The 197 Companies That Had Their IPO In 2018 -

Number of companies that went public	197
Notable companies that went public	Spotify, Moderna, Dell, and Dropbox
Number of companies that have been acquired	5
Largest company that went public	SoftBank Corp (raised $23.5 billion at a valuation of $63 billion)

2018 was a year of volatility.

Everything from trade wars to the cryptocurrency boom.

Things were shaky and financial markets were feeling the heat.

However, almost 200 companies still managed to reach the stock exchanges for the first time. This includes many tech companies, a biopharmaceutical company, a file storage company, a cloud software company, a music streaming service, and many more.

Keep reading to find out which companies went public and how they’re performing today.

Table of contents

Major world events that happened in 2018 that affected the stock markets

bitcoin via unsplash — *Image via Unsplash*

The trade war between USA and China: 2018 witnessed escalating tensions between the United States and China, with both countries imposing tariffs on each other’s goods. As you can imagine, this had a widespread impact on global financial markets and the upcoming IPOs.

Facebook testifies: In April 2018, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the U.S. Congress regarding the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The event led to increased scrutiny of data privacy practices which undoubtedly affected the IPO landscape for internet-related companies.

Cryptocurrency boom (and bust): Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $25,709 in December 2017. However, the bull run slowed throughout 2018, with cryptocurrency facing a significant market correction.

Tech IPOs: Despite the Cambridge Analytica scandal, many tech companies still went public in 2018. This included some of the most successful companies in the industry including Dropbox (cloud storage provider), Spotify (music streaming), and Dell Technologies (personal computing).

Key Insights of IPO’s in 2018

Rise of unicorns: 2018 saw an increase in “unicorn” IPOs – companies valued at over $1 billion. 38 tech companies went public at valuations of $1 billion or more, almost double the previous year.

Spotify’s direct listing: Music streaming giant Spotify made headlines by opting for a direct listing instead of a traditional IPO process . This direct listing valued the company at $25 billion.

Cross-border listings: There was an increase in cross-border IPO activity, particularly with Chinese companies listing in the US. 29% of US exchange IPOs were cross-border, up from 24% in 2017.

Pipeline building: Despite some market uncertainties, the IPO pipeline continued to build throughout 2018, setting the stage for potentially strong activity in 2019, especially with anticipated IPOs from high-profile companies like Uber and Lyft.

Top 7 interesting companies that went public in 2018

1. Aston Martin

Aston Martin via Unsplash — *Image via Unsplash*

Country: United Kingdom
Stock Exchange: London Stock Exchange (LSE)
Industry: Auto Manufacturers
IPO Price: £19
IPO Date: October 3, 2018

Thanks to James Bond, Aston Martin is one of my favorite luxury car brands. They’re a British automotive manufacturer that produces high-performance sports cars. Founded in 1913, the company has a long history of producing iconic vehicles that are renowned for their beauty, power, and craftsmanship. Some of their most notable cars include the classic DB5 to the modern Vantage, Aston Martin has a car for everyone.

Since its 2018 IPO, Aston Martin has expanded its product line to include SUVs like the DBX, addressing a broader market. While the company has faced financial challenges and ownership changes, it continues to leverage its strong brand identity and is investing in electrification to meet future market demands.

Aston Martin’s partnership with Mercedes-AMG for engines and technology has been crucial for its product development, though the company still struggles with profitability and high debt levels.

2. Dell Technologies

Dell computer — *Dell Laptop via Unsplash*

Country: United States of America
Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Industry: Computer Hardware
IPO Price: $46
IPO Date: December 28, 2018

Dell Technologies is another company we’re all very familiar with. They’re a global technology leader that provides innovative products and services to customers around the world. They offer cloud computing, data storage, servers, networking, software, IT consulting, security solutions, and more.

Since going public again in 2018, Dell Technologies has strengthened its position in the PC market and expanded its enterprise solutions, particularly in cloud computing and edge technologies. The company has shown resilience in a challenging PC market, leveraging its diverse portfolio that includes servers, storage, and networking solutions.

Dell’s recent focus on AI-optimized infrastructure and sustainability initiatives demonstrates its adaptability to emerging trends, though it faces intense competition in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

3. DocuSign

Country: United States of America
Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
Industry: Software—Application
IPO Price: $29
IPO Date: April 27, 2018

DocuSign is an electronic signature and digital transaction management platform that I’ve used for many important deals. It enables users to sign, send, and manage documents in a secure way online. Since the platform is designed to provide secure and legally binding ways to sign documents, it eliminates the need for paper.

DocuSign has significantly expanded its product offerings since its 2018 IPO, moving beyond electronic signatures to provide a comprehensive agreement cloud platform.

