AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE: AMC) and GameStop Corp (NYSE: NYSE:GME) are often considered the original meme stocks after shares of the two companies soared last year in a targeted short squeeze.
But Bed Bath & Beyond Inc (NASDAQ: BBBY) has stolen the crown in recent weeks. Jim Cramer shed some light on how it happened Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk On The Street."
"This is a meme stock, so therefore it loses any sort of a grounding on what it's really worth. Forty-eight percent of it is short ... tell me who would stay short given that," Cramer said.
What To Know: Cramer suggested that some short covering may be sending shares higher Tuesday, but what's really important is the strategy at play, he said.
"It's a brilliant strategy. It's clear this is well orchestrated," Cramer said.
He noted that GameStop chairman Ryan Cohen has been buying out-of-the-money call options. CNBC reported Cohen's firm RC Ventures bought calls on more than 1.6 million Bed Bath & Beyond shares at strike prices ranging from $60 to $80 per share.
"Now if you want to trap shorts, what you do is you go in and do exactly that. How do you hedge? If you're short those calls, how do you hedge that? You go buy common [stock]. Now you're really caught," Cramer explained.
Cramer attributed some of the "orchestrated" move to traders using Reddit's r/wallstreetbets.
"I think they are a fan of breaking whoever is short," he said.
What's Next: The risk to Bed Bath & Beyond stock is a potential offering from the company, which Cramer believed the struggling retailer should do.
"They should issue 20 million shares," he said, noting that the company is reportedly in need of a credit line.
"They should call a board meeting and issue stock, which would then of course unfortunately sate the short squeeze," Cramer warned.
BBBY Price Action: Bed Bath & Beyond has a 52-week high of $30.14 and a 52-week low of $4.38.
The stock was up 65.19% at $26.43 at press time Tuesday afternoon, according to Benzinga Pro.
Photo: Tony Webster from Flickr
© 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Read at Benzinga