how high did gme stock go? Peak explained

How high did GME stock go?

This article answers the question "how high did GME stock go" in clear, verifiable terms. It summarizes the commonly cited peak prices (intraday, pre‑market and closing), explains why different sources report different figures, reviews the timeline and drivers of the 2021 volatility, and points to authoritative data sources and reporting dates. Readers will learn which price figures are official closes, which are intraday prints or pre‑market quotes, how corporate actions affect historical series, and where to check exchange‑level records. The keyword how high did gme stock go appears throughout this guide to help you find precise answers quickly.

Background — GameStop and ticker GME

GameStop Corporation (ticker GME) is a U.S.-listed retail company historically focused on video game, consumer electronics and related physical retail sales. Prior to 2021, the company faced headwinds from declining brick‑and‑mortar game sales and a pivot toward e‑commerce and new business lines. The stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GME and attracted an unusually high level of short interest heading into 2021.

As of January 2021, GameStop had become a focal point of retail investor activity and market discussion. Many retail traders and observers asked: how high did GME stock go during the short squeeze? The rest of this article documents the answers and the reasons multiple figures circulate in public reports.

The 2021 short squeeze — overview

In late January 2021, GameStop experienced a rapid price surge driven primarily by heavy retail buying, concentrated interest from online communities, and very high short interest among some institutional investors. The combination of these factors resulted in a short squeeze: short sellers buying to cover positions, fueling further price increases. This produced the record highs for GME in late January 2021 and extreme intraday volatility through February and beyond.

Peak price figures — reported highs and why they differ

Different sources report different peak numbers for GME. When people ask how high did GME stock go, they are usually asking which numeric peak is the most accurate. The discrepancy arises because price can be measured as a regular‑session intraday print, a pre‑market quote, an official closing price, or a post‑split adjusted value. Below are the commonly cited figures and explanations.

Intraday high (Jan 28, 2021)

The most commonly cited intraday high for GameStop during the 2021 squeeze is about $483 per share on January 28, 2021 during regular trading hours. Multiple market data providers and financial sites report an intraday print in that range for the NYSE session on that date. When asked how high did GME stock go, citing the approximately $483 intraday high accurately captures the largest traded print during regular hours on Jan 28, 2021 according to many data feeds.

As of January 28, 2021, market reporting from major finance platforms documented intraday trades approaching the high‑$400s. (Reporting date reference: As of 2021‑01‑28, according to public market data summaries.)

Pre‑market quotes (Jan 28, 2021)

Some reports note pre‑market or extended‑hours quotes above $500 on January 28, 2021. Pre‑market pricing differs from regular session pricing for several reasons: thinner liquidity, different participants, and separated reporting windows. Pre‑market prints are not always representative of continuous regular‑session liquidity and may not be accepted as an "official" exchange close or high.

When assessing how high did GME stock go, note whether a stated peak is a pre‑market quote (extended hours) or a regular session print. Pre‑market quotes above $500 were reported by some data vendors on Jan 28, 2021, but the widely referenced regular‑session intraday high is ~ $483.

Official closing highs (e.g., Jan 27, 2021 close)

Official closing prices are the final price at the end of the regular trading session on a given day and are commonly used when reporting daily performance. For GME, one commonly cited high close occurred on January 27, 2021, with a closing price reported around $347.51. Different sources may show slightly different close values depending on their time‑stamp conventions and whether they round.

If someone asks how high did GME stock go, clarify whether you mean the highest intraday trade, the highest pre‑market quote, or the highest official close. The highest official close in late January 2021 is materially lower than the intraday peak.

Split‑adjusted figures and later corporate actions

Historical price series are sometimes adjusted for corporate actions such as forward or reverse stock splits, dividends, or similar events. After a split or other action, data providers may present an adjusted price series so that historical prices are comparable on a per‑share basis.

For example, if a stock later underwent a 4‑for‑1 forward split, an unadjusted historic intraday peak of $483 would be displayed as $120.75 on a split‑adjusted chart (483 / 4 = 120.75). Because some databases show split‑adjusted history and others show unadjusted prints, reported peaks can appear different across providers.

