We get it already: The Facebook IPO is here! It's exciting stuff, we agree, and Kapitall.com is even offering 25 free trades over a week in honor of the occasion. But let's not get tunnel vision: There are other IPOs in the pipeline.
Well, sort of. The markets have been so volatile (read: bearish) that companies are no longer in a hurry to launch their IPOs. The list of up-and-comings was an extensive one in the midst of the early 2012 rally, but it's now whittled down to two names:
1. Corsair Components (CRSR) at $12-$14 per share, expected to trade 05/24/12.
2. Tria Beauty (TRIA) at $13-$15/share, expected to trade 05/24/12.
And frankly, this author would be surprised if those two names made their debut at all: Their recent predecessors have largely postponed or canceled their IPO because of the bad market conditions.
Of course, Facebook, which opened today at $38 per share, would not have delayed at the last minute for anything short of a meteorite crashing into Manhattan, and maybe even not then. The world is watching.
Which brings up an interesting point: If the Facebook IPO does extremely well, will it instill confidence in the companies on the sidelines of an IPO? Can Facebook cause that sad list of two IPOs-in-waiting to fill up?
Business section: recent IPOs
Ignoring Facebook (blasphemy, I know) let's take a look at the 20 most recent IPOs and how they have fared. Current price and returns as of market close 5/17/2012. (Access free, interactive tools to analyze these ideas.)
1. Edwards Group Limited: Consumer goods. Offer date: 5/11/12. Offer price: $8. First-day close: $8.75. Current price: $7.80. Return: -2.5%.
2. Ignite Restaurant Group: Consumer services. Offer date: 5/11/12. Offer price: $14. First-day close: $17.13. Current price: $17.65. Return: 26.07%.
3. Audience: Technology. Offer date: 5/10/12. Offer price: $17. First-day close: $19.10. Current price: $19.45. Return: 14.41%.
4. WageWorks: Consumer services. Offer date: 5/10/12. Offer price: $9. First-day close: $12.60. Current price: $10.55. Return: 17.22%.
5. Western Asset Mortgage Capital: Financials. Offer date: 5/10/12. Offer price: $20. First-day close: $18.77. Current price: $18.55. Return: -7.25%.
6. PetroLogistics: Basic materials. Offer date: 5/4/12. Offer price: $17. First-day close: $16.50. Current price: $16.4. Return: -3.52%.
7. Tillys: Consumer goods. Offer date: 5/4/12. Offer price: $15.50. First-day close: $16.81. Current price: $18.18. Return: 17.29%.
8. Carlyle Group: Financials. Offer date: 5/3/12. Offer price: $22. First-day close: $22.05. Current price: $21.10. Return: -4.09%.
9. EverBank Financial: Financials. Offer date: 5/3/12. Offer price: $10. First-day close: $10.60. Current price: $10.84. Return: 8.4%.
10. Pacific Coast Oil Trust: Oil and gas. Offer date: 5/3/12. Offer price: $20. First-day close: $20. Current price: $17.75. Return: -11.25%.
11. Supernus Pharmaceuticals: Health care. Offer date: 5/1/12. Offer price: $5. First-day close: $5.37. Current price: $5.80. Return: 16%.
12. Acquity Group Limited
13. Edgen Group: Industrials. Offer date: 4/27/12. Offer price: $11. First-day close: $9.5. Current price: $7.85. Return: -28.63%.
14. Ares Commercial Real Estate: Financials. Offer date: 4/26/12. Offer price: $18.50. First-day close: $18. Current price: $16.45. Return: -11.08%.
15. ClearSign: Industrials. Offer date: 4/25/12. Offer price: $4. First-day close: $4.20. Current price: $5.75. Return: 43.75%.
16. Envivio: Technology. Offer date: 4/25/12. Offer price: $9. First-day close: $8.49. Current price: $7.93. Return: -11.88%.
17. Infoblox
18. Midstates Petroleum
19. Proofpoint
20. Splunk
