• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Finance

Motorola Stock Falls after Short Seller Accuses the Company of Price Gouging

Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 7, 2017, 7:11 PM ET
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Citron Research’s Andrew Left has a new trade strategy: direct President Donald Trump’s attention to the companies that are ripping the government off.

The short seller who helped bring down Valeant took aim at telecom company Motorola Solutions in a Tuesday note, writing that the Trump administration could crack down on the high prices the firm quotes for U.S. police, fire, and sheriff’s departments.

According to Left, U.S. law enforcement agencies pay five times the prices Motorola offers EU nations for items such as radios. As a result, he claimed that Motorola derives nearly 77% of its profits from the U.S.

“What would President Trump think?” Left began his note—a question that appeared to send Motorola shares down 5.4% in trading Tuesday.

On inauguration day, Left released a note taking aim at airplane parts company TransDigm. He expected Trump to crack down on prices in the sector, asking the President directly if he knew why “Air Trump”‘s replacement parts were so pricey. And before that, Left directly Tweeted at Trump over one of his other shorts, Express Scripts.

 

Left’s latest note comes as Trump criticizes companies for overcharging the government, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. And during Trump’s presidential campaign, he said the U.S. was “going out to bid in virtually every facet of our government. We are going to save a fortune.”

When Fortune asked Left if he was trying to direct Trump’s attention to his shorts, TransDigm and Motorola, he said he was simply reading and reacting to market changes.

“If he takes notice, then great!” Left said. “All you need is someone to send a link to someone else.”

Left added that he’s also “trying to be informative and entertaining” by calling on Trump to take notice of his notes.

Motorola, on the other hand, refutes the note’s claims.

“Citron has made numerous false and misleading statements and we strongly disagree with the assertions made by this short-seller,” a representative with Motorola wrote in an emailed statement to Fortune. “Of note, Citron’s comparisons to products and price points in Europe and other locations are baseless, as different countries have different standards and require different technologies. We sell radios at all price points in each region.”

About the Author
Lucinda Shen
By Lucinda Shen
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
Economyconstruction
Jensen Huang’s message to electricians and plumbers: ‘This is your time,’ as AI buildout leads to soaring demand for skilled trades
By Tristan BoveMay 11, 2026
21 minutes ago
Forget U.S. debt, China’s total borrowing is in ‘a league of its own’—much worse and deteriorating faster, analyst says
EconomyChina
Forget U.S. debt, China’s total borrowing is in ‘a league of its own’—much worse and deteriorating faster, analyst says
By Jason MaMay 11, 2026
25 minutes ago
worker alone in empty office
Future of WorkTech
AI isn’t paying off in the way companies think. Layoffs driven by automation are failing to generate returns, study finds
By Jake AngeloMay 11, 2026
27 minutes ago
Young Americans are more pessimistic about jobs than their parents—and no advanced economy has ever seen this kind of divide
EconomyGen Z
Young Americans are more pessimistic about jobs than their parents—and no advanced economy has ever seen this kind of divide
By Nicholas Riccardi and The Associated PressMay 11, 2026
1 hour ago
Poppi cofounder Allison Ellsworth
SuccessEntrepreneurs
Poppi cofounder maxed out credit cards and sold her car to fund the company—now, she’s a multimillionaire after a $1.95 billion sale
By Emma BurleighMay 11, 2026
2 hours ago
The American housing market is broken—and 3 years in, it’s starting to look permanent
Real EstateHousing
The American housing market is broken—and 3 years in, it’s starting to look permanent
By Alex Veiga and The Associated PressMay 11, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

‘This is the way’: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffett’s famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt
Economy
‘This is the way’: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffett’s famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt
By Jacqueline MunisMay 10, 2026
1 day ago
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z and millennials are using ChatGPT like a 'life advisor'—but college students might be one step ahead
Tech
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z and millennials are using ChatGPT like a 'life advisor'—but college students might be one step ahead
By Sydney LakeMay 10, 2026
1 day ago
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
Success
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 9, 2026
2 days ago
'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
Future of Work
'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
By Jake AngeloMay 9, 2026
2 days ago
Trump thinks he's flying to Beijing with leverage. China spent 6 years making sure he doesn't have any
Commentary
Trump thinks he's flying to Beijing with leverage. China spent 6 years making sure he doesn't have any
By Steve H. HankeMay 10, 2026
1 day ago
Ted Cruz says the quiet part out loud: Trump accounts are Social Security personal accounts as GOP senator reveals 'dirty little secret'
Politics
Ted Cruz says the quiet part out loud: Trump accounts are Social Security personal accounts as GOP senator reveals 'dirty little secret'
By Jason MaMay 9, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.