Five years after the short squeeze, GameStop’s CEO is betting on a ‘genius or totally foolish’ $100 billion-plus acquisition

Core Viewpoint - GameStop is attempting to transform from a struggling video game retailer into a $100 billion-plus business through strategic acquisitions, as envisioned by CEO Ryan Cohen, who aims to modernize the company beyond its traditional offerings [2][3]. Group 1: Company Strategy - CEO Ryan Cohen plans to acquire a publicly traded company to expand GameStop's business model, aiming for a significant increase in market capitalization from $11 billion to over $100 billion [2][5]. - The company is looking to modernize in response to the decline of physical video games, indicating a shift in strategy to adapt to changing market conditions [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Under Cohen's leadership, GameStop's market capitalization has increased from $1.3 billion in 2021 to approximately $9.3 billion, representing a 615% increase in shareholder value [5]. - Cohen's compensation package is tied to achieving a market cap of $100 billion and $10 billion in Cumulative Performance EBITDA, with a potential payout of over $35 billion in stock options [5]. Group 3: Market Sentiment - The stock of GameStop experienced a dramatic rise of 2,700% in 2021, driven by retail investor enthusiasm and hedge fund short-selling, but the company is now perceived as facing obsolescence [3]. - Experts express skepticism regarding the feasibility of Cohen's ambitious goals, with some analysts suggesting a very low probability of reaching the $100 billion target due to a lack of demonstrated competitive advantage [6].