Why BlackBerry Stock Is up Over 50% This Past Week

BlackBerry Ltd. (TSX:BB)(NYSE:BB) is benefiting from the “meme stock” craze, but there are better reasons to add the stock today.

| More on:
Business success with growing, rising charts and businessman in background

Image source: Getty Images

BlackBerry (TSX:BB)(NYSE:BB) is a Waterloo-based technology company that has landed on its feet in the software space after being muscled out of the smartphone space by Apple and Android competitors in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Shares of BlackBerry jumped 53% week over week as of close on June 3. The stock is up over 125% in 2021 so far.

Today, I want to discuss why I’ve been bullish on this Canadian tech darling. Moreover, we’ll dive into BlackBerry’s recent momentum gain that seems to suggest that the “meme stocks” are not dead in the water. Let’s jump in.

Investors need to watch out for a cyber pandemic

In late May, I’d warned investors of the possibility of a cyber pandemic disrupting domestic and global economies. Recent events have seen ransomware hackers hit a major pipeline in the United States that led to temporary fuel shortages. This past weekend, another hacker group targeted JBS, the world’s largest meat supplier. Its systems have just started to come back online by the middle of this week.

BlackBerry has gained a promising foothold in the cyber security space, as it has bolstered its software offerings. However, it has a lot of work to do in order to compete with some of the biggest names in the sector. Last month, the company announced that it was extending its detection and response (XDR) strategy with two new cyber security innovations.

BlackBerry and the meme stocks: Short squeeze 2.0?

Investors were treated to some unique drama in the opening months of 2021 as “meme stocks” captured international attention. Shares of GameStop and AMC Entertainment, two companies that had struggled mightily in the face of the pandemic, were surging on the back of a social media-fueled movement to force a short squeeze. BlackBerry was another top stock that was impacted by this frenzy.

Its shares soared to a 52-week high of $36 in late January before falling back down to earth by the opening days in February. These meme stocks managed to stage a comeback to kick off the month of June. However, AMC warned investors against buying the stock, which sparked a selloff.

Once again, BlackBerry has been caught up in this frenzy. This should not inspire investors to dismiss the Canadian tech company as a “meme” investment. Indeed, the Waterloo-based company holds long-term promise.

Should you buy BlackBerry stock today?

BlackBerry is expected to release its first-quarter fiscal 2022 results towards the end of this month. In fiscal 2021, the company made some impressive strides. It gained huge momentum in December 2020 after it announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services. This collaboration led to the launch of BlackBerry IVY, a revolutionary development in automobile software.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a pullback in the automobile space. This also impacted BlackBerry. A domestic and global economic rebound should lead to a solid rebound in this sector. Forget about the meme stocks. I’m looking to stash BlackBerry for the long term regardless in early June.

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.

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Fool contributor Ambrose O'Callaghan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. David Gardner owns shares of Amazon, Apple, and GameStop. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon and Apple. The Motley Fool recommends BlackBerry and recommends the following options: short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple, long January 2022 $1920 calls on Amazon, short January 2022 $1940 calls on Amazon, and long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple.

More on Investing

A cannabis plant grows.
Cannabis Stocks

Canopy Growth Stock Is Rising But I’m Worried About This One Thing

Canopy Growth stock is soaring as the legalization effort makes real progress in both Germany and the United States.

Read more »

young woman celebrating a victory while working with mobile phone in the office
Investing

3 Roaring Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years

These top TSX stocks are excellent long-term buys, given their multi-year growth potential and solid underlying businesses.

Read more »

Two seniors float in a pool.
Dividend Stocks

TFSA: How to Earn $1,890 in Annual Tax-Free Income

Plunk these investments into your TFSA to earn passive income and avoid the taxman.

Read more »

grow dividends
Investing

Here’s My Top 3 TSX Stocks to Buy Right Now

Even though the TSX has been rising, there are still some good bargains out there. Here are three top compounding…

Read more »

Target. Stand out from the crowd
Investing

Prediction: This Canadian Growth Stock Could Double by 2030

Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD) is a top growth stock that could do well over the next six or so years.

Read more »

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 »

Engineers walk through a facility.
Dividend Stocks

1 TSX Stock I Wouldn’t Touch With a 10-Foot Pole

AtkinsRéalis (TSX:ATRL) is one TSX stock I'd never invest in.

Read more »

money cash dividends
Stocks for Beginners

Have $500? 3 Absurdly Cheap Stocks Long-Term Investors Should Buy Right Now

If you're looking for cheap stocks, these three have a huge future ahead of them, all while costing far less…

Read more »