Trump Media (DJT -2.50%) stock saw a significant valuation pullback over the last week of trading. The company’s share price closed out the weekly session down 18.3%, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The sell-off came despite a 1.7% gain for the S&P 500 index and a 1.6% gain for the Nasdaq Composite index.
Trump Media stock lost ground over the last week due to a “buy the rumor, sell the news” dynamic following President Trump’s inauguration. The company’s share price also appears to have seen bearish pressures due to the launch of the Official Trump cryptocurrency.
Trump Media stock fades on post-inauguration momentum and crypto controversy
President Trump’s inauguration was held on Jan. 20, and some investors had been betting that his return to the White House would help spur bullish momentum for Trump Media stock. Prior to a move that shifted all his holdings into a trust for which he is listed as the sole beneficiary, President Trump had been the company’s largest shareholder.
With the post-inauguration rally for Trump Media’s share price failing to materialize, some investors opted to sell their shares, causing the stock to see an even bigger valuation pullback.
President Trump’s move to launch the Official Trump meme coin before returning to office may have also been a negative valuation catalyst for Trump Media stock. While some investors are excited about what the new presidential administration could mean for the crypto token, others have raised concerns that the new token reflects poorly on the broader industry. Similarly, negative sentiment surrounding Official Trump may have dampened enthusiasm for Trump Media stock.
What comes next for Trump Media stock?
Following the pullback for the stock this week, Trump Media now has a market capitalization of roughly $7.1 billion. Meanwhile, the company’s core business has generated sales of only roughly $1.61 million over its first three quarters as a publicly traded company.
While the business’s association with President Trump creates some brand strength advantages that could help drive growth, Trump Media trades at a lofty valuation compared to its sales performance. Additionally, it’s unclear what path the company will take to ramp up its revenue.
Trump Media’s Truth Social platform has been posting low user engagement and monetization metrics, and it’s unclear whether its push into the streaming space will be a sales driver that can get the business on a long-term path to profitability. Without a more solid outlook on how the company plans to build its business fundamentals, Trump Media will likely continue trading like a meme stock and see momentum-based valuation trends.
Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
