Office Depot (ODP) Faces Political Backlash Amid Stock Decline

Office Depot, formally known as ODP Corporation (ODP), has stumbled into a U.S. culture war at a precarious time for its stock. The company's shares, already in a steady decline since early last year, face renewed pressure following a viral incident involving a dismissed employee in Michigan. The employee refused to print posters for a prayer vigil honoring slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, sparking outrage and calls for a boycott.

Office Depot swiftly terminated the employee and pledged to reinforce staff training, but the reputational damage may be irreversible. With a market cap of $640 million, the company braces for potential volatility when NASDAQ trading resumes. Investors, already wary of ODP's prolonged underperformance, now confront an unpredictable political risk factor.