The 169 Companies That Had Their IPO In 2019

In retrospect, 2019 was the calm before the storm.

Even though there was some economic turbulence, over 160 companies still hit the stock exchange for the first time. This included two ride-hailing giants, cloud based tech companies, a social media company, and an internet video conferencing tool.

Keep reading to learn which companies went public in 2019 and how they’re performing today.

Major world events that happened in 2019 that affected the stock markets

Brexit: In March 2019, The United Kingdom was scheduled to leave the European Union. However, the deadline was extended multiple times which affected global financial markets and led to heightened volatility.

US-China trade war continues: The trade tensions between the United States and China continued to escalate in 2019. Both countries imposed tariffs on each other’s goods, impacting global trade and causing uncertainty in financial markets.

Hong Kong protests: Major protests erupted in Hong Kong in June 2019. What initially started as a protest against a proposed extradition bill, grew into a broader pro-democracy movement. This led to significant disruptions and clashes with authorities.

Rival ride-hailing companies go public: Two of the most notable tech disrupters, Uber and Lyft, hit the stock exchange for the first time. Uber had one of the largest IPOs in history. Even though it raised over $640m, its stock debut faced some challenges, and the company experienced a decline in share price following the initial offering. Lyft faced the same issue shortly after.

Insights into 2019 IPOs

Tech dominance: Technology companies accounted for over one-third of new listings in 2019. Notable tech IPOs included Uber, Lyft, Pinterest, Slack, and Zoom.

Standout successes: Some IPOs saw exceptional performance. Zoom’s IPO was particularly successful, standing out in a year of mixed results for high-profile tech companies. Beyond Meat was another top performer, with its stock price surging after going public.

Largest IPO in history: Saudi Aramco’s IPO was the largest in history, raising over $25 billion.

Pre-pandemic timing: Companies that went public in 2019 faced immediate challenges when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, though some (like Zoom) benefited greatly from the new circumstances.

Top 8 companies that went public in 2019

1. Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER)

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NYSE
• Industry: Ride-hailing services
• IPO Price: $45.00
• IPO Date: May 10, 2019

At the time of its IPO in May 2019, Uber was primarily known for its ride-hailing service, which had disrupted the traditional taxi industry globally. The company raised $8.1 billion in its initial public offering, valuing the company at $82.4 billion.

Today, Uber has expanded its services beyond ride-hailing to include food delivery (Uber Eats), freight transportation, and micromobility solutions with electric bikes and scooters.

Uber has shown resilience and adaptability, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, by pivoting towards its food delivery service when ride-hailing demand decreased. The company achieved profitability on an adjusted EBITDA basis in 2021 and has continued to improve its financial performance.

However, Uber still faces challenges, including regulatory hurdles in various markets, driver classification issues, and intense competition in both ride-hailing and food delivery sectors.

2. Beyond Meat

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
• Industry: Packaged Foods
• IPO Price: $25
• IPO Date: May 2, 2019

Beyond Meat went public in May 2019, offering plant-based meat alternatives primarily to retail consumers and some foodservice outlets. The company’s IPO was highly successful, with shares surging 163% on the first day of trading.

Today, Beyond Meat continues to focus on plant-based meat alternatives but has expanded its product line and distribution channels significantly.

Despite initial success, Beyond Meat has faced challenges in recent years. The company’s revenue decreased by 8.8% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2024, indicating ongoing struggles with market saturation and increased competition in the plant-based meat sector.

Beyond Meat is working to improve its gross margins and reduce operating losses, but faces headwinds from changing consumer preferences and economic pressures.

3. Cloudflare

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
• Industry: Software—Infrastructure
• IPO Price: $15
• IPO Date: September 13, 2019

Cloudflare went public in September 2019, offering web infrastructure and website security services. The company raised $525 million in its IPO, with shares priced at $15 each.

Since then, Cloudflare has significantly expanded its product offerings to include a wide range of cloud-based security, performance, and reliability services for businesses of all sizes.

Today, Cloudflare is recognized as a leader in content delivery networks, DDoS mitigation, and edge computing services. The company has shown strong revenue growth and continues to innovate with new products and services.

