Explore some of the most significant IPOs in US history, including AT&T Wireless, General Motors, Facebook, and Alibaba. Learn how these companies achieved record-breaking fundraisings and impacted the market landscape, setting benchmarks for future offerings. The article highlights key moments and figures that shaped the evolution of the US stock market, illustrating the scale and importance of these landmark public offerings.

Milestone US Stock IPOs That Shaped Market History

In 2016, the US saw only 105 companies going public, reflecting a nearly 40% drop from the previous year. This decline was driven by concerns over Brexit and the 2016 presidential election, prompting some firms to seek private investments instead. Looking forward to 2017, up to five major IPOs are expected. While outcomes are uncertain, here’s a look back at some of the most influential IPOs in US history:

AT&T Wireless, 2000, $10.62 billion: Before the dot-com bubble burst, AT&T Wireless went public, offering 360 million shares at a closing price of $31.75, up from $29.50, raising $10.62 billion. It was the largest IPO in the US until 2006.

General Motors, 2010, $15.8 billion: Following a $50 billion bailout in 2008 and a further $30 billion in 2009, GM's IPO in November 2010 raised $15.8 billion, making it the second-largest in US history at that time, helping the automaker reduce debt.

Facebook, 2012, $16 billion: A highly anticipated IPO, Facebook went public on May 1, 2012, with shares priced at $38 and a market value of $104 billion. Although tech issues arose on NASDAQ during trading, the IPO was historic.

Alibaba, 2014, $21.8 billion: Jack Ma's Alibaba, a major Chinese e-commerce company with more transactions than Amazon and eBay combined, made its debut with shares at $68. The company raised $21.8 billion, reaching a $168 billion market cap at its peak.