What is the expected timeline for the investigation and could it impact upcoming earnings releases or other corporate events?
Investigation timeline â Shareholderâinitiated lawsuits of this type normally follow a staged schedule: a âdemand letterâ and request for documents is filed within the first 30âŻdays, a formal complaint (if the board does not settle) is typically docketed 60â90âŻdays after the announcement, and discovery can stretch another 3â6âŻmonths. In practice, the first substantive filing is expected by earlyâ to midâOctober 2025, with the bulk of the discovery and possible settlement talks playing out through the Q4â2025 calendar year. Because the case is being pursued on behalf of shareholders rather than the board, there is no âfastâtrackâ SEC enforcement deadline, so the timeline can easily extend to six months or more before any definitive judgment or settlement is announced.
Potential impact on earnings and corporate events â LivePersonâs next earnings release is scheduled for early November 2025 (its Q3â2025 results). The investigationâs initial filing will likely land just before that date, creating a shortâterm headâline risk that could compress the earningsâsurprise premium and increase bidâask spreads. If the complaint escalates into a formal securitiesâlaw suit, the company may be compelled to disclose material information in its FormâŻ8âK (e.g., material litigation), which could force a delay or a âquietâperiodââstyle restriction on forwardâlooking guidance. Subsequent corporate eventsâsuch as any planned shareârepurchase program, dividend declaration, or a potential strategic acquisition slated for Q4â2025âcould be postponed or reâpriced while the litigation proceeds.
Trading implications â The market has already priced in the negative sentiment (â70 sentiment score) and the stock is trading below its 20âday moving average with a tightening range (~2â3âŻ% below recent highs), indicating heightened downside bias. Until the investigationâs first filing materializes, volatility is likely to stay elevated, especially around the November earnings call. A prudent shortâterm approach is to reduce exposure or hedge with outâofâtheâmoney puts (e.g., 30âday 10â15âŻ% OTM strikes) to protect against a sudden price drop if the complaint is filed. If you are longâterm bullish on LivePersonâs platform revenue growth, consider adding a small position after the earnings release, once the immediate litigation shock has been digested and the stock reâestablishes a clear trend above its 50âday moving average. Keep a close eye on SEC filings (FormâŻ8âK) and any corporate press releases for updates on the case timeline.