What are the risks and rewards of investing in a private company that sells shares of its stock publicly for the first time in an IPO?

This long-awaited fintech IPO is gaining some momentum in 2026, with a recent tender offer for staffers and shareholders valuing the company at $159 billion, the company announced in February. Payment volumes are up as well, rising to $1.9 trillion in 2025. That's 34% higher than in 2024, company officials reported.

The wheels have been put into motion for the largest initial public offering (IPO) in stock market history.

As advisors field client demand for pre-IPO exposure to Elon Musk’s rocket company, some say the company is “priced to perfection,” while others warn its $15 billion in revenue does not justify a $2 trillion valuation.

Seaport Therapeutics and Hemab Therapeutics on Thursday became the latest drugmakers to debut on Wall Street, continuing a stretch of large IPOs this year that collectively raised almost $3.2 billion.

An IPO (initial public offering) is when a private company sells its shares to the public for the first time. In simple terms, it’s the moment a company “goes public,” allowing everyday investors to buy stock and become partial owners. Companies use ...