IPOs in Store for 2019

The just-ended government shutdown had the effect of shutting the IPO market as well, as the Securities and Exchange Commission was unable to provide the approvals that issuers need to move their registration statements forward to launch. Between the government shutdown and negative returns in 2018, there have been no IPOs in 2019 so far, compared with 17 deals that were completed in the same time frame in 2018.

Nine U.S.-based startups have been valued at more than $10 billion by private investors — and at least five are expected to go public in 2019. This would follow a big 2018, during which 38 companies valued at $1 billion or more went public.

Both Lyft and Uber have already filed confidential IPO paperwork, putting them on track for potential offerings. Other possible big name IPOs this year include Airbnb, Palantir, and Pinterest.