Reddit is looking to enter the “big boys” game. According to Reuters, Reddit seeks to launch an IPO in March 2024, after many years with its planned IPO in a “ready” phase but never actually going public. Will it happen this time? It would be the first IPO of a major social media company since Pinterest in 2019.
Reddit is currently a private company, but we already have access to its figures: more than 50 million people visit Reddit daily, and the site has more than 100,000 active subreddits. For the second quarter of 2021, the corporation had revenues of $100 million, representing a 192% increase compared to the same period last year.
What is Reddit?
Reddit is an online discussion platform that allows its users to post (images, videos, links, …), comment and vote (up/down votes) according to the community’s interest. Within the forum, you have “subreddits”, specific groups for certain areas. A few examples include r/wallstreetbets, r/eupersonalfinance or, more generic, like r/music.
From our experience, Reddit is filled with thousands of “high-quality” people meaning that you can create deep discussions about any topic with a very vibrant and fast-paced culture and community. Besides, it is easy to always be up-to-date on a particular case of your interest without searching different sources since most users upload new updates every time.
How Does Reddit Make Money?
For the most part, Reddit makes money through advertising. Besides, it generates revenue with an ad-free premium membership plan (Reddit Premium). Also, it earns some money by selling virtual coins that you can use to reward your favourite contributors (Reddit Coins).
When will be the Reddit IPO?
There is no official date yet, but according to Reuters sources, “it is planning to make its public filing in late February, launch its roadshow in early March, and complete the IPO by the end of March”. Remember that Reddit filed for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in December 2021.
On its last round of financing (August 2021), Reddit managed to be valued at $10 billion after a $410 million investment from Fidelity Investments.
For the IPO, it is aiming for a valuation of over $15 billion. The company is expected to use the new funds to improve product features, making it easier for newcomers to explore and quickly understand the site and build a self-service advertising system, which could help appeal to small and medium-sized businesses.
Should I be In or Out?
One thing is to enjoy the platform, another is how it might play as an investment. A good service is not necessarily a synonym of a good investment. The idea is not to discourage you from investing in the IPO Reddit but to help you make a good assessment of the investment opportunity.
If you anticipate an increase in daily active users in line or better than the company forecasts, an investment at this stage might be a good idea since Reddit still lags behind its competitors.
At the time of this writing, the information is still vague, and investors are in a wait-and-see mode. In the meantime, more stocks analysts will give their opinion, the prospectus will be fully released, and the decision to enter this IPO will be much easier to make!
Happy investing!
FAQs about Reddit IPO
What is an IPO?
The acronym means Initial Public Offering, and it is a process used by large private companies to raise additional capital for investments or even pay off debt, create public awareness since it goes to the spotlight and more people start to know the platform and, ultimately, to increase the company´s valuation due to investors appetite for new growth investments.
Is Reddit a public stock?
No. As of January 2024, Reddit is a private company. So, it is not available on any stock exchange.
When will be the Reddit IPO?
There is a non-official expectation that the IPO might happen in March 2024.
Franklin is a CFA Level III Candidate with 3 years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst and the Host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube Channel.
