(NYSE: GSX) is under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has opened an investigation into the Chinese online education specialist following allegations it was inflating sales. The case is similar to that of one-time market darling Luckin Coffee, the Chinese Starbucks wannabe, which was exposed for having similarly fudged sales numbers.
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At least five short-sellers have published reports doubting the veracity of GSX’s financial information.
In Citron’s letter to SEC commissioners, for example, it says GSX is engaged in “an active and ongoing fraud” that is using shell companies to move costs off of GSX’s books, allowing it to acquire customers at half the cost of better-financed rivals and to be the only company in the K-12 online learning space able to achieve profitability.
two-thirds of all sales it made, while the streaming video company iQiyi has also come under suspicion for purported fraudulent financial data.” data-reactid=”32″>Luckin Coffee had been on a major growth trajectory following its IPO last year, but short-sellers discovered the coffee chain had faked as much as two-thirds of all sales it made, while the streaming video company iQiyi has also come under suspicion for purported fraudulent financial data.
Chinese small-cap stock frauds that were exposed a decade ago, which saw those stocks ignominiously collapse.” data-reactid=”33″>The spate of scandals surrounding Chinese companies is reminiscent of the Chinese small-cap stock frauds that were exposed a decade ago, which saw those stocks ignominiously collapse.
GSX Techedu has reportedly launched an internal investigation into the claims against it, with no indication of what the outcome will be. Its shares were down over 14% in pre-market trading today.
Rich Duprey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Luckin Coffee Inc. and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends iQiyi and recommends the following options: short November 2020 $85 calls on Starbucks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.” data-reactid=”43″>Rich Duprey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Luckin Coffee Inc. and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends iQiyi and recommends the following options: short November 2020 $85 calls on Starbucks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Shades of Luckin Coffee: GSX Techedu Probed for Allegedly Inflating Sales was originally published by The Motley Fool” data-reactid=”44″>Shades of Luckin Coffee: GSX Techedu Probed for Allegedly Inflating Sales was originally published by The Motley Fool
