Cathie Wood Bets on Beaten-Down Innovators

When stocks go on sale, Cathie Wood rarely hesitates. The ARK Invest founder has built a reputation for buying bold, disruptive companies when others are fleeing. Last week was no different—her team snapped up more shares of three struggling innovators: Shopify, Intellia Therapeutics, and GeneDx.

Each name carries the kind of high-risk, high-reward profile Wood is known for. Shopify, once a pandemic darling, lost 16% in a single day after a weak earnings report. Investors panicked over slowing growth and rising competition. But for Wood, that dip looked like an opening. Her team doubled down, seeing long-term potential beneath the short-term noise.

Even steeper declines drew her attention elsewhere. GeneDx, a rare disease genetic testing company, saw its stock nearly halve in value after disappointing revenue and questions about reimbursement. Intellia, a gene-editing pioneer, has been under pressure as clinical-stage biotechs face tough market conditions. Both fit Wood’s playbook: misunderstood innovation trading at a discount.

“Innovation doesn’t move in a straight line,” Wood has said before. This week’s buys reflect that belief. While others see red numbers, she sees runway. Shopify’s rebuilding its e-commerce ecosystem. Intellia’s CRISPR-based therapies are advancing. GeneDx is expanding access to life-changing diagnostics.

These aren’t safe bets. They’re calculated wagers on transformation. And knowing Wood’s history—bailing on Tesla at the top, catching Roku early—timing the turnaround is part of the strategy. For now, she’s planting flags where fear runs high, reminding markets that sometimes, the best time to buy is when everyone else is selling.

See also

In-depth articles

Related topics