| Number of companies that went public | 197 |
| Notable companies that went public | Spotify, Moderna, Dell, and Dropbox |
| Number of companies that have been acquired | 4 |
| Largest company that went public | Pinduoduo Inc (Market Cap of $113Billion) |
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.
Major world events that happened in 2018 that affected the stock markets
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).
Seven notable companies that went public in 2018
1. Aston Martin
- 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.
2. Dell Technologies
- 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. Dell's strong financial performance and strategic acquisitions have positioned it for sustained growth. Additionally, its dedication to corporate social responsibility, including environmental sustainability and community engagement, underscores its reputation as a great company.
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. On top of this, DocuSign offers features such as document tracking, audit trails, and digital signatures. However, the online signature and document space is becoming more competitive with the barriers to entry getting lower.
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.
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. They raised a whopping $885 million dollars through their IPO but have been on a steady decline since their stock price peaked in February 2021.
6. Smartsheet
- 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.
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.
The 197 companies that had their IPO in 2018
| Company name | Year founded | Ticker | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armo Biosciences Inc | 2010 | ARMO | Active |
| Avalara Inc | 1999 | AVLR | Active |
| Beijing Iqiyi Tech Co Ltd | 2010 | IQ | Active |
| Bionano Genomics Inc | 2003 | BNGOU | Active |
| Cango Inc | 2010 | CANG | Active |
| Carbon Black Inc | 2002 | CBLK | Acquired by VMware |
| Constellation Pharm Inc | 2008 | CNST | Active |
| Cootek (Cayman) Inc | 2008 | CTK | Active |
| Eidos Therapeutics Inc | 2013 | EIDX | Active |
| Entasis Therapeutics Hldg Inc | 2015 | ETTX | Active |
| Evo Payments INC | 1989 | EVOP | Active |
| Focus Financial Partners Inc | 2004 | FOCS | Active |
| Forty Seven Inc | 2014 | FTSV | Acquired by Gilead Sciences |
| FTS International LLC | 2000 | FTSI | Active |
| Golden Bull Ltd | 2015 | DNJR | Active |
| GreenSky Inc | 2006 | GSKY | Active |
| Gritstone Oncology Inc | 2015 | GRTS | Active |
| Hancock Jaffe Laboratories | 1987 | HJLI | Active |
| Hyrecar Inc | 2014 | HYRE | Active |
| Industrial Logistics Ppty Tr | 2015 | ILPT | Active |
| Laix Inc | 2012 | LAIX | Active |
| Level One Bancorp Inc | 2007 | LEVL | Active |
| Liberty Oilfield Services Inc | 2011 | LBRT | Active |
| Logicbio Therapeutics Inc | 2014 | LOGC | Active |
| Menlo Therapeutics Inc | 2011 | MNLO | Active |
| Neon Therapeutics | 2013 | NTGN | Active |
| Orchard Therapeutics PLC | 2015 | ORTX | Active |
| Origin Bancorp Inc | 1912 | OBNK | Active |
| Osmotica Pharmaceuticals PLC | 1986 | OSMT | Active |
| PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2002 | PHAS | Active |
| Pivotal Software | 2013 | PVTL | Acquired by VMware |
| Principia Biopharma Inc | 2008 | PRNB | Active |
| Provention Bio Inc | 2014 | PRVB | Active |
| Quintana Energy Services Inc | 1998 | QES | Active |
| Qutoutiao Inc | 2014 | QTT | Active |
| resTORbio Inc | 2016 | TORC | Active |
| Spirit of Texas Bancshares Inc | 2008 | STXB | Active |
| SVMK Inc | 1999 | SVMK | Active |
| Synthorx Inc | 2014 | THOR | Acquired by Sanofi |
| Tricida Inc | 2013 | TCDA | Active |
| Unum Therapeutics Inc | 2014 | UMRX | Active |
| Urovant Sciences Ltd | 2016 | UROV | Active |
