Google has made an offer to acquire Fitbit, Reuters reported late Monday morning. Shares of the fitness-tracking device maker surged 19 percent on the report, leading the Nasdaq to briefly halt trading in the stock. Shares resumed trading just after midday, climbing more than 35 percent.
The offer price is not clear, according to Reuters, and it is unknown whether or not Fitbit is considering the offer.
Reuters reported last month that the wearable company, a darling of the consumer tech industry when it went public in 2015, was now looking to either get acquired or take itself private as it faces increased competition. Modern smartphones now come with much of the technology that Fitbit pioneered in its sleek, connected watches, not to mention the Apple Watch, which now owns about half of the global smartwatch market.
For Google parent Alphabet ($GOOGL), Fitbit would represent the company's first foray into wearables, where its main hardware competitors, Apple and Samsung, are duking it out for supremacy. Google has made its healthcare ambitions clear, last year poaching the CEO of the regional healthcare provider Geisinger.
PepsiCo's "Rolling Remembrance" American Flag Relay Puts Veteran Drivers at the Wheel to Raise Funds and Awareness for Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
Fresh off the company’s IPO at the New York Stock Exchange Bowhead Specialty CEO Stephen Sills discusses what’s next and why some insurance rates are rising.
AAA predicts a surge in summer 2024 travel, with 44 million travelers, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Expect more solo trips, AI use, and Taylor Swift.
As Americans prepare for a long weekend of grilling, Impossible Foods wants to put aside the culture wars, win over meat eaters – and IPO when it's 'ready.'
In April, grocery prices rose by 1.2 percent, reaching pre-pandemic levels of food inflation. Could an e-commerce grocer be the solution? Thrive Market says yes
