funds had high interest in shorting GameStop at the end of 2020. In January 2021 a long position idea existed with the idea that a pivot to in-person gaming meetings could be a way forward. Michael Burry was featured in the Big Short and he had advocated for a potential bright future for GameStop lending credibility to the value position. Melvin Capital was known for this, and was pretty aggressive in advocating for the short position.

“Deep F…ing Value” (aka “Roaring Kitty”) entered the scene with the WallStreetBets crowd and advocated for buying GameStop and driving up the price. Around GameStop there was herd mentality forming and a desire to squeeze the hedge funds. It was equivalent to an ‘occupy Wall Street movement’. Everyone online had to going to buy Game Stop stock and not sell it for the short squeeze to work.  These are known as “diamond hands”, which also happens with cryptocurrency. It became the ‘Prisoners Dillema’, a trust game, where everyone has to stay the course and not sell. A religious fervor built up as online investors from Robinhood wished to take down hedge funds that were seen as greedy. 

We discuss the typical scenario around short selling and short squeezes. There is some value for markets to have short sellers as they act as a shock absorber. Contrarian short sellers are naturally unpopular due to the historical interest in companies continuing to succeed. A set of factors aligned in 2021: the bull case for the stock, an online sentiment to stick it to short sellers, and the natural appeal of using Robinhood to become wealthy from the comfort of one’s own home. Meteoric rises in the price continued until it had reached three hundred dollars per share. This scenario may serve as a sign that retain online investors are coming online. It’s a case where people with limited investing skills scored a victory in this risky scenario. 

Some people may have participated simply to experience the thrill of being part of this movement as entertainment for some people. It is not healthy for society overall to have people treating the stock market like a casino. It had a sports betting feel to it.

AMC theaters was on the way to bankruptcy, but took advantage of a price rise to raise capital to help their business. GameStop might have done this same thing. Financial markets serve a purpose and this type of scenario goes against the natural functionality of markets. The risk levels always rise with betting on perception this way. 

Perhaps GameStop will act as a gateway stock for people to begin investing careers.
$AMC

Mental Models: Game Stop Stock Unhinged: #72

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Mental Models: Game Stop Stock Unhinged: #72

Mental Models Podcast | Behavioral Finance