The company experienced rapid growth during the pandemic but has faced challenges in maintaining that momentum in a post-pandemic environment.

DocuSign’s strengths lie in its market leadership and continuous innovation in digital agreement processes, though it faces increasing competition and the need to diversify its revenue streams beyond its core e-signature business.

4. Moderna

Country: United States of America
Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
Industry: Biotechnology
IPO Price: $23 per share
IPO Date: December 7, 2018

Moderna has become one of the most controversial companies listed on the stock exchange in recent years. Moderna Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines. They had one of the largest IPOs in 2018 raising $604M but the company’s financial performance has been volatile with its share price declining from September 2021.

Since its 2018 IPO, Moderna has transformed from a clinical-stage biotech company to a major vaccine manufacturer, largely due to its successful COVID-19 vaccine.

The company is now leveraging its mRNA technology platform to develop vaccines and therapeutics for various diseases, including cancer and rare genetic disorders. While Moderna faces challenges in diversifying beyond COVID-19 revenues, its strong cash position and extensive pipeline of candidates position it well for future growth in the biotechnology sector.

5. Farfetch

Country: United States of America
Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Industry: Internet Retail
IPO Price: $20
IPO Date: September 21, 2018

Farfetch is a popular online luxury platform that connects customers with independent boutiques and brands from around the world. It offers a wide selection of designer clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, and beauty products. You can expect to see over 3,000 boutiques and over 700 brands.

Farfetch, which went public in 2018 as a luxury e-commerce platform, has since expanded its business model to include white-label e-commerce solutions for luxury brands. However, the company has faced significant challenges, including mounting losses and a recent acquisition by Coupang.

Under new ownership, Farfetch is refocusing on its core marketplace business, shutting down its Platform Solutions unit, and implementing cost-cutting measures to achieve profitability.

6. Smartsheet

smartsheet homepage — *Smartsheet homepage*

Country: United States of America
Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Industry: Software—Application
IPO Price: $15
IPO Date: April 27, 2018

Smartsheet is a cloud-based platform that enables businesses to plan, track, automate, and report on work. I like to think of them as a more powerful and secure alternative to Google Sheets. They provide a range of additional features such as task management, project management, collaboration, resource management, and automation. Their main point of differentiation is that they help businesses streamline their processes, improve collaboration, and increase productivity.

Since its 2018 IPO, Smartsheet has evolved its collaborative work management platform, adding features like resource management and AI-powered insights. The company has shown consistent revenue growth and expanded its enterprise customer base, though it still faces challenges in achieving profitability. Smartsheet’s strengths include its flexible platform and integration capabilities, but it operates in a competitive market with larger tech giants also offering project management solutions.

7. Upwork

Country: United States of America
Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
Industry: Staffing & Employment Services
IPO Price: $15
IPO Date: October 3, 2018

Upwork is an online platform that connects businesses with freelancers for a variety of services. It provides a secure and reliable way for businesses to find, hire, work with, and pay freelancers. It’s one of the most reliable platforms I’ve used, however, there is growing competition from the likes of Fiverr and niche platforms such as Marketer Hire.

Since its IPO, it has expanded its services to include enterprise solutions and project-based work. The company has benefited from the growing gig economy and remote work trends, showing steady revenue growth.

While Upwork faces competition from other freelance platforms and LinkedIn, its focus on high-skilled professionals and value-added services for businesses sets it apart. The company continues to invest in AI-powered matching and fraud prevention to enhance its platform’s effectiveness.

Frequently asked questions

How many IPOs were there in 2018?

There were approximately 197 IPOs in 2018, according to Wikipedia , Crunchbase, Yahoo Finance, Techcrunch, and Jay R. Ritter’s data from UF Warrington College of Business. However, it’s difficult to find a complete list of every company that has hit the stock exchange for the first time since the data is fragmented. Please do your own research to confirm this figure.

Which company that had its IPO in 2018 is currently valued the highest?

As of June 2023, Pinduoduo has a market capitalization of $113B followed by Moderna with a market capitalization of $38B. Of course, this is subject to change and you should check for the latest data.

Which companies that had their IPO in 2018 are now bankrupt or inactive?

Zero company has been classified as bankrupt or inactive, however, four have been acquired.

What was the largest IPO of 2018?

In the United States:
The largest IPO in the US in 2018 was AXA Equitable Holdings (ticker: EQH). It raised $2.7 billion when it went public on May 9, 2018, with shares priced at $20 per share.

Globally:
The largest IPO worldwide in 2018 was SoftBank Corp, which raised $21.3 billion when it went public on December 18, 2018. This made it the second-largest IPO of all time at that point, behind only Alibaba’s 2014 IPO. SoftBank Corp’s IPO was also the largest ever in Japan.