X-energy and Yesway Show Strong Debut Performance
X-energy and Yesway have both made their public debuts last week after pricing. The launches highlighted continued investor appetite across both energy innovation and everyday retail.LATEST IPOS AND DIRECT LISTINGS:X-energyopened on April 24 at $30.11. The developer of advanced small modular nuclear reactors and fuel technology for clean energy generation priced 44.25M shares at $23.00. The deal size was increased to 44.25M shares from 42.86M and priced above the $16.00-$19.00 target range.Elmetopened on April 23 at $18. The company priced 8.6M shares at $14.00 per share. The deal size was increased to 8.6M shares of common stock from 7.7M shares and priced at the high-end of the $12.00-$14.00 range. Elmet is a U.S.-based provider of precision-engineered components and advanced high-energy systems for the Aerospace, Defense and Government, Industrial, Medical, Semiconductor and Electronics, and Energy industries.Yeswayopened on April 22. The company had priced its IPO at $20 per share. Yesway is a U.S.-based convenience store operator that operates primarily under two brands, Yesway and Allsup's.National Healthcare Propertiesopened on April 22 at $11.56. The company priced 38.5M shares of its Class A common stock at $12.00 per share. National Healthcare Properties is a publicly registered real estate investment trust focused on acquiring a diversified portfolio of healthcare real estate, with an emphasis on senior housing and outpatient medical facilities located in the United States.Liberty Defenseopened on April 22. The company priced 3.67M shares at $4.50, the midpoint of its $4.00-$5.00 range. Liberty Defense provides multi-technology security solutions for concealed weapons detection in high volume foot traffic areas and locations requiring enhanced security such as airports, stadiums and schools.PERFORMANCE:Prices as of 11 am ET on Monday, April 27X-energy – up almost 15% at $33.57;Elmet – down about 3% at $16.57;Yesway – fractionally down at $21.64;National Healthcare Properties – fractionally up at $12.89;Liberty Defense – up almost 1% at $4.65.RECENT IPOS TO WATCH:HMH Holdingis already seeing coverage roll out, while KPET Ultra Pacelineis among stocks that could see new coverage this week as the quiet periods for banks that underwrote the companies' IPOs expire.UPCOMING IPOS:Upcoming IPO and direct listings expected include Tarsier Pharma, Quantinuum, Cerebras, Boundless Group, and Liftoff.Clickto see upcoming IPO calendar on TipRanks.Tarsier Pharma Ltd.filed for an initial public offering of its ordinary shares and applied to list its ordinary shares on the NYSE American under the symbol "TARX". The prospectus stated: "Tarsier Pharma is developing TRS01 and TRS02, novel product candidates based on dazdotuftide, a new molecule with a new mechanism of action for uveitis and uveitic glaucoma. We are attempting to address a significant, underserved market opportunity and have engaged closely with the FDA on our clinical development strategy, including a Special Protocol Assessment agreement for our planned pivotal trial... Although we are still early in this journey, I believe we have the technology, the team, the discipline, and the persistence required to build an enduring company."Honeywellannounced thatQuantinuum, which is majority owned by Honeywell, confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 to the U.S. SEC on February 17, relating to the proposed initial public offering of Quantinuum's common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The offering is subject to market and other conditions and the completion of the SEC's review process.Cerebras Systemsannounced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. SEC relating to a proposed initial public offering of its Class A common stock. The number of shares of Class A common stock to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Cerebras intends to list its Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "CBRS." Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Barclays, and UBS Investment Bank will act as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. Mizuho and TD Cowen will act as bookrunners. Needham & Company, Craig-Hallum, Wedbush Securities, Rosenblatt, and Academy Securities will act as co-managers.Boundless Groupis offering 4M Class A ordinary shares on a firm commitment basis in an initial public offering. The company expects the initial public offering price of its Class A ordinary shares to be in the range of $4.00 to $5.00 per share.Liftoff Mobileannounced that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The total number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The offering is subject to market and other conditions and the completion of the SEC's review process.OTHER IPO NEWS:Amesiteannounced that it has filed with the U.S. SEC a request for withdrawal of the company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 originally filed on April 20, as the company no longer intends to pursue a public offering under the Registration Statement at this time. The Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC, and no securities have been sold in connection with the public offering described in the Registration Statement.Opening Day" is The Fly's recurring series of stories on the latest initial public offerings, their performance, and upcoming IPOs.
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- IPO Market Recovery: The IPO market rebounded quickly in Q2, with 48 companies raising a record $104.8 billion, indicating a strong recovery and renewed investor confidence following the volatility of Q1.
