Ballard Power Falls 23% in One Day; Is This an Opportunity?

Or should you avoid this stock like the plague?

| More on:
The Motley Fool

They say investing isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires staying calm, even as stocks swing wildly up and down. But even the most seasoned investors would get weak in the knees if one of their stocks fell 23% in one day.

And that’s exactly what happened to Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD)(Nasdaq: BLDP) on Wednesday, as its shares sunk from $5.99 to $4.60 per share. Strangely, Ballard’s shares are still up over the past two days after gaining 31% on Tuesday. It seems that the company’s shareholders just can’t make up their mind.

So what’s going on?

Normally the biggest swings in a company’s stock price occur after an earnings release. But Ballard hasn’t reported earnings since February, and hasn’t even had any news releases since March 14. Yet on Tuesday, nearly 4% of the company’s shares outstanding changed hands. By comparison, 0.1% of RBC’s shares change hands on an average day.

Ballard was not alone. Plug Power (Nasdaq: PLUG), which uses Ballard’s technology in its fuel cells, also has seen its shares swing wildly. After gaining 49% on Tuesday, its shares dropped 24% on Wednesday. And over 100% of its shares changed hands on the day.

Casino stocks

Recently Citron Research came out with a report that described Plug Power as a “casino stock”, suggesting that investing in Plug is really more like gambling than investing. And no wonder – with so many shares trading in a single day, shareholders are clearly hoping to flip the shares for a quick profit rather than hold them for the long term.

The same thing could be said for Ballard. The good news is that both stocks are still up on the year. Ballard’s shares are up 185% and Plug’s share are up a whopping 315%. The bad news is that most shareholders haven’t held the stock for that long.

Foolish bottom line

So what should you do? Well, assuming you are an investor, these stocks are clearly not suitable. While both of them have gained plenty this year, those gains have been fueled by speculation and greed than by fundamentals.

And for those of you who prefer to make risky short-term bets, Las Vegas has perfect weather this time of year.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Benjamin Sinclair holds no positions in any of the stocks mentioned in this article.

More on Investing

Investing

$1,000 Ready to Deploy? 3 Quality TSX Stocks for Canadian Investors

Amid improving investors sentiments, the following three Canadian stocks offer excellent buying opportunities.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing the Registered Retirement Savings Plan
Dividend Stocks

RRSP Investors: 3 Canadian Dividend Stocks to Buy on Dips

These stocks have strong track records of dividend growth and now trade at discounted prices.

Read more »

concept of real estate evaluation
Dividend Stocks

Beyond Real Estate: These TSX Income Generators Could Deliver Superior Passive Income for Canadians

These two TSX dividend stocks could offer Canadian investors a reliable income stream and strong long-term upside, without relying on…

Read more »

Confused person shrugging
Dividend Stocks

Better TSX Dividend Stock to Own: Manulife or Sun Life?

While Sun Life stock has outpaced Manulife in the last two decades, which dividend-paying insurance giant is a good buy…

Read more »

A plant grows from coins.
Energy Stocks

Got $25,000? Turn it Into $200,000 in a TFSA as Canadian Dollar Gains

This energy stock may not have a high dividend, but it certainly has a high rate of growth to look…

Read more »

coins jump into piggy bank
Dividend Stocks

How to Use Your TFSA to Earn $1,057/Year in Tax-Free Income

Investing $5,000 in each of these high-yield dividend stocks can help you earn over $1,057 per year in tax-free income.

Read more »

data analyze research
Tech Stocks

Is BlackBerry (TSX:BB) a Buy in May 2025?

While its recent downturn might not look pretty, it might be the best opportunity to buy BlackBerry (TSX:BB) stock and…

Read more »

Piggy bank with word TFSA for tax-free savings accounts.
Investing

Where I’d Invest the New $7,000 TFSA Contribution Limit in 2025

If you have $7,000 for the new TFSA contribution increase, here are three stocks I would contemplate adding to the…

Read more »