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IPO Calendar Guide: How IPOs Work

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is when a private company offers shares to the public for the first time. Here's how they work and how to track them.

What Is an IPO?

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is the process through which a private company becomes publicly traded on a stock exchange. The company issues new shares to raise capital, and those shares become available for anyone to buy and sell on the open market.

The IPO Process

  1. Filing: The company files an S-1 registration statement with the SEC, disclosing financials, risks, and use of proceeds.
  2. Roadshow: Company executives pitch the IPO to institutional investors to gauge demand.
  3. Pricing: The underwriting banks set a price range, then a final offering price based on demand.
  4. Allocation: Shares are allocated to institutional investors and select retail investors.
  5. Listing Day: Shares begin trading on the exchange. The opening price may differ significantly from the offering price.

IPO Status Types

  • Pending: Filed with SEC but not yet priced or listed.
  • New: Recently listed and actively trading.
  • History: Past IPOs that have already completed.
  • Withdrawn: The company pulled the IPO, often due to market conditions.
  • Direct Listing: Company lists without an underwriter; no new shares issued.

What to Look For in an IPO

  • Revenue growth and profitability trends in the S-1 filing.
  • Use of proceeds — is the company raising capital for growth or paying off debt?
  • Valuation compared to public peers in the same sector.
  • Lock-up period — when insiders can first sell their shares (usually 90-180 days).
  • Underwriter reputation — top banks typically indicate higher quality deals.

Track IPOs on GainBot.ai

Our IPO Calendar tracks upcoming and recent IPO listings with listing dates, offering price ranges, final issue prices, exchanges, and current status. Filter by status (pending, new, history, withdrawn) and search by company name or ticker.