The IPO & Retail Investors Saga. Read before you invest in one.

01 December, 2023 0 Comments


          
            The IPO & Retail Investors Saga. Read before you invest in one.

Heard your friend got a listing gain of 270% on Sigachi Industries and you regretted not investing in the company? To compensate and probably because of FOMO, you tend to invest in the next upcoming IPOs. In 2021, 63 companies collectively raised ₹1,18,704 crore (USD 15.4 billion) through IPOs. This is the most money raised through IPOs in a calendar year. The previous best year for IPO was 2017 when ₹68,827 crore was raised.

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During Jun-Sep-2021, IPOs were coming up with absurd valuations. Such valuations are seen mostly at the peak of the market. This pattern has played out exactly like the years 2007 and 2017.

We have seen the listing gains that the IPOs in 2021 gave its investors.

In pursuit of such inevitable gains, many retail investors have started to subscribe to the IPOs. The average number of applications from retail investors has increased to 10.02 lakh, in comparison to 7.57 lakh in FY23.

However, as retail investors, you should keep the following points in mind before investing in an IPO.

  1. 1. Know the company

    Before purchasing a bike, you would ask your peers and look into factors like mileage, company name, after-services and other such details. The same rule should be applied before you invest in a company either through IPO or via the stock market. Scrutinise the company's prolific management, assess the financial statements, promoter’s stake, the background of the company, understand the purpose of the issue, learn about the sector to which the company belongs and other details that can affect the issue.
  2. 2. Check for IPO valuation

    The euphoric year 2021 gave the companies the confidence to the companies to go for an IPO. Owing to the 2021 IPO boom that was witnessed in India tend to overprice their valuation. Hence it becomes necessary to look at the company's valuation, market share and compare the prices among its peers & competitors.
  3. 3. Never trust every bit of information online

    Everything online is not necessarily true. Certain companies tend to push the positive narrative before their IPO listing. This is merely done to build a liking for the stock and attract investors. Irrespective of the disclosures and disclaimer followed, investors might overlook the aspect of the disclaimer and believe in the information mentioned in the advertisement.
  4. 4. Brand name is good but not always

    Retail investors mainly look at the brand name associated with the IPO, but it might not be fruitful always. Research and read more about the company through its prospectus before investing. Dig deep into the managerial power of the company, board of directors, independent directors, audit committee and check if there were frequent changes done in the management or the auditors.
  5. 5. Current market situation

    Analyse the current market situation as it will decide the fate of the IPO. Compare how the previous IPOs have performed in the recent past. This could be an indicator of how the IPO you want to invest will shape up.
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  7. 6. Intention of the investors

    Every investor wishes to gain money when they invest in an IPO but one has to define if they are looking at a listing gain or long-term association with the company. Some investors stick to listing because of the revenue made by them on the listing gain. But, this might not yield results always. The decision to stay long term will be based on factors like past performance of the company, future plans, management, industry and sector analysis. Hence, defining the intent of your IPO investment will be crucial.
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  9. 7. Nature of IPO

    Companies often consider going public through a fresh issue when they need funds for expansion. The promoter's willingness to dilute their holding is seen as a positive sign for investors. However, sometimes an offer for sale is used to provide liquidity to private equity investors or promoters looking to exit, potentially burdening retail investors to give the exiting members a high valuation. It's wise to be discerning about the IPO's nature.
  10. 8. Lack of Information

    Assessing a company's performance during an IPO can be challenging since only the last three years of data are typically available. To make a more informed judgment about the company's future prospects, having historical data spanning at least 5 to 10 years is essential to understand its progress since its inception. Insufficient data can lead to inaccurate investment decisions.