Renowned Investor Martin Shkreli Shorts Opendoor, Initiates Public Scrutiny

Sep 17, 2025 at 7:40 AM
This article explores Martin Shkreli's recent decision to short Opendoor Technologies Inc. and his subsequent announcement of a public due diligence campaign. It details his rationale, drawing comparisons to previous successful short positions, and highlights the broader market context involving other prominent short-sellers and Opendoor's volatile stock performance.

Prominent Investor Takes Bearish Stance on Opendoor, Promises Deep Dive into Operations

Martin Shkreli Discloses Short Position in Opendoor Technologies

Martin Shkreli, widely recognized as 'Pharma Bro,' revealed his latest investment move on Tuesday evening, confirming he has taken a short position against the real estate technology firm, Opendoor Technologies Inc. This marks his inaugural transaction involving the company's shares, with the initial short executed at a price point of $9.36 per share.

Unveiling a Public Due Diligence Initiative for Opendoor

In conjunction with his short sale, Shkreli outlined ambitious plans to conduct a comprehensive public due diligence campaign targeting Opendoor. Utilizing a prominent social media platform, he articulated his intention to engage directly with various stakeholders, including former employees, current customers, and competitors. He also expressed a desire to communicate with the company's management, indicating a thorough investigation into the firm's operational and financial health. Shkreli committed to sharing insights from these discussions, either through direct invitations to calls or by releasing anonymized transcripts, thereby fostering transparency in his bearish assessment.

Shkreli's Argument: Opendoor as an 'Obvious Short'

This strategic move aligns with Shkreli's increasingly vocal skepticism regarding Opendoor's prospects. Over recent weeks, he has consistently voiced his negative outlook on social media, labeling the company as an 'obvious short' and issuing strong warnings to those holding long positions, suggesting such investors might reconsider their investment strategies. His conviction is further bolstered by a comparison to his earlier successful short bet against Newegg Commerce Inc., implying a similar trajectory for Opendoor's stock.

Citron Research Echoes Bearish Sentiment on Opendoor

Shkreli is not alone in his pessimistic view of Opendoor. Esteemed short-seller Andrew Left, founder of Citron Research, has also cast doubts on the company's business model, famously describing it as a 'science project in how to burn money.' This confluence of bearish opinions from notable short-sellers adds significant pressure on Opendoor, particularly after its stock experienced a remarkable surge, at one point gaining over 1,000% from its annual low, leading some market observers to categorize it as a 'meme stock.'

Navigating Market Volatility: Opendoor's Recent Stock Performance

The announcement of Shkreli's public short position and investigative efforts is poised to escalate the ongoing contention between optimistic retail investors and bearish institutional analysts. On the trading day of the announcement, Opendoor's shares saw a decline of 6.06%, closing at $8.92 per share, though it later observed a modest increase of 0.78% in after-hours trading. Despite these immediate fluctuations, the stock has demonstrated substantial growth throughout the year, with a year-to-date increase of 461.01% and a 277.97% rise over the past year. Industry analytics suggest Opendoor exhibits favorable price trends across short, medium, and long terms, yet its growth metrics are noted as relatively subdued. Concurrently, major market indices, represented by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF, concluded the day marginally lower, reflecting broader market movements.