Stock market meme stocks now have a place in history when it comes to wild consumer investment sentiment. But does it tell us anything else?

Trump Media & Technology Group entered this territory over the last month -- with its stock price up around 200%. On Friday, TMTG was up another 9.6% in mid-day trading to $38.31.

Analysts have speculated that looking at the company’s stock price might be a key to how the Presidential election is going -- if not another Trump presidency. 

But perhaps other data trends -- advertising revenues associated with TMTG and its Truth Social social media app -- may be a better measure.

The company’s key business, Truth Social, earned a massive (wink) $4.1 million in revenue in 2023 -- largely advertising revenue. 

Does that sound like a lot of money? Maybe this will help: The company has a stock-market valuation of $7.4 billion. Does that make sense, in terms of the company’s? Welcome to meme-land.

Looking more closely, second-quarter 2024 ad revenues were at $836,900 -- down 30% from the same period a year before. By the way, in the first quarter of this year, the company posted a net loss of $327.6 million.

You might be thinking -- does this albeit thin trend line mean anything if Trump ascends to another term as President?

Let’s look at this a bit differently, in terms of the business of the United States that he could be heading up again soon.

Social Security’s trust fund reserves could be depleted in six years -- as early as 2031 -- under former President Donald Trump’s proposals, according to an analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB).

The U.S. tax base would be severely diminished due to several Trump proposals: His plan to end taxation of Social Security benefits; scrapping taxes on tips and overtime; impose a range of new economy-hurting tariffs and expanding deportations. Throw in even more tax cuts for billionaires. 

Economist groups have concerns that all this would also hit the gas, resulting in some rapid inflation acceleration.

Business networks like CNBC have been covering this TMTG activity for what it is -- a meme stock.

A broad definition says this is a stock that gains popularity among retail investors via social media -- typically with scant positive or non-financial underpinnings. 

In other words, a very risky deal.

Still, don’t give up on Trump’s advertising revenue efforts yet. Last week, it was announced that the new Truth Social TV streaming app will be available on Amazon Fire TV platform -- with advertising opportunities, no doubt.

But don't imagine that any of this will compare with the millions in advertising revenue Trump got during his years at “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice” -- money shared with producer Mark Burnett.

Perhaps advertising-revenue trends can offer up more insight that stock price -- political, business, or otherwise -- or at least a deeper and more complete story line.

Any knowledgeable business apprentice or transparent business or political leader might tell you that.