Gamestop (TSX:GME) Stock: Why it’s up 1,000% in 2021

GameStop stock has been on the ride of its life. But at this point, it’s heading for a fall. Buy BlackBerry stock instead.

| More on:
Arrowings ascending on a chalkboard

Image source: Getty Images.

GameStop (NYSE:GME) is an omnichannel video game retailer. This is an attractive industry. In fact, it’s huge. The pandemic has made it even bigger. Hence, the reason why Gamestop stock has been soaring. Actually, I should say ONE of the reasons why it’s soaring.

With short traders and speculative buying manipulating the stock, it’s hard to make sense of what’s real. Let’s figure out the real reasons Gamestop stock is soaring. And, most importantly, let’s figure out what investors should do about it.

Gamestop stock initially rallied on strong results

Toward the end of 2020, Gamestop saw a recovery of sorts. This culminated in the 250% increase in e-commerce sales in the company’s latest quarter. Looking ahead to future quarters, the story remains that of a recovery. In fact, Gamestop’s fourth quarter will reflect sales growth for the first time in many quarters. And this sales growth will be accompanied by profitability. This is all a reflection of new products and omnichannel capabilities. It’s also a reflection of cost and efficiency initiatives.

So, all of this to say that there is some fundamental reasons for Gamestop stock’s recent strength. But as we can see from the graph below, Gamestop stock is up more than 1,000% since the beginning of this year. Is this really justified? I mean, Gamestop has been posting net losses in the last two years. It has also been burning cash in the last few quarters and struggling under a heavy debt load.

Gamestop stock price

Short positions in Gamestop stock spark investor backlash

The deteriorating financials at Gamestop prompted short-sellers to bet on it falling. This in turn prompted a Reddit-induced buying frenzy amongst retail investors. Their goal was to fight against short-selling hedge funds. So Gamestop stock has Reddit to thank for its recent stock price spike.

Today, Gamestop stock stands as an example of the power of retail investors. While the company’s e-commerce push might actually result in a turnaround, it’s still early. Yet, Gamestop stock is still trading above $200 per share. It ended 2020 at below $20.

Buy BlackBerry stock instead

So, all the fuss about Gamestop stock has gone too far. Clearly, the stock price has decoupled from reality. The video game industry is massive. Lockdowns have helped global gaming sales in 2020. In fact, it’s estimated that they rose 20% to nearly $180 billon in 2020. Gamestop has been in the right industry.

But given the recent stock price action of Gamestop, I recommend steering clear of this overvalued stock. Look instead at BlackBerry (TSX:BB)(NYSE:BB) stock. BlackBerry is in the cybersecurity business. It’s also in the connected cars and machine to machine connectivity business. These are both massive industries that are set up for massive growth in the years to come. BlackBerry is a leader in these businesses. With numerous industry awards and great customer relationships, its reputation is solid.

Blackberry stock price

BlackBerry stock was also affected by Reddit. But contrary to Gamestop stock, BlackBerry has fallen significantly since it was prompted higher in the Reddit rally. Also, BlackBerry is a different company. It’s in much better financial shape. It’s also armed with differentiation due to its leading technologies. All of this amounts to a strong competitive advantage.

Motley Fool: The bottom line

Gamestop stock is still trading up there in the clouds. In my view, this is not sustainable. We should therefore expect it to fall hard. So instead of buying Gamestop, I recommend taking a serious look at BlackBerry stock today.

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 Karen Thomas has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. David Gardner owns shares of GameStop. The Motley Fool recommends BlackBerry and BlackBerry.

More on Tech Stocks

Businessman holding AI cloud
Tech Stocks

Could Investing $20,000 in Nvidia Make You a Millionaire?

Nvidia stock has made investors millionaires in the last 10 years. Is it too late to invest to become a…

Read more »

Business man on stock market financial trade indicator background.
Tech Stocks

1 Growth Stock Down 50 Percent to Buy Right Now

There are plenty of growth stocks in the market worth considering, but Shopify (TSX:SHOP) looks like one of the best…

Read more »

Woman has an idea
Tech Stocks

Prediction: 1 Stock That Could Trounce the Market 

The TSX has been favouring tech stocks, but not this one. However, it has the potential to trounce the market…

Read more »

clock time
Tech Stocks

Long-Term Investing: 3 Top Canadian Stocks You Can Buy for Under $20 a Share

These three under-$20 stocks offer excellent buying opportunities for long-term investors.

Read more »

Businessman holding AI cloud
Tech Stocks

AI Will Transform Everything: Investors, Be Early Adopters and Buy These 3 Stocks

Investors looking to invest in companies doing big things in AI should consider these three stocks for their portfolios.

Read more »

stock research, analyze data
Tech Stocks

Forget Shopify: These Unstoppable Stocks Are Better Buys Today 

Should you consider buying Shopify stock while rivals consider a buyout or should you go for stocks with a stronger…

Read more »

A colourful firework display
Tech Stocks

2 Potentially Explosive Stocks to Buy in March

These two growth stocks are destined for many more years of market-crushing returns.

Read more »

edit CRA taxes
Tech Stocks

TFSA Millionaires Are Learning They Can Still Be Taxed

If you day trade stocks like Shopify (TSX:SHOP) in a TFSA, you may be taxed.

Read more »