When you ask how high did GME stock go, check whether the data series is split‑adjusted. Major finance sites indicate on their charts whether prices are adjusted; some annotate corporate actions in the historical table.

Timeline of price action (Jan–Feb 2021 and immediate aftermath)

Below is a concise chronology of the headline events and price moves that answer how high did GME stock go and why volatility persisted.

• Mid‑to‑late January 2021: Rising retail interest and unusually high short interest set the stage for rapid price moves.

• January 22–26, 2021: Early acceleration in price with higher daily highs and increased trading volume.

• January 27, 2021: A dramatic run produced one of the highest official closes of the period (close reported near $347.51). Many market reports cited this date as a key milestone. (Reporting reference: As of 2021‑01‑27, according to market close summaries.)

• January 28, 2021: Peak intraday trading occurred, with a widely cited regular‑session intraday high near $483 and pre‑market quotes above $500 reported by some vendors. That day saw extraordinary volume and volatility. (Reporting reference: As of 2021‑01‑28, according to exchange trade prints and aggregated market data.)

• Late January 28–29, 2021: Several retail brokerages temporarily restricted buying of GME and other high‑volatility names. These restrictions amplified public attention and regulatory scrutiny.

• February–March 2021: Continued episodic volatility and price moves, but the extreme January peaks were not consistently sustained. The stock fell from intraday highs and traded at lower levels, with recurring spikes tied to renewed retail interest and news.

This timeline explains where and when the highest numeric prints occurred and why the range of values reported for how high did GME stock go spans intraday, pre‑market and closing figures.

Drivers of the peak

Several structural and social factors combined to produce the rapid escalation in GME's price:

• High short interest: A large share of GameStop's float was sold short, creating vulnerability to a short squeeze.

• Retail coordination: Online communities, most visibly a large forum community, coordinated heavy buying and attention that amplified demand.

• Social amplification: Prominent retail traders, content creators, and social media attention drove further inflows.

• Market mechanics: Short covering, margin requirements, and options positioning created feedback loops that pushed prices higher on certain days.

These drivers answer not just how high did GME stock go numerically, but why such an extreme peak became possible in a short period.

Market and intermediary responses

The January 2021 episode prompted immediate market responses:

• Some brokerages temporarily restricted new buys or limited trading in GME and other volatile names, citing clearing and collateral requirements.

• Market makers and clearinghouses raised margin and collateral demands for certain tickers.

• Exchanges and data vendors highlighted the exceptional volatility and implemented intraday halts at times.

These responses affected liquidity and price discovery during and after the peak trading days. When considering how high did GME stock go, bear in mind that market access restrictions and liquidity shifts influenced intraday behavior and reported prices.

Legal, regulatory, and political aftermath

The GameStop events prompted investigations, hearings, and litigation:

• Congressional hearings reviewed broker actions, market structure, and the role of retail trading platforms.

• Regulators and self‑regulatory organizations commenced reviews of trading halts, broker restrictions, and compliance with clearinghouse rules.

• Private lawsuits and class actions were filed related to trading access and disclosures.

These proceedings continued through 2021 and beyond as authorities examined what happened, why some brokerages restricted trading, and whether any systemic fixes were needed.

Post‑peak price history and longer‑term performance

After the January 2021 peaks, GME experienced rapid declines from the intraday highs and entered a more volatile but lower average trading range. The stock later had intermittent resurgences tied to renewed social media attention, corporate developments, or short covering. Major finance sites and historical data providers retain the 2021 peak prints in their archives, though some present split‑adjusted series that change the numeric appearance of historic highs.

When tracking longer‑term performance and answering how high did GME stock go, consult the raw trade prints for the relevant dates or check whether the provider applies split adjustments.

Reporting caveats and data methodology

If you need a definitive answer to how high did GME stock go, consider these methodological notes:

• Intraday vs close: Intraday trades can exceed the official close; specify which you mean.

• Pre‑market vs regular session: Extended hours can show quotes or trades that differ from the regular session.

