Krispy Kreme, GoPro and Beyond Meat Spark New Wave of Meme‑Stock Mania

23 July 2025

Shares in Krispy Kreme soared Wednesday./ AP

In a dramatic shift driven by online fervor rather than company fundamentals, shares of Krispy Kreme, GoPro, and Beyond Meat surged across trading platforms today as retail investors, galvanized on forums such as Reddit’s WallStreetBets, reignited what many are calling the next round of meme‑stock mania. Krispy Kreme saw a jump of around 25 percent mid‑day following an initial 27 percent rally, driven in part by a record spike in call‑option volume that amounted to roughly 71 times its typical daily activity.

GoPro’s stock exhibited similar behavior, soaring as much as 60 percent in morning trading after a prior 41 percent gain the day before. Despite having not posted annual profits since 2022, the stock leaped on the back of speculative buying interest and heavy short interest that made it susceptible to a short squeeze. Beyond Meat added around 10 percent to its value, marking a weekly climb exceeding 30 percent, although the plant‑based meat provider continues to post losses since its 2019 IPO.

This resurgence follows a pattern witnessed in the earlier 2021 meme‑stock episode, typified by GameStop, BlackBerry, Bed Bath & Beyond, and others. Wheels are spinning on high short‑interest names the newly coined “DORK” stock collection (including Krispy Kreme, Opendoor, RocketLab, and Kohl’s) has captured fresh attention. Opendoor itself surged over 440 percent in the past month before its momentum cooled, underscoring the volatility that defines these trades.

Market analysts caution that these sharp moves are decoupled from the companies’ financial trajectories. Capital.com senior analyst Daniela Hathorn pointed out that, “there was no significant news to justify the rally, just sheer retail momentum,” and warned of the potential for swift reversals that could leave speculative traders exposed. BlackRock’s Tony DeSpirito describes meme‑stock fever as "the epitome of greed," urging investors to prioritize underlying earnings and cash flows over hype-driven swings.

These gains emerged amid broader equity strength, with major indexes touching record highs and Bitcoin having doubled in value over the past year conditions that typically fuel speculative investments. Historic parallels are hard to ignore: GameStop leapt from under $5 to $120 in four weeks during the original frenzy, underscoring both the explosive potential and inherent risk of meme‑stock rallies.

Despite the excitement, these stocks remain under pressure: Opendoor dropped about 18 percent and Kohl’s fell 13 percent after earlier surges, serving as swift reminders that gains can evaporate as quickly as they appear.

For Krispy Kreme, GoPro, and Beyond Meat, the gains are impressive, yet the lack of corresponding business updates suggests heavy reliance on social media sentiment. Krispy Kreme, in particular, continues to face projected losses for 2025 and has suspended its outlook amid an uncertain partnership with McDonald’s. GoPro remains unprofitable, while Beyond Meat’s revenue struggles are well-known.

This latest act in the meme‑stock saga reflects both the power of retail‑led momentum and its fragility. As traders pile into heavily shorted names, they risk a tide turned by waning enthusiasm, liquidity constraints, or broader market alarms about inflation or policy shifts. And while the thrill of sudden gains is compelling, experts stress that following social media hype without strategy is a speculative gamble, not an investment plan.

In the end, the stocks of Krispy Kreme, GoPro, and Beyond Meat are riding a wave of narrative and emotion a revival of the meme‑stock phenomenon in full swing. Whether this wave ushers in significant profits or fizzles into another footnote remains to be seen. For now, it is a high‑octane reminder that, in markets driven by viral currents, logic and fundamentals may be left in the dust.