BlackBerry (TSX:BB) Stock: Buy the Dip?

BlackBerry Inc (TSX:BB)(NYSE:BB) has rallied this year, but is down over the last month. Time to buy the dip?

| More on:
Overhead shot of young adults using technology at a table

Image source: Getty Images

BlackBerry (TSX:BB)(NYSE:BB) stock spent much of the past month tanking. On June 22 it closed at $16.52, by July 19 it closed at $12.61–a 20% loss. While BB is still up an impressive 49% for the year, its most recent rally has gone up in smoke. Right now, BlackBerry is pretty close to where it was before its most recent rally began–approximately $10.5. All it would take would be a 17% price decline to take it back to that range.

It has been a pretty steep selloff in BlackBerry shares. The question is, should you take profits/cut losses, or buy the dip?

There’s no shortage of people out there who think that BlackBerry is going to be a market-dominating enterprise software behemoth any day now. It certainly has a lot of QNX software installs, and it has a lucrative-sounding partnership with AWS. These facts look promising.

However, the company was not profitable in its most recent quarter or fiscal year, and its revenue is on the decline. In this article, I’ll explore whether BlackBerry’s recent dip is worth buying, or whether this stock should be avoided.

The meme stock factor

The elephant in the room when it comes to BlackBerry is the meme stock phenomenon. Starting in January, Reddit posters on the WallStreetbets subreddit began pumping stocks like Gamestop, AMC, and Nokia–stocks with high short interest that Redditors thought were undervalued. BlackBerry was one of these stocks.

In January it went all the way up to $32 thanks in no small part to Reddit’s coverage. The losses were erased quickly, though, and the stock didn’t touch $32 again even in its second meme stock run-up in June.

It’s easy enough to see what’s going on here. Reddit is at this point consumed with Gamestop, AMC, and other “big name” meme stocks, and BlackBerry isn’t getting as much attention as it was previously. As part of my research for this article, I scrolled through the WallStreetBets front page, checking about 30 thread titles.

I found numerous references to GME and AMC, but none to BB. Likewise, this list of top Reddit stocks does not even have BlackBerry cracking the top 10. So, BB is no longer a WSB favourite and is declining as a result.

How BlackBerry is doing as a business

Having looked at the meme stock angle, we can now proceed to the all-important question:

How is BlackBerry actually doing as a business?

The answer is that it’s a pretty mixed picture. The company’s operations seem to be doing well, with 175 million QNX installs and loads of contracts with big companies. But on the other hand, earnings aren’t so great, with the following metrics having been posted for the 2021 fiscal year:

  • Revenue: $893 million, down $147 million.
  • Gross margin: $643 million, down $120 million.
  • Net income: $-1.1 million, down $950 million.

Not a great year. And the first quarter of fiscal 2022 showed losses as well. So despite all of BlackBerry’s success in getting popular products out there, it has yet to prove itself as a business. As for whether the expected turnaround will ever happen, we’ll just have to wait and see.

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 Andrew Button has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BlackBerry.

More on Tech Stocks

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 »

Shopping and e-commerce
Tech Stocks

Where Will Lightspeed Stock Be in 5 Years?

Lightspeed stock (TSX:LSPD) continues to be touch and go, so what might happen in the next five years?

Read more »