The 350 Companies That Had Their IPO In 1998

What seems like yesterday was over 20 years ago.

So we're hopping into a time capsule to revisit an unforgettable year – 1998. 

This was when over 350 companies took the plunge with their Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

Whether its stock is climbing, it was acquired, or liquidated, each company's journey holds unique lessons that we can leverage in today's competitive business landscape.

So in this article, I'm going to share the companies that went public and how they're doing today.

Major world events that happened in 1998 that affected the stock markets

Before we get into the list of companies, it's important to reflect on all of the major events that occurred. Some of which had major influence over the companies that went public. Each of these events left a mark on the companies that debuted on the stock market in 1998. You might even remember them vividly.

Dot-com Boom Ignites: 1998 was a hot year for tech with big Internet companies like Broadcast.com and GeoCities going public. But the dot-com party didn't last forever, as these companies would see a major downturn just a few years later (p.s. take a look at IPOs that occurred in 1999, 2001, and 2001 for some hints).

Asian Financial Crisis: Despite the Asian financial crisis that started in 1997, companies like China Telecom (now China Mobile) braved the storm and went public, showing resilience in tough economic times which reinforced how bullish they were.

Microsoft Legal Battle: In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice and 20 states took Microsoft to court over antitrust issues. This caused ripples in the tech industry, casting a shadow over tech IPOs during the year.

Merger Fever: Big corporate mergers were the talk of the town. Exxon and Mobil joined forces to become the world's largest company, ExxonMobil. This caused a stir in the market and influenced the performance of public companies in related sectors.

Economic Shakeups: The Russian financial crisis in 1998 sent shockwaves through global markets when the government defaulted on its debt. This naturally scared investors and affected the performance of companies that went public in 1998.

4 household brand names that had their IPO in 1998

1. Adams Golf (acquired)

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
• Industry: 3D Printing, Manufacturing, Sports
• IPO Price: $16
• IPO Date: July 10, 1998

If you've ever played Golf then Adams Golf products might be a staple in your collection. They specialize in creating high-performance clubs that are designed to help golfers of all levels improve their game. Their products include drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, putters, and golf bags. They also offer custom fitting services to ensure that golfers get the perfect clubs for their game. Over the years they've built one of the best sporting brands which eventually led to their acquisition.

2. DoubleClick (acquired by Google)

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
• Industry: Online Advertising
• IPO Price: $29
• IPO Date: February 1998

DoubleClick was a well-known digital marketing company that provided “pay-per-click” ad services to businesses that wanted to reach their target audiences. It offered a range of other services, including ad serving, search engine marketing, display advertising, and analytics. It was eventually acquired by Google in a very lucrative deal.

3. eBay

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
• Industry: Internet Retail
• IPO Price: $18
• IPO Date: September 4, 1998

eBay was the reason I made my first dollar online. It's where I learned how to buy and sell used goods and it eventually become a website I was using daily. For those that aren't familiar, they're an online marketplace that allows people to buy and sell goods and services. Whilst eBay was one of the earlier innovators, companies like Amazon have eaten into their market share.

4. Muji (Owned by Ryohin Keikaku Co Ltd)

• Country: Japan
• Stock Exchange: Tokyo Stock Exchange (JPX)
• Industry: Retail
• IPO Price: N/A
• IPO Date: December 14, 1998

Muji is a Japanese retail company that offers a wide range of products, from clothing and furniture to stationery and food. This is actually one of my favorite stationary brands, I don't actually own any stationary other than Muji! Their focus is on providing high-quality, affordable items that are simple and functional. Muji's philosophy is to reduce waste and promote sustainability, something very popular in 2023.

350+ companies that had their IPO in 1998

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