iRobot Files for Bankruptcy: What Does It Mean for IRBT Stock and the Future of Consumer Robotics?

iRobot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after a dramatic stock rally in early December. The company's stock (IRBT) has lost 92% YTD due to intense overseas competition and US tariffs. IRBT's bankruptcy marks a fall from dominance in the robot vacuum market, which it helped define. The stock has experienced wild swings in recent days, with a 21% spike on Wednesday followed by a double-digit decline today.