Sometimes I don't understand markets.
Other times I really don't understand markets.
From Slope of Hope:
All the Tesla wannabes, whether via fraud or not, are just plunging toward zero.
*****
....MORE
And the understanding, or lack thereof?
Let's start with Lordstown:
June 9
Electric Truck Startup, Lordstown Motors Gets a "Going Concern", May Be Headed For Bankruptcy CourtAnd why is there still a bid?
As the old joke goes, third marriages are proof of the triumph of hope over experience.The stock was at $11.22June 14
Electric Truck SPAC Lordstown Motors: CFO and CEO Resign (RIDE)
Why is there still a bid?
In premarket action the stock is changing hands at $10.04 down $1.37 (-12.01%)July 29The stock is changing hands at $13.03 down $1.17 ( -8.21%) and as we said about competitor Lordstown Motors (RIDE):"Why is there still a bid?"RIDE $6.42 down $0.14 (2.13%)
Today:
RIDE
as of Aug 16 11:10 AM
ET
5.18
-0.18
-3.44%
NKLA
as of Aug 16 11:10 AM
ET
9.33
-0.20
-2.13%
Why is there still a bid?
Back in 2009 I posted a few lines on adventures in short selling:
...Prior to and just after filing for bankruptcy, Northwest Airlines seemed to offer a short opportunity. A friend had me double-check his balance sheet analysis and I ended up selling myself on the idea. The common shareholders would be wiped out and the stock was trading around $1.25. We got the short on. The stock tripled or quadrupled. I started quoting Keynes (attributed) as we threw money at the monster:The airline was actually concerned enough about people buying the stock that they warned against the practice. Here's another NWA post, this time from 2015:
The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent.It worked out, the stock went to zero and I kept quoting Keynes:
“It is the one sphere of life and activity where victory, security and success is always to the minority and never to the majority. When you find any one agreeing with you, change your mind...."There are a few lessons to take away from this adventure:
1) If your timing is wrong you had better be right in your analysis.
2) It is really, really good to have a friendly banker.
3) Keynes talked a lot.
I'm always amazed when the stock of companies that have entered bankruptcy protection continue to trade as if the common shareholders had claims that were anything more than dreams.Cancelled.
Yet it happens over and over again. And can be immensely profitable if you can locate stock to short....
...Here's one of those bankruptcy stories
Northwest's reorganization jolts investors
Updated 5/31/2007 6:14 AM
Anthony Hicks thought he was getting a bargain when he saw Northwest Airlines stock trading for $1.70 per share.
Tempted by that low price, the 39-year-old Detroiter bought 2,000 shares earlier this year, knowing that the airline was restructuring in bankruptcy. It was in bankruptcy that Northwest's stock had skyrocketed from 60 cents to $7.50 in January, on speculation that the company would merge with another airline.Hicks saw that surge and hoped to catch it on a second wave.There was no second wave. What Hicks didn't know was that those Northwest shares would be worthless the day the company emerged from bankruptcy.That day is today. After 20 months of shedding billions of dollars in debt and costs, Northwest is set to leave bankruptcy protection.The airline had warned since it filed for bankruptcy in September 2005 that its stock could be cancelled....The company was warning for twenty months that the stock would be canceled!....
