Small investors piled into Kohl's Tuesday and sent shares flying upwards as the department store retailer became the latest business caught up in a stock market frenzy.

Huge interest in the Menomonee Falls-based retailer's stock drove so many trades July 22 that trading was briefly suspended. The rally came after online forums talked up shares in the retailer, which has suffered from sales slumps and corporate leadership turnover.

Kohl's has faced tepid sales growth as it struggles to attract budget-conscious shoppers still hurting from elevated inflation. In May the retail chain, which has roughly 1,100 stores around the U.S., reported a fiscal first-quarter loss of $15 million and that net sales fell more than 4% from the year-ago period.