Special Report

Biggest IPOs of the Year

Samuel Stebbins

Published: December 21, 2018 5:21 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 9:45 am

In the first three quarters of 2018, 173 companies have gone public in the United States. By year’s end, the total number of domestic initial public offerings is projected to exceed the 181 IPOs filed in 2017. It has already far surpassed 2016’s 102 IPOs.

More than half of all companies that have gone public in the United States this year are in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences sector or technology, media, and telecommunications — and many have been successful both in raising capital and rewarding early investors.

For any company, the decision to go public is a major milestone. Most companies do so to raise money and spread the risk of ownership across a much larger group of investors.

Listing on a public stock exchange has proved to be a sound strategic move for countless companies over the years. Some of the most successful IPOs in history have taken place relatively recently. Credit card giant Visa raised $17.9 billion in capital with its 2008 IPO. Four years later, social media platform Facebook brought in $16.0 billion with its Wall Street debut.

These companies have also rewarded investors. Facebook shares are currently trading over 300% higher than their first day of trading, while Visa shares are up over 750%.

The 170-plus companies that have gone public in U.S. stock exchanges in the first three quarters of 2018 have brought a cumulative value of $45.7 billion to the trading floor — considerably more than the $31.2 billion in IPOs over the first three quarters of 2017. By year’s end, the total value of domestic IPOs is projected to reach a high of $75 billion.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the value of total shares at the initial public offering to identify the biggest IPOs of the 2018. Using data from independent research firm EDGAR, we only ranked IPOs with a total offer amount of half a billion dollars or more at the time of their pricing. All companies on this list are currently trading on the NASDAQ or NYSE exchanges.

26. GrafTech International Ltd. (EAF)
> Offer amount: $525.0 million ($15.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 4/19/2018
> Current share price: $15.10
> Sector: Industrials

25. Focus Financial Partners Inc. (FOCS)
> Offer amount: $535.1 million ($33.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 7/26/2018
> Current share price: $31.01
> Sector: Financials

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24. Far Point Acquisition Corp. (FPAC)
> Offer amount: $550.0 million ($10.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 6/12/2018
> Current share price: $9.62
> Sector: Industrials

23. Pivotal Software, Inc. (PVTL)
> Offer amount: $555.0 million ($15.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 4/20/2018
> Current share price: $18.01
> Sector: Technology

22. GS Acquisition Holdings Corp. (GSAH)
> Offer amount: $600.0 million ($10.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 6/8/2018
> Current share price: $9.83
> Sector: Industrials

21. Churchill Capital Corp. (CCC)
> Offer amount: $600.0 million ($10.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 9/7/2018
> Current share price: $9.56
> Sector: Industrials

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20. Docusign Inc (DOCU)
> Offer amount: $629.3 million ($29.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 4/27/2018
> Current share price: $40.71
> Sector: Technology

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19. BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc (BJ)
> Offer amount: $637.5 million ($17.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 6/28/2018
> Current share price: $22.48
> Sector: Consumer Goods

18. Americold Realty Trust (COLD)
> Offer amount: $724.8 million ($16.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 1/19/2018
> Current share price: $26.50
> Sector: Financials

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17. Gates Industrial Corp. Plc. (GTES)
> Offer amount: $731.5 million ($19.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 1/25/2018
> Current share price: $14.38
> Sector: Consumer Goods

16. Hudson Ltd. (HUD)
> Offer amount: $748.9 million ($19.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 2/1/2018
> Current share price: $19.69
> Sector: Consumer Services

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15. Dropbox, Inc. (DBX)
> Offer amount: $756.0 million ($21.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 3/23/2018
> Current share price: $22.93
> Sector: Technology

14. Cushman & Wakefield Plc. (CWK)
> Offer amount: $765.0 million ($17.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 8/2/2018
> Current share price: $18.17
> Sector: Financials

13. Greensky, Inc. (GSKY)
> Offer amount: $874.0 million ($23.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 5/24/2018
> Current share price: $9.25
> Sector: Consumer Services

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12. Farfetch Ltd (FTCH)
> Offer amount: $884.9 million ($20.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 9/21/2018
> Current share price: $22.02
> Sector: Consumer Goods

11. NIO Inc. (NIO)
> Offer amount: $1.0 billion ($6.26 per share)
> Pricing date: 9/12/2018
> Current share price: $7.38
> Sector: Consumer Goods

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10. World Gold Trust (GLDM)
> Offer amount: $1.0 billion ($12.98 per share)
> Pricing date: 6/26/2018
> Current share price: $12.22
> Sector: Financials

9. Vici Properties Inc. (VICI)
> Offer amount: $1.2 billion ($20.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 2/1/2018
> Current share price: $21.81
> Sector: Financials

8. StoneCo Ltd. (STNE)
> Offer amount: $1.2 billion ($24.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 10/25/2018
> Current share price: $22.58
> Sector: Technology

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7. ADT Inc. (ADT)
> Offer amount: $1.5 billion ($14.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 1/19/2018
> Current share price: $7.73
> Sector: Consumer Services

6. Elanco Animal Health Inc. (ELAN)
> Offer amount: $1.5 billion ($24.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 9/20/2018
> Current share price: $33.01
> Sector: Health Care

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5. Pinduoduo Inc. (PDD)
> Offer amount: $1.6 billion ($19.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 7/26/2018
> Current share price: $21.80
> Sector: Technology

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4. IQIYI, Inc. (IQ)
> Offer amount: $2.3 billion ($18.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 3/29/2018
> Current share price: $20.12
> Sector: Consumer Goods

3. Pagseguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS)
> Offer amount: $2.3 billion ($21.50 per share)
> Pricing date: 1/24/2018
> Current share price: $22.17
> Sector: Technology

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2. AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH)
> Offer amount: $2.7 billion ($20.00 per share)
> Pricing date: 5/10/2018
> Current share price: $20.04
> Sector: Financials

1. Spotify Technology S.A. (SPOT)
> Offer amount: $9.2 billion ($165.90 per share)
> Pricing date: 4/3/2018
> Current share price: $136.19
> Sector: Technology