However, Cloudflare faces challenges in a highly competitive market and must continue to invest heavily in research and development to maintain its technological edge.

4. Fiverr

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
• Industry: Internet Content & Information
• IPO Price: $21
• IPO Date: June 13, 2019

Fiverr, an online marketplace for freelance services, went public in June 2019, raising $111 million in its IPO. At the time, Fiverr was primarily known for its platform connecting freelancers with clients for small, often low-cost projects.

Since then, Fiverr has expanded its offerings to include higher-value services and has introduced tools to cater to larger businesses.

The company has benefited from the growing gig economy and the shift towards remote work. Fiverr’s strengths include its large and diverse user base and its user-friendly platform.

However, the company faces challenges such as maintaining quality control across its vast network of freelancers and competition from other freelance platforms. Fiverr continues to focus on expanding its market share and improving its technology to enhance user experience.

5. Lyft

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
• Industry: Software—Application
• IPO Price: $72
• IPO Date: March 29, 2019

Lyft went public in March 2019, raising $2.34 billion in its IPO. At the time, Lyft was primarily focused on ride-hailing services in North America, positioning itself as the main competitor to Uber.

Since its IPO, Lyft has expanded its services to include bike and scooter rentals and has made efforts to enter the food delivery market.

Today, Lyft continues to face intense competition from Uber and struggles with profitability. The company has been working on improving its operational efficiency and exploring new revenue streams.

Lyft’s strengths include its strong brand recognition in North America and its focus on innovation in urban transportation. However, challenges remain in achieving consistent profitability and navigating regulatory issues surrounding driver classification.

6. Peloton Interactive

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
• Industry: Leisure
• IPO Price: $29
• IPO Date: September 26, 2019

Peloton went public in September 2019, offering connected fitness equipment and subscription-based workout classes. The company’s IPO raised $1.16 billion, with shares priced at $29 each. Initially, Peloton was known for its high-end exercise bikes and treadmills with integrated screens for live and on-demand classes.

Since its IPO, Peloton experienced a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since faced significant challenges.

The company has expanded its product line to include more affordable options and has focused on growing its digital subscription offerings.

However, Peloton has struggled with supply chain issues, product recalls, and changing consumer behavior post-pandemic. The company is currently working on restructuring its business and improving its financial performance.

7. Pinterest

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
• Industry: Internet Content & Information
• IPO Price: $19
• IPO Date: April 18, 2019

Pinterest went public in April 2019, raising $1.4 billion in its IPO. At the time, Pinterest was primarily known as a visual discovery platform where users could save and share images and ideas.

Since then, Pinterest has evolved to become a more robust e-commerce and advertising platform, introducing features like shoppable pins and expanded advertising options.

Today, Pinterest continues to grow its user base and improve its monetization strategies. The company’s strengths include its unique position as a visual search engine and its appeal to advertisers due to high user intent.

However, Pinterest faces challenges in competing with larger social media platforms for advertising dollars and maintaining user engagement. The company is focusing on enhancing its e-commerce capabilities and expanding its international presence

8. Zoom Video Communications

• Country: United States of America
• Stock Exchange: NASDAQ
• Industry: Software—Application
• IPO Price: $36
• IPO Date: April 18, 2019

Zoom went public in April 2019, offering video conferencing and collaboration tools. The company’s IPO was highly successful, with shares surging 72% on the first day of trading.

At the time, Zoom was primarily known for its easy-to-use video conferencing software. The COVID-19 pandemic led to explosive growth for Zoom, making it a household name for remote work and virtual communication.

Today, Zoom has expanded its offerings to include additional collaboration tools, phone services, and hardware solutions. The company’s strengths include its brand recognition, user-friendly interface, and robust infrastructure.

However, Zoom faces challenges in maintaining its growth post-pandemic and competing with established tech giants entering the video conferencing space. Zoom is focusing on diversifying its product offerings and expanding into new markets to sustain its growth.

Frequently asked questions

The 169 companies that had their IPO in 2019

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