Top 4 Tech Unicorns to IPO in 2020

Tech IPOs of companies valued at more than $1 billion—companies called unicorns—are seeing something of a mini-boom. These companies' initial public offerings have soared to 38 this year—the largest volume since the height of the dot-com bubble in 2000. This number is likely to soar even higher in 2019, even amid warning signs of a more bearish market, according to IPO market watchers. “The question is, ‘What about 2019?’ and that will take some guts and courage, but I think a lot of companies will make the decision to go public even with the difficult market,” says David Ethridge, U.S. IPO services leader at PwC.

Below is a snapshot of four of the biggest names, their industry, and their estimated value. The top 4 tech unicorn IPOs of the past few years have been:

1. Uber, Transportation, $120 billion
2. Airbnb, Hospitality, $31 billion
3. Lyft, Transportation, $15 billion
4. Slack, Software, $7 billion

Market Disruptors Slated for IPO

This year’s IPO market was dominated by lesser-known software companies valued between $1 billion to $5 billion. “These are stories people don’t know well because they’re not an app on your phone,” said David Ethridge, U.S. IPO services leader at PwC. “But there’s a very steady pace, and there’s been a strong IPO market that’s supported this.”

In 2019, the group may include companies that already have become household names. Widely known names reportedly considering IPOs include ride-sharing competitors Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc., as well as workplace communications giant Slack Technologies Inc. and hospitality industry disruptor Airbnb.

Whether or not 2019 can beat this year’s record depends on how much capital this growing list of companies can raise before their anticipated market debuts.

Proposals from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley reportedly implied a market value as high as $120 billion for Uber. While the ride-hailing industry pioneer has faced roadblocks including a management shakeup and a series of scandals, its IPO could help the firm push into new markets such as autonomous cars and bike-sharing. Uber faces stiff competition from Lyft in key markets. Lyft is currently valued at around $15 billion and surpassed $1 billion in revenue in 2017, compared to Uber’s $3 billion in Q3 alone.

Data storage company Dropbox Inc. (DBX) tested the IPO market in 2018 in March with a mixed reception. The company’s $9 billion valuation at the time of its public debut failed to match the $10 billion private valuation it secured in 2014. Shares have succeeded in staying up 2% from their IPO price though they're down about 50% off their highs.

Another software company called DocuSign Inc. (DOCU) secured solid returns for investors. The e-signature platform has seen its stock soar from an IPO price of $29 to reach $41.87 at Tuesday's close.

But Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME), which priced its IPO at the low end of its guidance, has been a disappointment. Its shares have fallen below their IPO price of $13 per share.

Risks Remain in 2019

Tencent, a well-known brand name that stumbled, is perhaps a red flag for 2019. It’s important to note that during the height of the dotcom boom, when the amount of blockbuster tech IPOs was similarly rising, many of the companies ended up suffering. That could happen with the class of 2019. These unicorns face equal risk as the market heads into choppier waters and many investors move out of tech growth plays and into more defensive, value stocks.