Donald Trump's oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, own about 20% of American Bitcoin Corp, a bitcoin mining company, which debuted on Nasdaq and valued their stake at over $1.5 billion, highlighting the family's expanding involvement in the crypto industry amidst controversy over potential conflicts of interest.
The Trump family's American Bitcoin, a new cryptocurrency company co-founded by Eric Trump, made its stock market debut, raising ethical concerns about potential conflicts of interest as the family benefits financially from crypto ventures amid a regulatory environment that appears to favor the industry.
Shares of GrabAGun, an online gun retailer backed by Donald Trump Jr., fell sharply on its NYSE debut amid investor skepticism, as the company targets younger demographics and aligns with the patriotic economy promoted by Trump and his allies.
Circle's IPO on the NYSE saw a remarkable debut with a 168% increase from its IPO price, raising $1.1 billion and achieving a market cap of $18.4 billion, making it one of the strongest crypto-native company debuts despite a lower valuation than Coinbase. The event highlights growing investor interest in crypto companies going public, although broader crypto markets experienced declines amid macroeconomic concerns.
The parent company of former President Trump’s Truth Social platform, Trump Media & Technology Group, had a strong stock market debut, closing at roughly $62 per share after a volatile week of trading. Despite its financial performance, which includes generating just $3.4 million in revenue and posting a net loss of $49 million in the first nine months of 2023, experts believe the stock's success is driven by enthusiasm for the former president, placing it in the "meme stock" category. With Trump owning a significant portion of the company, the stock's performance is seen as a proxy for support for Donald Trump, and its market debut has been described as unprecedented.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, surged over 50% in its first day of trading, triggering a brief halt. The stock, now trading under the ticker DJT on Nasdaq, is closely watched due to its potential impact on Donald Trump's finances. Despite Trump's $6 billion net worth on paper, questions remain about the company's financial standing, as it incurred a loss of over $49 million in the first nine months of last year. Trump is also facing a $175 million bond for a civil fraud trial judgment, but claims to have at least $500 million in cash.
German sandal maker Birkenstock's stock ended more than 12% below its IPO price in its underwhelming Wall Street debut, signaling investor caution towards new listings. The shares started trading at $41, below the IPO price of $46, and closed at $40.20, down 12.61%. This marks the worst debut by a company worth over $1 billion in nearly two years. The weak performance follows the lackluster market debuts of other high-profile companies, indicating weak investor demand and questioning the valuations of these companies. Despite the disappointing debut, Birkenstock still has a market capitalization of over $8 billion, double the amount at which L Catterton acquired a majority stake in the company in 2021.
Phinia Inc., the newly spun-off fuel systems and aftermarket segment of BorgWarner, made a strong debut on the New York Stock Exchange, with its stock price surging over 20% on its first day of trading. The Michigan-based automotive supplier, which produces parts for internal combustion engines, aims to focus on developing sustainable solutions for internal combustion engines and alternative fuels, including hydrogen, as part of its vision for a carbon-neutral future. The spinoff allows BorgWarner to concentrate on electric vehicles, while Phinia seeks to capitalize on the continued demand for non-electric automotive technologies.