GameStop (GME) Plunges 13% After Unexpected Announcement From CEO

As a researcher with a background in financial markets, I’ve closely followed the developments at GameStop Corp. (GME) and have been intrigued by the recent turn of events. The company’s CEO, Ryan Cohen, has made it clear that his primary focus is on achieving profitability for the gaming firm, which comes at an interesting juncture when the share price is experiencing a retail-driven pump.


Ryan Cohen, the CEO of GameStop Corp., has communicated to investors that his primary goal for the gaming company is to attain profitability. This announcement surfaces amidst renewed interest and significant price fluctuations in GameStop’s shares due to retail investor activity.

GameStop to Adopt Smaller Network of Stores 

The gaming firm’s CEO reiterated some of the actual utility focuses for the firm.

Cohen has a profitability strategy in place, and he also aims to steer clear of the excitement driving up GameStop’s shares during the meme-stock craze. At the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Monday, which had some initial technical issues, the CEO reminded his audience that revenue without profits and future cash flow are irrelevant to investors.

The GameStop CEO expressed that this would result in having fewer retail locations, but offering a broader selection of pricier merchandise compatible with our trade-in policy.

The CEO revealed that the videogame retailer intends to run a scaled-down chain of stores across the country, without disclosing specifics about their plans for the $4 billion in cash they now possess. This substantial amount of money was obtained through a recent share sale, which generated over $2 billion.

Significantly, Cohen has been working for years to transform GameStop into a digital marketplace for new video game releases. Previously, GameStop was viewed negatively by short sellers as an ailing physical retailer. In recent times, the company was forced to close some distribution centers and undergo extensive layoffs.

As a researcher studying the video game industry, I’ve noticed that in January, a major retailer made the decision to shut down their Non-Fungible Token (NFT) marketplace due to the persistent regulatory uncertainties surrounding cryptocurrencies. Consequently, the platform, which enabled gaming NFTs and collectibles on Immutable X and Loopring, no longer received support from GameStop.

GME Price Dropped by 13.4%

Following Cohen’s latest statement dismissing hype, GameStop’s stock experienced a considerable decline. By Monday afternoon, the company’s shares dropped by 13.4%, trading at $24.86. At the moment of publication, the price had climbed slightly to $25.61, illustrating its market instability.

As a researcher studying the stock market, I’ve noticed that this particular stock has been exhibiting a sideways trend for some time now. However, what’s intriguing is that its downward price movement has persisted consistently over the past few weeks.

Significantly, the instances when the stock prices for the shares surged were quite impressive. These price increases were substantial, leading to a notable rise when Keith Gill, also known as “Roaring Kitty” online, disclosed his ownership of $181.4 million worth of GameStop (GME) stocks. As a result, the GME stock price jumped by an astonishing 300%.

The future of GameStop over the next several weeks and months is still unclear, but Cohen remains hopeful that his actions will bring about positive changes for the video game retailer.

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2024-06-18 12:11