IPO trading
Discover how you could gain exposure to a company’s shares – both before and after they list – with our guide to trading initial public offerings (IPOs).
Start trading today. For account opening enquiries call 1800 601 799 between 9am and 6pm (AEDT) weekdays, or email newaccounts.au@ig.com.
Contact us: 1800 601 799
Start trading today. For account opening enquiries call 1800 601 799 between 9am and 6pm (AEDT) weekdays, or email newaccounts.au@ig.com.
Contact us: 1800 601 799
Contact us: 1800 601 799
Why trade IPOs with IG?
Get exposure to shares pre-IPO
Buy or sell based on your prediction of a company’s market cap
Invest in shares after an IPO
Buy and own physical shares with a share trading account
Speculate on share price movements
Go long or short on leverage with CFD trading
How can you trade an IPO?
Pre-IPO: grey market
Our exclusive grey markets1 CFD enable you to speculate on a company’s market cap before it lists.
You’d ‘buy’ if you think the market cap will be higher than the grey market price at the end of the first trading day, or ‘sell’ if you think it will be lower. Find out more.
After the IPO: trading or investing
After a company has listed, we offer two ways for you to attempt to profit from the initial public offering. You’ll be able to:
- Go long or short on the share price by trading CFDs
- Buy and own physical company shares by share trading
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to more than 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 48 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to more than 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
Deal seamlessly, wherever you are
Trade on the move with our natively designed, award-winning trading app
Feel secure with a trusted provider
With 48 years of experience, we’re proud to offer a truly market-leading service
IPO trading steps
Follow the steps below to start trading IPOs:
1. Learn how IPOs work
Discover everything you need to know in our guide to IPOs
2. Choose an IPO to trade
Explore upcoming IPOs with in-depth expert analysis
3. Decide whether to trade derivatives or buy shares
Learn about the differences between buying and trading shares, and choose the method that’s right for you
4. Open an IG account
Create a live account if you want to start trading on live markets, or open a demo account to practise with $20,000 in virtual funds
5. Build your IPO trading plan and strategy
Make sure you know when to take profits and cut losses
6. Open your first position
Trade on with leverage via CFDs or buy the ETFs outright through our share trading service.
What is an IPO?
An IPO, or initial public offering, is the first sale of stock issued by a company. It is one of many ways in which companies seek to raise capital. Listing on a stock exchange helps to increase the exposure of a company, which means that IPOs can increase sales and profit. For traders and investors, an IPO can be a great way of buying shares of a company – or taking a position on its price movements – the moment it hits the stock market.
FAQs
Can I make money trading initial public offerings (IPOs)?
Yes, you can make money trading initial public offerings if you correctly predict share price movements. You can do this pre-IPO through our grey market CFDs, or after the IPO by speculating on share price movements using CFDs. You could also profit from an IPO if you buy shares outright via share trading and the share price goes up.
Is it a good idea to invest in an IPO?
Whether or not it is a good idea to invest in an IPO depends on your risk appetite. Some IPOs perform very well, while others can disappoint when shares hit the market. Financial markets can be very volatile following a high-profile IPO, which is why you need a proper risk management strategy in place if you want to buy, sell or short shares.
Can I trade shares before the IPO?
No, but you can speculate on the share price before the IPO if IG offers a grey market. By trading a grey market CFD, you’re taking a position on a company’s potential market capitalisation ahead of its IPO. If you think that the company will be worth more than the price indicated, you can ‘buy’ the market. If you think that the price is an overvaluation, you can ‘sell’.
You might be interested in…
Learn how to buy and sell shares online with IG
A list of upcoming IPOs in the UK, US and globally
Trade from thousands of ETFs with CFDs
1 We do not offer grey markets on all IPOs.