| US Xpress Enterprises Inc | 1986 | USX | Active |
| Weidai Ltd | 2011 | WEI | Active |
| Xspand Products Lab Inc | 2017 | XSPL | Active |
| Pinduoduo Inc | 2015 | PDD | Active |
| Moderna Inc | 2010 | MRNA | Active |
| VICI Properties Inc | 2017 | VICI | Active |
| Spotify Technology S.A. | 2006 | SPOT | Active |
| Nio Inc | 2014 | NIO | Active |
| Zscaler Inc | 2008 | ZS | Active |
| Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. | 1992 | CDAY | Active |
| Tencent Music Ent Grp | 2016 | TME | Active |
| DocuSign Inc | 2003 | DOCU | Active |
| Axa Equitable Holdings Inc | 1900 | EQH | Active |
| Dropbox Inc | 2007 | DBX | Active |
| BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings | 1984 | BJ | Active |
| AmeriCold Realty Trust | 2006 | COLD | Active |
| Inspire Medical Systems Inc | 2007 | INSP | Active |
| Bilibili Inc | 2009 | BILI | Active |
| Elastic NV | 2012 | ESTC | Active |
| Elanco Animal Health Inc | 1954 | ELAN | Active |
| Smartsheet Inc | 2005 | SMAR | Active |
| ADT Inc | 1874 | ADT | Active |
| Tenable Holdings Inc | 2002 | TENB | Active |
| StoneCo Ltd | 2012 | STNE | Active |
| Guardant Health Inc | 2011 | GH | Active |
| Livent Corp | 1998 | LTHM | Active |
| Cactus Inc | 2011 | WHD | Active |
| Essential Properties Realty | 2016 | EPRT | Active |
| Gates Industrial Corp Plc | 1911 | GTES | Active |
| Yeti Holdings Inc | 2006 | YETI | Active |
| Pagseguro Digital Ltd. | 2006 | PAGS | Active |
| Bloom Energy Corp | 2001 | BE | Active |
| Axonics Modulation Tech Inc | 2012 | AXNX | Active |
| Endava Ltd | 2000 | DAVA | Active |
| 360 Fin Inc | 2016 | QFIN | Active |
| Goosehead Insurance Inc | 2017 | GSHD | Active |
| Cushman & Wakefield Plc | 1984 | CWK | Active |
| Corporacion America Airports | 1998 | CAAP | Active |
| Victory Capital Holdings Inc | 2005 | VCTR | Active |
| Sonos Inc | 2002 | SONO | Active |
| Solarwinds Corp | 1999 | SWI | Active |
| Upwork Inc | 1999 | UPWK | Active |
| Farfetch Ltd | 2007 | FTCH | Active |
| Construction Partners Inc | 2001 | ROAD | Active |
| Establishment Labs Hldg Inc. | 2004 | ESTA | Active |
| Tilray Inc | 2016 | TLRY | Active |
| Opera Ltd | 1995 | OPRA | Active |
| Zuora Inc | 2006 | ZUO | Active |
| Twist Bioscience Corp | 2013 | TWST | Active |
| Arcus Biosciences Inc | 2015 | RCUS | Active |
| Studio City Intl Hldg Ltd | 2000 | MSC | Active |
| Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals LTD | 2015 | KNSA | Active |
| Arvinas Holding Co LLC | 2015 | ARVN | Active |
| Eventbrite Inc | 2006 | EB | Active |
| Replimune Group Inc | 2015 | REPL | Active |
| GrafTech International Ltd | 1886 | EAF | Active |
| Arlo Technologies Inc | 2014 | ARLO | Active |
| Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2008 | CRNX | Active |
| Bain Capital Specialty Finance | 1984 | BCSF | Active |
| SI-Bone Inc | 2008 | SIBN | Active |
| Arco Platform Ltd | 2004 | ARCE | Active |
| I3 Verticals | 2012 | IIIV | Active |
| Brightview Holdings Inc | 1939 | BV | Active |
| Huya Inc | 2014 | HUYA | Active |
| Berry Petro Corp | 1985 | BRY | Active |
| Greentree Hospitality Grp | 2004 | GHG | Active |
| Allogene Therapeutics Inc. | 2017 | ALLO | Active |
| Domo Inc | 2010 | DOMO | Active |
| Amalgamated Bank | 1923 | AMAL | Active |
| Coastal Financial Corp | 1997 | CCB | Active |
| Cardlytics Inc | 2008 | CDLX | Active |
| Legacy Housing Corp | 2005 | LEGH | Active |
| nLIGHT Inc | 2000 | LASR | Active |
| Evolus Inc | 2012 | EOLS | Active |
| Liquidia Technologies Inc | 2004 | LQDA | Active |
| Autolus Therapeutics Ltd | 2014 | AUTL | Active |
| Allakos Inc | 2012 | ALLK | Active |
| The Lovesac Co | 1998 | LOVE | Active |
| Meiragtx Holdings Plc | 2015 | MGTX | Active |
| Scholar Rock Holding Corp | 2012 | SRRK | Active |
