Shares of Opendoor Technologies Inc (OPEN) surged 13.78% during Tuesday's trading session, as the company continues to attract significant attention from retail investors and meme stock enthusiasts. The real estate technology firm has become the latest darling of the meme stock crowd, driven by a combination of factors including high short interest, bullish comments from a prominent hedge fund manager, and hopes for industry disruption.
Eric Jackson, head of EMJ Capital, has been a vocal supporter of Opendoor, comparing it to industry disruptors like Uber and Airbnb. In a recent Yahoo! Finance appearance, Jackson referred to Opendoor as the "Uber of real estate," suggesting that the company could transform the homebuying experience and become the go-to consumer platform for buying and selling real estate. This comparison has ignited retail investor interest, with many hoping for potential outsized returns.
Adding fuel to the rally is the stock's high short interest, with 24.64% of the float currently sold short. This has made Opendoor an attractive target for meme stock traders looking for potential short squeeze opportunities. Recent leadership changes, including the appointment of Shrisha Radhakrishna as president and interim leader, along with insider buying activity, have further boosted investor confidence. Additionally, anticipation of potential rate cuts later this year has begun to lift housing-related stocks, providing a favorable backdrop for Opendoor's surge.