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“I just like the stock”: The role of Reddit sentiment in the GameStop share rally

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  • Suwan (Cheng) Long
  • Brian Lucey
  • Ying Xie
  • Larisa Yarovaya

Abstract

This paper investigates the role played by the social media platform Reddit in the events around the GameStop (GME) share rally in early 2021. In particular, we analyze the impact of discussions on the r/WallStreetBets subreddit on the price dynamics of the American online retailer GameStop. We customize a sentiment analysis dictionary for Reddit platform users based on the Valence Aware Dictionary and Sentiment Reasoner (VADER) sentiment analysis package and perform textual analysis on 10.8 million comments. The analysis of the relationships between Reddit sentiments and 1‐, 5‐, 10‐, and 30‐min GameStop returns contribute to the growing body of literature on “meme stocks” and the impact of discussions on investment forums on intraday stock price movements.

Suggested Citation

  • Suwan (Cheng) Long & Brian Lucey & Ying Xie & Larisa Yarovaya, 2023. "“I just like the stock”: The role of Reddit sentiment in the GameStop share rally," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 58(1), pages 19-37, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finrev:v:58:y:2023:i:1:p:19-37
    DOI: 10.1111/fire.12328
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    Cited by:

    1. Yousaf, Imran & Goodell, John W., 2023. "Responses of US equity market sectors to the Silicon Valley Bank implosion," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    2. Ali, Fahad & Sensoy, Ahmet & Goodell, John W., 2023. "Identifying diversifiers, hedges, and safe havens among Asia Pacific equity markets during COVID-19: New results for ongoing portfolio allocation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 744-792.
    3. Nobanee, Haitham & Ellili, Nejla Ould Daoud, 2023. "What do we know about meme stocks? A bibliometric and systematic review, current streams, developments, and directions for future research," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 589-602.
    4. Tim Matthies & Thomas Lohden & Stephan Leible & Jun-Patrick Raabe, 2023. "To the Moon: Analyzing Collective Trading Events on the Wings of Sentiment Analysis," Papers 2308.09968, arXiv.org.

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