Why Did Beyond Meat Stock Jump As Much As 20% Today?

Core Viewpoint - Beyond Meat has faced a significant legal setback with a $38.9 million jury verdict in a trademark infringement case, yet its stock price experienced a notable increase, driven by retail investor activity and a potential short squeeze [1][2][3]. Group 1: Legal Issues - The trademark infringement case was initiated by Vegadelphia Foods, claiming that Beyond Meat's advertising slogan "great taste, plant-based" violated its federally registered trademark "Where Great Taste Is Plant-Based" [2]. - Dunkin' settled its claims related to the same lawsuit last year, while Beyond Meat continues to face the legal consequences [2]. Group 2: Financial Impact - The $38.9 million verdict is substantial, especially considering Beyond Meat's reported revenue of $70.2 million in the third quarter [3]. - Despite the legal defeat, the stock price surged by as much as 20% in the morning, indicating strong retail investor interest [1][3]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Beyond Meat has become a meme stock, experiencing a dramatic increase of over 300% in share price within a week last month, although it has since retraced most of those gains [3]. - As of mid-November, more than 20% of Beyond Meat's float was sold short, contributing to the stock's volatility and potential short squeeze [5].