BARK Soars 22% on Premium Acquisition Bid: Is This the Catalyst for a Breakout?

Summary
• BARK surges 22.05% intraday to $0.9647, hitting a 52-week high of $0.99
• GNK Holdings and Marcus Lemonis submit $1.10/share all-cash bid, 22% above prior offer
• Options frenzy: BARK20260220C1 call option sees 14,429 turnover, 160% price jump

BARK Inc. (NYSE: BARK) has ignited a market frenzy, surging 22.05% in a single trading session amid a bold $1.10/share acquisition proposal from GNK Holdings and Marcus Lemonis. The stock’s meteoric rise—climbing from a $0.79 intraday low to $0.99—has triggered a surge in options activity, with traders scrambling to position for a potential bid premium expansion. With the stock now trading near its 52-week high and technical indicators flashing bullish signals, the question looms: is this the start of a sustained rally or a short-lived spike?

Premium Acquisition Bid Ignites BARK’s Volatility
The 22.05% intraday surge in BARK is directly attributable to the non-binding $1.10/share all-cash acquisition proposal submitted by GNK Holdings and Marcus Lemonis. This offer, a 22% premium over Great Dane Ventures’ $0.90/share bid, has created immediate shareholder value and triggered a wave of speculative buying. The Group’s emphasis on BARK’s brand strength, customer loyalty, and operational turnaround potential has amplified market optimism. With confirmatory due diligence expected within 30 days and definitive agreements targeted in five weeks, the stock’s trajectory hinges on the bid’s progression through regulatory and financing hurdles.

Options Playbook: Capitalizing on BARK’s Bullish Momentum
• Technical Indicators: RSI at 70.61 (overbought), MACD histogram at 0.0244 (bullish divergence), 200-day MA at $0.9152 (below current price)
• Key Levels: 52W high at $0.99 (broken), 200D MA at $0.9152 (critical support), Bollinger Bands upper at $0.7488 (oversold)

BARK’s technicals and options activity suggest a continuation of the bullish trend. The RSI nearing overbought territory and the bullish engulfing candle pattern indicate strong short-term momentum. For traders, the BARK20260220C1 call option (strike $1, expiring Feb 20) stands out: it offers a 7.40% leverage ratio, 116.74% implied volatility, and a delta of 0.5387, balancing sensitivity and liquidity. With 14,429 turnover, this contract provides ample liquidity for entry/exit. A 5% upside to $1.0125 would yield a payoff of $0.0125 per share, translating to a 178% return on the option’s premium.

Second, the BARK20260821C1 call (strike $1, expiring Aug 21) offers a longer runway for the bid to materialize. Its 3.70% leverage ratio and 90.68% IV align with a mid-term bullish outlook. A 5% price move would generate a $0.0125 payoff, with theta decay at -0.000647 (minimal time erosion).

Action: Aggressive bulls should target the BARK20260220C1 for a short-term play, while the BARK20260821C1 suits those betting on a prolonged bid timeline. Monitor the $0.9152 200D MA as a critical support level.

Backtest BARK Stock Performance
The backtest of BARK's performance after a 22% intraday increase from 2022 to now shows mixed results. The ETF experienced a maximum return of only 0.18% over a 30-day period, with a 3-day win rate of 46.38%, a 10-day win rate of 44.69%, and a 30-day win rate of 38.89%. This indicates that while BARK had a high frequency of short-term gains, the overall performance was lackluster, and the ETF underperformed in the long run.

BARK at Inflection Point: Bid Execution or Correction?
BARK’s 22.05% surge has positioned it at a pivotal juncture. The GNK bid’s execution timeline—30 days for due diligence, five weeks for agreements—offers a clear catalyst window. Traders must watch the $0.9152 200D MA as a liquidity anchor and the $1.10 bid price as a psychological ceiling. Meanwhile, the sector leader Walmart (WMT) declined 0.42%, underscoring BARK’s divergence from broader retail trends. For now, the stock’s technicals and options frenzy signal a high-conviction bullish setup. Act now: Secure the BARK20260220C1 call to capitalize on the bid premium race, but exit if the $0.9152 level breaks, signaling a potential bid collapse.