Opendoor Technologies (NASDAQ:OPEN) just reminded the market that meme mania is still very much alive and kicking. After spending much of the year in the shadows, the heavily shorted real estate tech stock stunned investors with a massive rally, soaring 42% today (following an intraday spike of 120%) and racking up a whopping 500% gain over the past month.
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The frenzy was driven by a potent mix of meme-stock magic, short-squeeze speculation, and a bold new endorsement from a well-known hedge fund manager who’s calling Opendoor the next Carvana.
But does this rally have real staying power, or is it just another meme-fueled mirage? That’s the question top investor James Foord is wrestling with.
Foord, who’s ranked in the top 2% of TipRanks’ stock experts, doesn’t think the answer is so clear-cut. He’s not blindly hopping on the hype train, but he’s not ready to write it off either.
On the bullish side, Foord highlights Opendoor’s commanding presence in the iBuying space, where it now controls roughly 90% of the market following exits by Zillow and Redfin. That kind of dominance, he argues, gives Opendoor an edge in pricing power and data – critical ingredients for optimizing its transaction-driven algorithm, especially as AI capabilities continue to evolve. From a valuation standpoint, the stock recently traded at under 0.2x sales, and even with the latest surge, it’s still near 2x book value. Add in a 40% reduction in operating expenses and a $2 billion cash cushion, and Foord sees a potential setup for gains – particularly if interest rates ease in the coming year.
But the bear case also looms large. Opendoor remains unprofitable and is saddled with $2.5 billion in debt, a risky position for a company holding housing inventory in a fragile real estate market. Foord cautions that the road to sustainable profitability remains murky, especially with buyers and sellers locked in a stalemate. Moreover, there’s the looming risk of dilution. To keep the lights on, Opendoor may need to raise fresh capital – whether to offset ongoing losses, manage its debt, or maintain liquidity amid macro uncertainty.
Staying Sidelined on OPEN Stock
With both compelling upside and serious risks in play, Foord is choosing to stay on the sidelines. In his view, there just isn’t enough clarity in the housing market to take a confident position right now.
“Opendoor is a bet on the housing market. The company needs volume to rebound in order to make its business viable. If management can execute well and mortgages come down, then this could be a great play over the next five years. However, this is highly speculative, and the current rally is a reflection of meme speculation, so investors should be aware that it could come down quite quickly,” Foord summed up. (To view Foord’s track record, click here)
Wall Street isn’t exactly brimming with confidence either. Analysts have slapped a consensus Hold rating on OPEN stock, based on 5 recent calls: 1 Buy, 3 Holds, and 1 Sell. With shares currently at $3.21 and the average price target sitting at just $0.83, that points to a steep 74% downside from here. (See OPEN stock forecast)
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured investor. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.