- Record Financing by SpaceX: SpaceX raised $75 billion in its IPO, surpassing the total amount raised by all US IPOs in the previous two years combined, highlighting its significant influence and appeal in the capital markets.
- Significant Market Capitalization: At listing, SpaceX commanded a market cap of $1.7 trillion, immediately making it one of the largest public companies on US exchanges, reflecting its leadership position and growth potential in the aerospace sector.
- Strong Overall Market Performance: Even without SpaceX's IPO, Q2 would have seen the highest IPO proceeds since 2021, driven by a steady influx of large deals, further enhancing market activity.
- Significant Stock Decline: X-Energy's shares fell 19% this week, bringing its market cap to $7.5 billion, reflecting investor concerns about its future amid ongoing challenges since its April IPO.
- Project Delays Impact: The lack of U.S. government approval for X-Energy's reactor designs has delayed the groundbreaking of its first project with Amazon until 2027, directly affecting the company's business outlook.
- Analyst Downgrade: Jeffries downgraded X-Energy's stock from $30 to $22, exacerbating investor panic and leading to a sharp decline in share prices.
- Lack of Actual Business: Despite a market cap of $7.7 billion, X-Energy has minimal revenue, prompting investors to carefully consider whether to buy the stock under current circumstances.
- Project Delays Impact: X-Energy's reactor design lacks official approval from the U.S. government, causing delays in its first project with Amazon until 2027, which negatively affects the company's growth prospects and investor confidence.
- Analyst Downgrade: Jefferies downgraded X-Energy's stock from $30 to $22, resulting in a 19% drop in shares this week, reflecting market concerns about its future profitability.
- Poor Revenue Situation: Despite a market cap of $7.7 billion, X-Energy currently generates almost no revenue, indicating the fragility of its business model and potentially leading investors to be cautious about future returns.
- Massive Funding Needs: To secure reactor design approvals and establish manufacturing facilities, X-Energy will require substantial upfront capital, which will further strain its finances and limit its competitiveness in the nuclear energy market.

- Profit Surge: Jefferies reported a profit of $226.2 million in Q2, translating to $1.02 per share, a significant increase from $88 million or $0.40 per share a year ago, indicating robust performance in investment banking.
- Advisory Revenue Boom: Advisory revenue surged 47% to a record $674.1 million, while investment banking net revenues jumped 57.5% year-over-year to $1.21 billion, reflecting strong demand for M&A advisory services in the current market.
- Equity Market Activity: Equity underwriting revenue exceeded $370.7 million in the quarter, more than tripling year-over-year, with Jefferies acting as joint global coordinator on Galderma's $6.3 billion share sale, marking the largest sponsor-backed block trade in history.
- Trading Revenue Growth: Jefferies' capital markets business posted $799.3 million in revenue, up 13.5% from last year, with equities trading revenue rising 14% to a record $600.8 million, highlighting a trend of investors adjusting portfolios amid market volatility.
- Market Recovery: The IPO market rebounded quickly in Q2, with 48 companies going public and raising a record $104.9 billion, indicating a resurgence of market confidence.
- SpaceX's Major Deal: SpaceX raised $75 billion in its IPO, surpassing the total of all US IPOs from the previous two years combined, achieving a market cap of $1.7 trillion at listing, making it one of the largest public companies on US exchanges.
- Strong First Day Performance: SpaceX's stock rose 19% on its debut, alleviating concerns about an overly hot or cold opening, although aftermarket trading remained volatile.
- Large Deal Momentum: Even without SpaceX's deal, Q2 would have been the largest quarter for IPO proceeds since 2021, with nine other IPOs raising over $1 billion, showcasing the ongoing appeal of large transactions.
- First Earnings Highlights: X-Energy reported $43 million in revenue and grant income in its first FQ1 2026 earnings release as a public company, indicating strong market demand and growth potential.
- Successful IPO Financing: The company raised approximately $1.1 billion through its IPO on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, providing ample funding for future R&D and market expansion, thereby enhancing its financial stability.
- Significant Regulatory Progress: X-Energy made strides in regulatory and commercialization efforts, achieving progress in the UK Generic Design Assessment process and obtaining environmental clearance from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a Texas project, marking a crucial step towards commercializing its small modular reactor technology.
- Strengthened Supply Chain Collaborations: The company has established agreements with industrial partners like SGL Carbon and IHI Corporation, and is engaging in exploratory deployment discussions with US energy utilities in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, further solidifying its supply chain and deployment pipeline.









