Initial Public Offering (IPO)
An initial public offering, or IPO, generally refers to when a company first sells its shares to the public. For more information about IPOs generally, see our Investor Bulletin . You can also find fast answers on why investors have difficulty getting shares in an IPO , a brokerage firm's IPO eligibility requirements , and lockup agreements .
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
An initial public offering, or IPO, generally refers to when a company first sells its shares to the public. For more information about IPOs generally, see our Investor Bulletin . You can also find fast answers on why investors have difficulty getting shares in an IPO , a brokerage firm's IPO eligibility requirements , and lockup agreements . [1]
Frequently asked questions
What does Initial Public Offering (IPO) mean in the cited reference?
An initial public offering, or IPO, generally refers to when a company first sells its shares to the public. For more information about IPOs generally, see our Investor Bulletin . You can also find fast answers on why investors have difficulty getting shares in an IPO , a brokerage firm's IPO eligibility requirements , and lockup agreements . [1]
Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.