SEALSQ Corp's stock is experiencing a significant decline following the announcement of a $25 million registered direct offering priced at $1.90 per share. This offering, disclosed on December 17, 2024, involves the issuance of 13,157,896 ordinary shares, which is significantly below the previous closing price. The offering is expected to close around December 19, 2024, and the proceeds are intended to fund the deployment of next-generation post-quantum semiconductor technology and support working capital. The market's reaction to this offering, which is priced below the current market value, appears to be contributing to the downward pressure on the stock.
Additionally, an analyst's prediction of softer-than-expected earnings has further fueled the stock's decline. Institutional investors have also purchased approximately 7.7 million shares at $1.30 each, adding to concerns about stock dilution and investor confidence. Despite these challenges, some market analysts suggest this might be a strategic entry point for value investors, though the market remains divided on the company's future prospects.
SEALSQ Corp. (LAES) is currently trading at $2.33, down 21.64% from the previous close of $2.98. The stock has fluctuated between a high of $3.05 and a low of $2.28 during today's trading session. Despite being just a few hours into the trading day, the stock has already seen an extraordinary volume of 60,868,508 shares traded, representing 395.33% of the average daily volume of 15,397,030 shares, indicating unusually intense trading activity.