Did Opendoor's Gambit to Crush Short Sellers Backfire?

Core Viewpoint - Opendoor Technologies has introduced a unique "shareholder-first dividend" in the form of tradable warrants to reward shareholders and potentially punish short-sellers, amidst a volatile stock performance following a meme stock rally earlier this year [1][3][4]. Company Actions - The company announced that shareholders would receive one warrant from each of three series for every 30 shares owned, with exercise prices set at $9, $13, and $17, allowing conversion into shares of Opendoor stock [2]. - New CEO Kaz Nejatian emphasized the warrants as a means to reward shareholders and expressed satisfaction in potentially impacting short-sellers negatively [4]. Stock Performance - Following the announcement, Opendoor's stock initially surged by 43% over four sessions, with trading volume reaching 250 million on the peak day [5]. - However, the stock has since lost all gains, coinciding with a broader market sell-off due to concerns about an AI bubble [5][6]. Strategic Goals - Nejatian introduced a turnaround strategy focusing on scaling acquisitions, improving unit economics, and building operating leverage [7]. - The company aims to achieve breakeven adjusted net income by the end of 2026, despite not being profitable since the pandemic [8]. Market Conditions - Opendoor's performance is closely tied to the housing market, which has been struggling despite falling interest rates, with cautious spending noted among homeowners [9]. - The third-quarter results were disappointing, and weak guidance was provided for the fourth quarter, with Nejatian indicating that the impact of previous management decisions would be more evident in the following year [10][11].