Opendoor Technologies shares extended a recent rally on 12 Aug. after cryptocurrency investor and popular newsletter writer Anthony Pompliano said he had personally bought the stock, calling retail investors “a powerful force in financial markets.” A Bloomberg post noted that Pompliano’s disclosure helped the digital real-estate firm “resume its surge,” adding momentum to a rebound that has lifted the shares from below $1 in June to about $2 by mid-August. The show of outside support prompted a rare public response from chief executive officer Carrie Wheeler, who told followers she is “committed” to explaining the company’s strategy and confirmed plans for a recorded interview with Pompliano. Hedge-fund manager Eric Jackson, already an outspoken backer of the company, is pressing management to focus on capital-light businesses such as marketing homes with assumable mortgages, which he argues could generate more than $100 million in annual revenue. Skepticism persists on Wall Street. Shortly after the social-media flurry, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Opendoor to Underperform while leaving its $1 price target unchanged, citing structural challenges in the iBuying model. The stock still carries a Hold consensus among analysts, according to data compiled by TipRanks. Opendoor’s market value has been whiplashed by shifting U.S. mortgage rates that squeezed its home-flipping margins. Supporters contend that lower borrowing costs, heavier use of data analytics and new partnership models could revive growth, while detractors question whether the company can scale profitably. Wheeler’s forthcoming interview will be watched for details on how the company plans to stabilize earnings and address housing-affordability concerns.