This is not always true... If you're an insider (i.e., involved in management or have access to non-public information), then you can't simply praise the compa

This is not always true... If you're an insider (i.e., involved in management or have access to non-public information), then you can't simply praise the company you own shares in if the praise would be fraudulent. Similarly, if you're a short seller, you can't simply make negative shit up--your criticism of the company must be grounded in facts or information reasonably believed to be correct.