• Data vendor differences: Different feeds (exchange direct feeds vs consolidated feeds) can timestamp or aggregate trades differently.

• Split adjustments: Corporate actions may be applied retroactively to present historical series on a per‑share basis; confirm adjusted vs unadjusted values.

• Quote types: Some "quotes" are indicative or best‑bid/offer rather than executed trades; executed trade prints are the definitive evidence of how high a stock actually traded.

To verify how high did GME stock go for a specific purpose, check primary exchange records and the executed trade prints for the dates of interest.

Cultural impact and media coverage

The GME episode became a cultural touchpoint. It generated widespread mainstream media coverage, inspired books and films, and shifted public debate on retail trading, platform design, and market structure. Works such as recent books and dramatizations highlight the human stories behind the trading screens and the social dynamics that propelled extreme price moves.

Practical guidance for verifying peak prices (steps)

1. Identify the date(s) of interest (late January 2021 is the primary window).

2. Decide whether you need intraday prints, pre‑market quotes, or official closes.

3. Check an authoritative source that shows executed trade prints for the NYSE for the specific timestamps.

4. Verify whether the provider applies split adjustments and, if so, convert adjusted figures back to unadjusted terms if you require the original traded price.

5. Record the data source and timestamp for auditability (for example: As of 2021‑01‑28, NYSE trade prints show intraday highs in the high‑$400s; as of 2021‑01‑27, official close reported near $347.51).

Following these steps helps remove ambiguity when answering how high did GME stock go.

Where to check authoritative data

Primary records from the exchange (NYSE trade prints) are the most authoritative source for executed intraday highs and official closes. Major public data aggregators and financial platforms also report these figures; when using them, confirm whether prices are adjusted and note the reporting timestamp.

Popular data sources that provide historical prints or adjusted/unadjusted series include major financial charting services and historical price databases. When citing those sources, note the reporting date. For example:

• As of 2021‑01‑28, market summaries documented a regular‑session intraday print near $483 for GME (source: market trade prints and aggregated finance data).

• As of 2021‑01‑27, reported official close values were around $347.51 on many public finance platforms (source: daily close summaries).

Related topics (See also)

• GameStop short squeeze
• Short squeeze (finance)
• r/wallstreetbets community and retail trading dynamics
• Keith Gill ("Roaring Kitty") and prominent retail figures
• Market microstructure and clearinghouse processes

References

• Wikipedia — GameStop short squeeze (reporting around late January 2021). Example reference point: As of 2021‑01‑28, Wikipedia entries and timelines summarized the peak intraday trading and social drivers.

• ScreenRant — coverage of GameStop highs and later valuation context. Reporting referenced key dates in late January 2021.

• Macrotrends — historical stock price tables showing unadjusted and adjusted series; useful for seeing how splits or corporate actions change historical numeric values. Check the annotation for corporate actions when comparing peak numbers.

• TradingView — interactive charts showing intraday and historical price action; as of 2021‑01‑28, intraday highs were visible on the NYSE GME symbol chart.

• Yahoo Finance — quote pages and historical close tables that report official closing prices (e.g., the late January 2021 high closes).

• Google Finance — another reference for historical quotes and interactive charts.

• Robinhood — broker quote and profile pages that documented the security status during the period of extreme retail activity.

• EBSCO Research Starter — concise academic/encyclopedic summaries of the GameStop short squeeze phenomenon and context.

(Reporting dates: references above summarize data and reporting around the January–February 2021 window. For exchange‑level verification, consult NYSE trade prints for the specific timestamps.)

Final notes and next steps

If your purpose is archival or compliance verification of how high did GME stock go, obtain the NYSE executed trade prints and the exchange official daily bars for January 27–28, 2021. For readers interested in trading or custody services and tools for monitoring equities, explore Bitget's market data tools and consider Bitget Wallet for secure self‑custody of digital assets and web3 interactions. Learn more about Bitget's market features to monitor volatile instruments and historical price series.

Further exploration: compare split‑adjusted vs unadjusted views on major charting platforms, and always document the data vendor and timestamp when reporting specific historic peaks.

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