Finance
Raspberry Pi soars 40% as CEO buys stock, AI chatter builds
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 17, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 17, 2026
Quick Summary
Raspberry Pi shares soared 42% after CEO Eben Upton's stock purchase. Market speculation ties the surge to potential AI project applications.
Raspberry Pi soars 40% as CEO buys stock, AI chatter builds
Raspberry Pi's Stock Performance
By Danilo Masoni
CEO's Stock Purchase
MILAN, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Shares in Raspberry Pi rose as much as 42% on Tuesday in a record two‑day rally after CEO Eben Upton bought stock in the beaten‑down UK computer hardware firm, halting a months‑long slide, as chatter grew that its products could benefit from low‑cost artificial‑intelligence projects.
Market Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Two London traders said the driver behind the surge was not clear, though the move followed a filing showing Upton bought about 13,224 pounds worth of shares at around 282 pence each on Monday. The stock is still about 50% below a record high hit a year ago.
Company's Earnings Outlook
The rally in the roughly $800 million company has materialised alongside social-media buzz that demand for its single‑board computers could pick up as people buy them to run AI agents such as OpenClaw.
X user @aleabitoreddit, who has more than 58,000 followers, posted on Monday: “Fun Trade Idea: Long $RPI (Raspberry Pi),” claiming buyers have recently begun hoarding the devices because they are far cheaper than “$500‑plus Apple products.”
Asked about the share price move, Raspberry Pi said: “There’s nothing from the company side beyond what’s already in the public domain.”
By 1454 GMT, the shares were up about 27%, topping gainers on the FTSE 250. Earlier this month, the stock fell below its 280‑pence IPO price.
In January, Raspberry Pi said its 2025 core earnings would be ahead of expectations but warned its 2026 outlook was clouded by volatility in the supply and pricing of memory
(Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Amanda Cooper)
Key Takeaways
- •Raspberry Pi shares surged 42% after CEO Eben Upton's stock purchase.
- •Speculation grows on Raspberry Pi's role in low-cost AI projects.
- •The stock remains 50% below its record high from a year ago.
- •Social media buzz suggests increased demand for Raspberry Pi devices.
- •Raspberry Pi's 2025 earnings outlook is positive despite future uncertainties.
Frequently Asked Questions about Raspberry Pi soars 40% as CEO buys stock, AI chatter builds
1What is a CEO stock purchase?
A CEO stock purchase occurs when a company's chief executive officer buys shares of their own company, often seen as a sign of confidence in its future.
2What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems, enabling them to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
