Tootsie Roll at Record Highs Amid Surge of Shorted Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- The maker of Tootsie Pops has spiked to a record as retail traders pour into heavily-shorted stocks fueled by excitement over GameStop Corp.’s meteoric surge.

Shares of Tootsie Roll Industries Inc. soared as much as 53% into record territory Wednesday, adding to its gains this week, and triggering a brief trading pause. As of 11:23 a.m. in New York, the stock had pared its advance to 14%. A spokesperson for the company didn’t immediately comment.

The company, which makes its namesake candy along with other consumer brands like Junior Mints, has had a challenging year as traditional candy-consumption events like Halloween and birthday parties were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sales fell 14% in the latest quarter and both planned and impulse purchases of the products declined.

But while falling retail sales traditionally lead to lower share prices, Reddit-charged day traders have been piling into previously unloved tickers in recent sessions, driving them to record highs. Short interest in the candy maker is 46% of its float, with 22 days to cover, according to data from S3 Partners.

Ellen Gordon, the 89-year old chief executive officer, owns just over half of the company’s common shares and 81% of its B shares, according to company filings. Her stake in the business, which she owns both directly and on behalf of other family members, is now worth more than $1.8 billion at current levels.

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