In a SHOCKING twist that left Wall Street buzzing, Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ: CELH) saw its stock skyrocket 14.73% Wednesday – but the REAL fireworks happened after hours as investors scrambled to decode the company’s bombshell announcements.
The Midnight Surprise That Changed Everything
At 6:00 PM ET Thursday, Celsius dropped not one but TWO nuclear-grade revelations:
- 🔥 A $1.65 BILLION acquisition of female-focused wellness brand Alani Nu® – creating a “functional lifestyle EMPIRE”
- 💥 Fourth-quarter earnings released WEEKS ahead of schedule
“This isn’t just growth – it’s WAR on the energy drink status quo,” screamed one analyst as shares swung wildly in after-hours trading. The Alani Nu deal positions Celsius to dominate the Gen Z wellness movement, with combined sales projected to hit $2 BILLION annually.
From Wall Street Disaster to Redemption Arc?
Just nine months ago, Celsius was left for dead – its stock CRATERED 70% after PepsiCo slashed orders and investors filed a class-action lawsuit. But Thursday’s bold power play signals CEO John Fieldly isn’t going down without a fight:
| Metric | Celsius Q4 2024 | Alani Nu 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $325.5M (est) | $595M |
| Growth | +7% YOY sales | +78% last 4 weeks |
The timing reeks of calculated genius – by front-running earnings and announcing the acquisition simultaneously, Celsius effectively SHORT-SQUEEZED skeptics betting against its collapse. Over 21% of shares were held short before Wednesday’s surge.
Analysts Go Berserk: “Buy Now Before It’s Too Late!”
Wall Street’s price targets tell the story of a phoenix rising:
- 📈 Average $38.91 target implies 53% UPSIDE
- 🚀 UBS bankers called it “the Nike of functional beverages”
- 💣 Short sellers covering positions COULD FUEL FURTHER GAINS
Yet dangers lurk – the $900 million debt load from the Alani deal raises eyebrows, and integration risks remain high. As one trader warned: “This stock either makes you rich or ruins you – there’s no middle ground.”
