当前“美国最大妖股”：曾经的“人造肉龙头”Beyond Meat，单周暴涨450%，隔夜暴涨一倍再回到原地

Core Viewpoint - Beyond Meat is experiencing extreme stock volatility, with a recent surge of 112% followed by a decline, highlighting speculative trading behavior in the market [1][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - On October 22, Beyond Meat's stock price surged by 112% during trading but ultimately closed down 1.1% at $3.58, despite a weekly gain of over 450% [1][3]. - Over 2 billion shares of Beyond Meat were traded on that day, making it the second most traded stock in the U.S. market, with options trading reaching a historical high [1][3]. Group 2: Market Reactions and Analyst Sentiment - The stock's recent surge was driven by Walmart's announcement to expand Beyond Meat's product distribution to over 2,000 stores, including a new six-pack value offering [3][5]. - Despite the stock's volatility, Wall Street analysts remain skeptical, with 6 sell ratings and 5 hold ratings, and no buy ratings currently assigned [3][5]. - Market strategist Matt Maley noted that the current trading environment reflects high levels of speculation and bubble-like conditions [3]. Group 3: Retail Investor Activity - Beyond Meat has become a focal point for retail investors, particularly on the WallStreetBets forum, which has seen a resurgence of interest in meme stocks [3][4]. - A record 1.9 million call options contracts were traded recently, with some speculating the stock could rise to $9 or even $40 [4]. - Discussions on social media suggest a potential "short squeeze" similar to the GameStop phenomenon, with approximately 64% of tradable shares sold short as of the end of September [4]. Group 4: Company Challenges - Beyond Meat faces significant challenges, including declining sales for three consecutive years and a high price point that deters some consumers amid inflation [6]. - The company has struggled with consumer sentiment towards meat alternatives, which has shifted since the pandemic [5][6]. - Following a debt swap agreement that diluted shareholder equity, the stock price fell to a historical low of $0.52 on October 17, 2023 [3][6].