Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

WeWork Stock Soars: Meme Stock Madness or Mirage?

wework Meme stock

WeWork (NYSE: WE) experienced a remarkable surge of 62.15% on Tuesday, briefly surpassing the 100% mark intraday despite the absence of any significant news catalyst. 

The driving force behind this dramatic uptick was the extraordinary trading volume, reaching an impressive 61.5 million shares exchanged in a single day. The stock followed Tuesday’s impressive showing with another high volume day yesterday, trading almost 54 million shares. 

With recent company developments, soaring stock price, and volume, the question arises: Is WeWork becoming a meme stock worth considering, or is it time to ring the register or avoid it altogether?

wework stock price

WeWork Inc. is a global provider of flexible workspace solutions for individuals and businesses. Their offerings include workstations, private offices, customized floors, and amenities like private phone booths, internet, printers, mail handling, and cleaning services.

They also offer additional services such as HR, payroll, remote workforce solutions, dedicated internet, and IT equipment co-location.

Significant Company Developments

The buzz surrounding WE began after the stock crashed by almost 40% following the release of earnings and statements made by the company in early August. However, by the end of that week, the stock was virtually unchanged after clawing back its losses from earlier in the week. The main takeaway from the earnings release was the comments made by the company, warning investors that substantial doubts exist about the company's ability to continue as a going concern. 

More recently, two crucial company developments have unfolded. Firstly, on September 1, the company announced that it completed a 1-for-40 reverse stock split. The reverse stock split enabled the company to regain compliance with the NYSE by meeting the $1 per share minimum closing price requirement. If WE stock fails to maintain a $1 share price for 30 consecutive days, the NYSE might trigger a delisting.

Secondly, the most recent development from the company is from the beginning of September when WE announced that it plans to negotiate almost all of its leases to lower operating expenses and stay in business. The company said that while it expects to remain in most of its markets and buildings, it will exit unfit and underperforming locations. 

A large, sustained, and growing short interest is crucial for a meme stock to get going. However, that appears to be absent in the case of WE. Only 4.28% of the float is sold short, or 2.2 million shares. That equates to almost $11 million in the dollar volume sold short.

Should You Invest?

Retail traders are building a lot of hype around WeWork because it bears many similarities to previous meme stocks. Or does it?  Of course, anything is possible in the market, but WeWork is unlikely to follow GameStop's (NYSE: GME) path and reach similar levels of market impact for several reasons. The Lack of short interest, current market environment, float size, and company fundamentals are just a few reasons to name.

The numbers don’t lie, and it’s important to note that the company had a net loss in the first half of the year totaling $700 million after losing about $2.3 billion in 2022. As of June 30, WE had $205 million in cash and $2.91 billion in long-term debt.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.