Meme stocks surged back into focus this week, propelled by new waves of retail enthusiasm and intensified social media buzz. AMC Entertainment and GameStop reclaimed their spots at the top of the meme stock leaderboard as retail investors on platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and YouTube flocked to these familiar names. AMC saw its hype rating climb sharply as TikTok videos celebrating renewed short-squeeze potential flooded feeds, while GameStop racked up high engagement from Reddit and TikTok communities, driven by speculation of a "round two" in meme stock rallies.

Trading volumes in these stocks broke out above recent averages, with social sentiment remaining bullish and consistent across platforms. In particular, AMC’s retail-driven price action drew sustained attention for its ability to rally against macro headwinds and muted institutional presence. GameStop, meanwhile, attracted renewed speculation after several influential voices on social media reignited debates about its fundamental value versus momentum trading.

Among lesser-known but still active meme stocks, Carvana and BlackBerry trended upward on Reddit and YouTube, with Carvana benefiting from viral posts about its unique car vending machine business model and record-setting earnings. BlackBerry saw a minor resurgence in online discussions, with some traders touting its potential as a turnaround play despite broader sector pressure.

Looking beyond the usual suspects, gold mining stocks and commodity ETFs mirrored the meme stock phenomenon as retail investors piled into names like Newmont, Agnico Eagle Mines, and Barrick Gold, all of which soared over 130% year-to-date. Barrick Gold’s rally was especially notable, defying negative earnings news and executive turnover thanks to powerful retail momentum on social media. Daily options volumes for gold ETFs spiked, tripling their long-term averages as retail and speculators chased the commodity’s unexpected breakout.

Not all meme stocks enjoyed rallies. Quantum computing stocks, including Rigetti, D-Wave Quantum, and IonQ, tumbled more than 24% each, fueling bearish sentiment within meme ETFs and chat forums. The sell-off stretched to NuScale Power and Beyond Meat, which posted losses of up to 48% and 39%, respectively, weighed down by market-wide declines in speculative tech and generative AI names. The meme stock ETF itself faced a steep drop, with retail message volumes trending down and overall sentiment turning negative.

Social media remained the pulse of the meme stock universe, with Reddit’s WallStreetBets and r/stocks leading chatter and TikTok driving explosive, short-lived bursts of hype, particularly among younger traders. Platform weighting studies increasingly point to TikTok as the earliest signal of rising momentum, while Reddit and YouTube provide deeper context and analysis.

Regulatory whispers were minimal, with no fresh interventions targeting meme trade volatility. Still, ongoing debate persists over whether meme stocks represent a healthy democratization of market access or a risky, unsustainable bubble. This uncertainty only adds fuel to rapid price swings and the unpredictable nature of meme stock cycles.

With engagement scores climbing for the likes of AMC, GameStop, and new gold-related plays, and volatility spreading across speculative tech and recovery stories, meme stocks remain a lightning rod for retail speculation. Whether seeking quick gains or joining the culture-defining movements on social media, retail investors continue to shape price action more than ever.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI