Trading Roller-Coaster: Better Home & Finance’s Controversial Nasdaq Debut
Trading the market has always been a roller-coaster ride, with stocks and crypto making or breaking investors’ fortunes daily. However, the recent Nasdaq debut of Better Home & Finance Holding (BETR.O), the online mortgage lender, sent shockwaves throughout the industry, overshadowing even the most volatile altcoin.
Main Key Points:
- Better Home & Finance Holding’s shares plummeted over 93% on its opening day, making altcoins appear safer.
- Backed by SoftBank, Better went public through a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Aurora Acquisition Corp.
- Aurora’s shareholders redeemed 95% of their shares before the merger, amplifying the stock’s vulnerability to volatility.
- Better faced controversy in December 2021 when the CEO laid off 900 employees over a Zoom call, tarnishing the company’s image.
- The SPAC market has cooled due to SEC scrutiny and interest rate hikes, impacting the performance of companies like Better.
A Hot Take: A Silver Lining for Better
Despite the tumultuous debut, Better’s merger with Aurora brings an influx of $550 million from SoftBank. CEO Vishal Garg plans to use these funds to expand the company’s mortgage product offerings, anticipating a surge in refinancing demands when interest rates drop. While Better may have experienced a fall from grace, some industry experts remain bullish on the potential of mortgage tech.
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