| Xeris Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2005 | XERS | Active |
| Bridgewater Bancshares Inc | 2005 | BWB | Active |
| Niu Technologies | 2014 | NIU | Active |
| Playags Inc | 2005 | AGS | Active |
| Capital Bancorp Inc | 1998 | CBNK | Active |
| ElectroCore Llc | 2005 | ECOR | Active |
| 111 Inc | 2012 | YI | Active |
| Sutro Biopharma Inc | 2003 | STRO | Active |
| Bank7 Corp | 2001 | BSVN | Active |
| Y-MABS Therapeutics Inc | 2015 | YMAB | Active |
| BayCom | 2004 | BCML | Active |
| X Financial | 2014 | XYF | Active |
| Everquote Inc | 2008 | EVER | Active |
| Bioxcel Therapeutics Inc | 2017 | BTAI | Active |
| Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2013 | VRCA | Active |
| CNFinance Holdings Ltd | 2006 | CNF | Active |
| First Western Financial Inc | 2002 | MYFW | Active |
| Adial Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2010 | ADIL | Active |
| Evelo Biosciences Inc | 2014 | EVLO | Active |
| Nine Energy Service Inc | 2011 | NINE | Active |
| Kodiak Sciences Inc | 2009 | KOD | Active |
| Kezar Life Sciences Inc | 2015 | KZR | Active |
| Cue Biopharma Inc | 2014 | CUE | Active |
| Gamida Cell Ltd | 1998 | GMDA | Active |
| Aptorum Grp Ltd | 2015 | APM | Active |
| Aquestive Therapeutics Inc | 2004 | AQST | Active |
| RiverNorth Opportunistic Munic | 2018 | RMI | Active |
| Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd | 1997 | SLGL | Active |
| Mesa Air Group Inc | 1982 | MESA | Active |
| Eyenovia Inc | 2014 | EYEN | Active |
| Permrock Royalty Trust | 2017 | PRT | Active |
| Sunlands Online Education Grp | 2003 | STG | Active |
| Uxin Ltd | 2011 | UXIN | Active |
| Homology Medicines Inc | 2015 | FIXX | Active |
| Solid Biosciences LLC | 2013 | SLDB | Active |
| Eton Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2017 | ETON | Active |
| AVROBIO Inc | 2015 | AVRO | Active |
| Viomi Technology Co Ltd | 2014 | VIOT | Active |
| One Stop Systems Inc | 1998 | OSS | Active |
| Surface Oncology Inc | 2014 | SURF | Active |
| Neuronetics Inc | 2003 | STIM | Active |
| Magenta Therapeutics | 2015 | MGTA | Active |
| Jerash Holdings US Inc | 2000 | JRSH | Active |
| AGM Group Holdings Inc | 2015 | AGMH | Active |
| Genprex | 2009 | GNPX | Active |
| Translate Bio Inc | 2011 | TBIO | Active |
| UNITY Biotechnology Inc | 2016 | UBX | Active |
| Aurora Mobile Ltd | 2011 | JG | Active |
| Equillium | 2017 | EQ | Active |
| CLPS Inc | 2011 | CLPS | Active |
| Anaplan Inc | 2006 | PLAN | Active |
| Entera Bio Ltd | 2010 | ENTX | Active |
| Charah Solutions Inc | 1987 | CHRA | Active |
| Farmmi Inc | 2015 | FAMI | Active |
| Vaccinex Inc | 2001 | VCNX | Active |
| Vapotherm Inc | 1999 | VAPO | Active |
| Mogu Inc | 2011 | MOGU | Active |
| TuanChe Limited | 2010 | TC | Active |
| Onesmart International | 2007 | ONE | Active |
| Iterum Therapeutics PLC | 2015 | ITRM | Active |
| Medalist Diversified Reit Inc | 2015 | MDRR | Active |
| Pintec Tech Hldg Ltd | 2012 | PT | Active |
| Toughbuilt Industries Inc | 2012 | TBLT | Active |
| Huami Corp | 2013 | HMI | Active |
| Aridis Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2003 | ARDS | Active |
| Hudson Ltd. | 1987 | HUD | Active |
| Aptinyx Inc | 2015 | APTX | Active |
| Summit Semiconductor Inc | 2010 | WISA | Active |
| Senmiao Technology Ltd | 2017 | AIHS | Active |
| Ra Medical Systems Inc | 2002 | RMED | Active |
| Motus GI Holdings Inc | 2011 | MOTS | Active |
| Pluralsight Inc | 2004 | PS | Active |
| Rubius Therapeutics Inc | 2013 | RUBY | Active |
| Puxin Ltd | 2014 | NEW | Active |
| iPic Entertainment Inc | 2007 | IPIC | Active |
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
Zero company has been classified as bankrupt or inactive, however, four have been acquired.
