Beyond Meat's stock is suddenly on fire, but does that mean the plant-based meat maker is back? Well, here is where it gets interesting. The plant-based meat company recently experienced a significant comeback after years of declining sales and investor departures. It rose by more than 700% in four sessions, recovering from being almost a penny stock. A resurrected meme-stock ETF inclusion and a new contract with Walmart were at the center of the hysteria. But the basics are still wobbly, despite all th ...

Core Viewpoint - Beyond Meat's shares have experienced a significant surge, more than doubling in value and increasing over 1,000% in the last four trading days, following a period of all-time lows [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Beyond Meat's shares rose more than 92% early Wednesday, marking a dramatic recovery from a low of 52 cents per share on October 16 [1]. - The stock's recent rally is attributed to its inclusion in Roundhill Investments' Meme Stock ETF, which focuses on stocks driven by social media hype rather than financial performance [3]. Group 2: Product Availability and Strategy - The company announced an increase in product availability at over 2,000 Walmart stores, including chicken pieces, Korean BBQ-style steak, and burger six-packs [2]. - Beyond Meat launched a direct-to-consumer website to generate interest through limited releases of new products [2]. Group 3: Market Context - Investors have been seeking out meme stocks in 2025 as a strategy to find bargains in a high-priced stock market, with Beyond Meat previously being a popular choice since its IPO in 2019 [4]. - The company has faced challenges with weak demand for its products, reporting a 15% decline in net revenue during the first half of the year [5]. Group 4: Recent Challenges - The stock price fell sharply last week due to the expiration of lock-up restrictions on 326 million shares, allowing shareholders to sell their stock as part of a debt reduction strategy [6].

Beyond Meat, the El Segundo pioneer of plant-based hamburger patties, saw its stock collapse this week after it finalized a deal to reduce its debt. Above, a Beyond Meat burger prepared at the company's research center and test kitchen. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) What does it cost a company when it's no longer in the zeitgeist? For stockholders in Beyond Meat, perhaps as much as 99% of their money, if they bought at the top of the market. Shares of the El Segundo maker of plant-based meats, an in ...