
Are penny stocks getting the memestock treatment?
03/13/24 • 17 min
1 Listener
Penny stocks are having a moment. In recent months, little-known companies with names such as Bit Brother and Phunware have been among the most traded stocks in America’s public markets, surpassing companies like Tesla and popular exchange traded funds. The FT’s US markets editor Jennifer Hughes explores why this is happening, and whether retail investors should think twice before diving in.
Clip from Paramount Movies
Plus, a note on next week’s show: Look for Behind the Money in your feed a day early, on Tuesday, March 19.
We’re doing a special 2-part episode with the Unhedged podcast. One part will be in Unhedged’s feed and the other part will be right here, in Behind the Money’s feed.
We’ll be back to our regular Wednesday schedule the following week.
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For further reading:
The tiny Chinese tea seller whose shares trade more than Tesla’s
Stock markets undergo ‘risk reset’ as indices notch new records
Retail investors are in no rush to join the latest stock market rally
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On X, follow Jennifer Hughes (@jennhughes13) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Penny stocks are having a moment. In recent months, little-known companies with names such as Bit Brother and Phunware have been among the most traded stocks in America’s public markets, surpassing companies like Tesla and popular exchange traded funds. The FT’s US markets editor Jennifer Hughes explores why this is happening, and whether retail investors should think twice before diving in.
Clip from Paramount Movies
Plus, a note on next week’s show: Look for Behind the Money in your feed a day early, on Tuesday, March 19.
We’re doing a special 2-part episode with the Unhedged podcast. One part will be in Unhedged’s feed and the other part will be right here, in Behind the Money’s feed.
We’ll be back to our regular Wednesday schedule the following week.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For further reading:
The tiny Chinese tea seller whose shares trade more than Tesla’s
Stock markets undergo ‘risk reset’ as indices notch new records
Retail investors are in no rush to join the latest stock market rally
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On X, follow Jennifer Hughes (@jennhughes13) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode

How JPMorgan thrived amid a banking crisis
It’s been a year since Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse left everyone worried that the US’s banking sector sat on shaky ground. Despite that turmoil, one bank stands out: JPMorgan Chase. The largest bank in the country, JPMorgan took home record profits in 2023, and its dominance looks set to continue. The FT’s US banking editor Joshua Franklin walks through the reasons why JPMorgan flew past its competitors, and what threat its size could pose to smaller banks.
Clips from AP, CNBC, KTVU, KPIX
Plus, do you have a question about markets, finance or economics? Get in touch with Michela, and we may use it in an upcoming joint show with Unhedged.
Email Michela at [email protected], or message her on X at @mtindera07.
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For further reading:
JPMorgan takes almost a fifth of total US bank profits
US regional banks hope for profit revival as pain from SVB fallout eases
JPMorgan: the bank that never lets a crisis go to waste
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On X, follow Joshua Franklin (@FTJFranklin) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode

Listener mailbag with the Unhedged podcast
More questions — more answers! We’ve partnered with the FT’s Unhedged podcast for a special two-part episode, fielding questions you have submitted about markets and finance. The host of Unhedged, Ethan Wu, plus the FT’s US financial commentator Rob Armstrong and markets editor Katie Martin join Michela to traverse topics ranging from the longevity of the Magnificent Seven stocks to Japan’s economic outlook.
To listen to the other part of the episode, visit the Unhedged podcast feed.
Clips from The Magnificent Seven, The Mirisch Company/United Artists, music by Elmer Bernstein
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For further reading:
Japan’s market rally lacks solid backing
How fatalistic should we be on AI?
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On X, follow Ethan Wu (@EthanYWu), Robert Armstrong (@rbrtrmstrng), Katie Martin (@katie_martin_fx) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07), or follow Michela on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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