Market Volatility Stalls Wave of Major U.S. IPOs
Market volatility and AI safety concerns have forced companies including Oura and OpenAI to postpone or withdraw their initial public offerings.
A wave of planned initial public offerings in the United States has stalled as market volatility, rising bond yields, and oil price fluctuations dampen investor sentiment. The average premium for U.S. companies going public this year collapsed from 24% in June to less than 1% by late September.
Oura, the smart-ring maker, postponed its IPO on September 30, 2026, after investors rejected its $15.6 billion valuation. Other companies facing setbacks include SB Energy Global Holdings Ltd., which delayed its listing following valuation pushback, and Holtec International, which withdrew its filing entirely due to unfavorable market conditions. Inspire Brands has also become unlikely to go public this year, pending improvement in the shares of its restaurant rivals.
Concerns over artificial intelligence safety have specifically impacted the tech sector. OpenAI pushed its listing to at least next year to prioritize safety work, while Anthropic is currently weighing a November date as it navigates global debates over AI safety.
