5 Hot Summer IPOs Still Up Over 50% (WAGE, FIVE, NOW, CHUY, PANW, FB)

Maybe Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) was a total disaster of an initial public offering. That being said, investors may find some light comfort in the fact that there were some very successful IPOs from the summer months of 2012. There are five such IPOs which are up by more than 50% from their formal pricing.

These IPOs which are up more than 50% from the IPO price are all well above their post-IPO lows. They are WageWorks Inc. (NYSE: WAGE), Five Below Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE), ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE: NOW), Chuy’s Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CHUY), and Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NYSE: PANW). We have included a brief description, a history of trading since the IPO, and we have included what analysts are currently looking for in shareholders gains (or losses).

WageWorks Inc. (NYSE: WAGE) is an on-demand provider of tax-advantaged programs for consumer-directed health, and commuter and other employee spending account benefits. After pricing at $9.00 back in May, the $17.86 share price makes it the top gainer with a gain of almost 100%. Its post-IPO range has been 10.12 to $18.55. Analysts have a consensus price target of $18.33 for WageWorks shares according to data from Thomson Reuters.

Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE) is still up almost 100% as well from its $17 IPO price. This company is in the teen market for low-price retail items, all $5 and under. The recent earnings report brought on selling and its $33.60 share price today compares to a post-IPO range of $25.00 to $36.34 since its July 19 IPO date. Thomson Reuters lists a consensus price target of $35.17 for Five Blow shares.

ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE: NOW) has continued its surge with a 6% gain to $35.10 on Wednesday. This is up about 95% from its $18 price back on June 28 and its post-IPO trading range is $22.62 to $37.31. The company provides enterprise information technology management via software-as-a-service.  Thomson Reuters lists a consensus price target of $31.17 for ServiceNow shares.

Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHUY) is a Tex-Mex restaurant chain that is still hotter than a jalapeno. The stock traded almost 81% higher with the most recent price being $23.50 after its $13 IPO from July 23. Chuy’s has a post-IPO range of $14.33 to $24.30. Thomson Reuters lists a consensus price target of $22.33 on Chuy’s.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW) operates a platform for enterprise network security services. Shares may be more than 10% off of the post-IPO highs, but a price of $65.00 still translates to a gain of almost 55% from its $42 IPO price back on July 19. It has had a trading range of $51.10 to $72.61 since its IPO. Thomson Reuters lists a consensus price target of $72.10 on Palo Alto.

JON C. OGG