Revisiting Companies That Had Their IPO in 2018

2018 was a historic year for initial public offerings (IPOs) on the stock market. In fact, there are many successful companies that had their IPO in 2018. And as an investor, there is much to learn from and reflect on. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at some of the standout IPO’s that made their public debuts in 2018.

Best Companies That Had Their IPO in 2018

2018 was full of newsworthy events around the globe. In the United States, there was marijuana reform, gun control protests and a partial government shutdown in December.

There were many monumental moments in other parts of the world as well. In sports, there was the Winter Olympics in February and the World Cup in July. Meghan Markle became the first woman of color to join the British Royal Family. Cuba ended the 59-year reign of Castro leadership, announcing Miguel Diaz-Canel as its new President. And North and South Korea vowed to formally end the Korean War.

However, the stock market had one of its worst years in over a decade. Specifically, the S&P 500 was down 6.2%. The Dow fell 5.6% and the Nasdaq dropped 4%. But there were many companies that had their IPO in 2018 nonetheless. And some have brought in massive returns since their offering dates. For example, five of the best IPO’s in 2018 include:

• Americold Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: COLD)
• BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BJ)
• Moderna Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA)
• Nio Inc. (NYSE: NIO)
• Twist Bioscience Corp. (Nasdaq: TWST)

Each of these stocks is flourishing on the market since making its public debut in 2018. And this comes despite the recent stock market downturn, recession fears and high inflation. That’s why I consider them a few of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018. Therefore, let’s dig into their stock performances a little further.

Americold Realty Trust Inc.

Americold provides supply chain services and infrastructure for food service providers, retailers, producers and direct-to-consumer. In addition, Americold has 249 facilities around the globe.

COLD stock made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 19, 2018 for $724.8 million at $17 per share. In just four years time, it’s now trading around $30 a share with an all-time high closing of $39.21 in July of 2021. Since its offering date, Americold stock is up more than 70%.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc.

BJ’s is a popular membership-only warehouse club chain that operates on the East Coast of the United States with plans to expand in the near future. Its main competitors include Costco (Nasdaq: COST) and Sam’s Club, which is owned and operated by Walmart (NYSE: WMT).

While BJ’s is much smaller, it has become a stock market darling since its debut. The IPO came on June 28, 2018 for $733.13 million at $17 a share. The stock is now trading around $70 for an increase of more than 300% since its IPO. Furthermore, it’s one of the few companies that is up year-to-date (YTD) at close to 7% despite the bear market. BJ’s is clearly one of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018 based on performance alone.

Moderna Inc.

Moderna is a pioneer in delivering transformative medicines and vaccines via mRNA science. And as you may know, it produces one of the most prominent COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. Moderna has played a major role in the fight against COVID-19 and will continue to do so moving forward.

Before the pandemic, Moderna went public on December 7, 2018 for $23.00 a share. It’s now trading for more than $170! That’s an increase of close to 630% since its IPO.

Nio Inc.

Nio is an electric vehicle company out of China. It’s currently producing six EV car models, home charging equipment, battery swaps and mobile charging services. The ES6, a five-seater mid-size SUV, seems to be its flagship model with close to half of its sales in a record-breaking June.

Nio launched on the NYSE for $6.26 per share on September 12, 2018. It’s now trading just below $20 a share, though it hit an all-time high of $66.90 in January of 2021. As you can see, Nio has the potential as one of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018.

Twist Bioscience Corp.

Twist Bioscience is a biotech company in San Francisco that manufactures synthetic DNA and DNA products for various industries. These DNA tools help research in human genetics, drug discovery, infectious diseases, animal health and more.

The Twist Bioscience IPO hit the market on October 30, 2018 for $14 per share. In 2022, TWST stock is pushing $50. However, it was trading close to $200 per share in 2021 before a drastic decline that winter.

Investing in Companies That Had Their IPO in 2018

While 2018 wasn’t the best of years in terms of the overall stock market, many businesses shined in their debuts. The five stocks above continue to impress in difficult circumstances as volatility continues to rise.

As the market fights to recover, it’s important that you continue to do your due diligence and expand your research even further. Consider signing up for one of the best investment newsletters. These daily e-letters give readers stock insights, chart analysis and trends that may help you make better investment decisions.

It’s also wise to learn more about the IPO process before investing in new offerings. This step-by-step guide breaks down everything you need to know.

You may have missed out on the massive returns of some of the best companies that had their IPO in 2018. However, you can position yourself to take advantage of future gains by staying on top of the market and scouring news feeds, analyzing chart patterns and doing extensive research.