Puma Stock Alert: Goldman Sachs Cuts Stake – Time to Sell or Buy in December 2025?

• Goldman’s Exit: Smart Money or Short-Term Play?
• Derivatives Demystified: Why 96% of Goldman’s Stake Is Smoke and Mirrors
• Takeover Fever vs. Financial Reality
• Technical Check: Why the Charts Scream Caution
• Fundamentals: The Ugly Truth Behind the Hype
• Institutional Moves: Who’s Following Goldman’s Lead?
• The Million-Euro Question: Buy, Sell, or Hold?
• FAQ: Your Puma Stock Dilemmas Solved

Puma’s stock has been on a wild ride, surging 24% in a month amid takeover rumors, but Goldman Sachs just slashed its stake below a key threshold. Is this a red flag for retail investors? We break down the RSI warning, derivative strategies, and whether the HYPE outweighs Puma’s shaky fundamentals. Buckle up—this isn’t your average sports stock story.

Goldman’s Exit: Smart Money or Short-Term Play?

Puma shares have skyrocketed 24.57% over the past 30 days, fueled by rumors of a potential buyout from Chinese giants like Anta Sports or Japan’s ASICS. But here’s the plot twist: Goldman Sachs quietly reduced its voting rights stake from 5.34% to 4.90% this week, crossing below a critical reporting threshold. The real kicker? Only 0.12% of their position is direct equity—the rest is tangled in derivatives like call options and swaps. This isn’t Warren Buffett-style investing; it’s hedge fund gymnastics. As one BTCC analyst quipped, "When the house starts cashing chips, check your hand."

Derivatives Demystified: Why 96% of Goldman’s Stake Is Smoke and Mirrors

Tuesday’s regulatory filing revealed Goldman’s 4.77% "phantom stake" via financial instruments—think "Right to Recall" agreements and volatility swaps. These aren’t buy-and-hold moves; they’re trading desk maneuvers that could reverse faster than a sneakerhead flipping limited editions. TradingView charts show Puma’s RSI at 73.2 (deep in overbought territory), while the 200-day moving average lurks at €21.02—just 3% below current levels. History suggests that when smart money exits during a rumor-fueled rally, the music usually stops.

Takeover Fever vs. Financial Reality

The Artemis Holding (Pinault family) sale rumors lit a fire under Puma’s stock, but the numbers tell a colder story: a €62.3 million net loss in Q3 2025 and a year-to-date plunge of 53.62%. Compare that to the 52-week high of €46.70, and you’ve got a stock trading at 56% off its peak. "This is either the bargain of the decade or a value trap," notes a Bloomberg Markets commentator. With institutional players like Goldman trimming sails, retail investors chasing takeover dreams might be left holding the bag.

Technical Check: Why the Charts Scream Caution

That 73.2 RSI isn’t just a number—it’s a flashing neon "SELL" sign for swing traders. The last time Puma’s RSI breached 70 was November 2024, preceding a 19% drop. Meanwhile, short interest has crept up to 4.1% of float (Source: MarketWatch). The €20.43 price floats precariously between its November low (€15.48) and descending 200-day MA. Until Puma breaks €21.02 convincingly, this rally looks more like a dead cat bounce than a phoenix rising.

Fundamentals: The Ugly Truth Behind the Hype

Let’s cut through the rumors: Puma’s operating margin has halved since 2023, inventory turnover slowed to 88 days, and that €62 million quarterly loss came despite a 12% revenue drop. The sportswear sector’s "post-pandemic hangover" (as CNBC dubbed it) hits harder for mid-tier players like Puma. Without a sugar-daddy acquirer, the stock’s 2025 PE of 38.7 looks more bloated than a Black Friday sneaker queue.

Institutional Moves: Who’s Following Goldman’s Lead?

Fintel data shows three hedge funds dumped Puma shares last week, while short positions hit a 6-month high. Yet retail buying spiked 42% on trading apps—a classic "dumb money vs. smart money" divergence. Remember GameStop? This isn’t that extreme, but the pattern rhymes. As Goldman’s derivatives unwind, the options chain shows heavy €17.50 put volume for January 2026. Someone’s betting the floor falls out.

The Million-Euro Question: Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Here’s my take: If you’re in for the takeover lottery, set tight stop-losses below €18.50. Value hunters should wait for the RSI to cool below 50 and watch Q4 earnings on January 15, 2026. As for me? I’d rather buy Nike at 52-week lows than gamble on Puma’s rumor mill. But hey, I’ve been wrong before—just ask my 2023 crypto portfolio.