On June 26, 2023, market analyst Fuzzy Panda Research issued a report entitled “Xponential Fitness (XPOF) – “Abusive Franchisor That Is A House of Cards”. The report alleged, among other things, that Xponential’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Anthony Geisler, “has a long history of misleading investors and business partners”, including engaging in pump and dump schemes. The report stated that he had been previously accused by former business associates of engaging in “scams” and “illegal business practices” and alleged that he has even in the past threatened others with a gun. In addition, the report alleged that the Company’s financials are less healthy than it has represented to investors, that it is likely violating its debt agreements, and, contrary to Geisler’s claim that Xponential has “never closed a store”, that there were many closed Xponential locations.
On this news, Xponential’s stock fell $9.39 per share, or 37% to close at $15.72 per share on June 27, 2023.