Anthropic IPO stands alone as AI market jitters sideline others
QQQ•Anthropic is pressing ahead with a planned IPO in the middle of next month, while other AI and data center companies have delayed, paused or shelved listings as interest rates rise and market volatility weighs on valuations.
1. Anthropic presses ahead
Anthropic plans to hold its IPO in the middle of next month and may make its prospectus public as early as late October, people familiar with the matter said. The plans and dates are subject to change, and the company is expected to begin marketing shares during the week of November 9, one of the people said. Some investors believe the AI lab could merit a potential $1.5 trillion valuation.
2. Other listings delayed
Companies including Switch and Nscale have pushed back IPO plans, while SB Energy has postponed its listing. South Korean AI chip startup Elice shelved its plans, and AirTrunk REIT and Firmus have pulled or paused offerings. Rising interest rates and market volatility have made it harder for companies to secure attractive valuations.
3. Investor scrutiny grows
The pullback reflects questions about the capital needed to build data centers and whether future demand will justify that investment. Recent developments involving CoreWeave have added to concerns about a potential slowdown in AI spending, though some market participants do not expect a downturn. Oura's recent IPO attracted little participation from long-only investors, a person familiar with the matter said.
