Companies That Had Their IPO in 2004: Where They Are Now & What We Can Learn

Companies that had their IPO in 2004 are still making impressions in 2024. In 2004, the financial landscape witnessed a flurry of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) that paved the way for several companies to go public. Companies that are still affecting Wall Street today.

In 2004, the IPO market witnessed a watershed moment, giving rise to new ventures that are now household names. These companies continue to shape not just Wall Street, but industries and economies alike. 

Yes, beyond just financial success, certain companies that had their IPO in 2004 had a profound impact on the world. They shaped the way we interact with technology, access information, and conduct business. As these companies grew, they created jobs, drove technological advancements, and positively influenced the global economy.

Almost 20 years later, let’s reflect on that momentous year for IPOs and see how much has changed. 

Companies That Had Their IPO in 2004

• Google
• Build-A-Bear Workshop
• Dominos
• Volterra Semiconductor
• Qualcomm Atheros
• Blackboard Inc.
• Salesforce 

Google’s IPO was one of the most successful in history. The company’s shares opened at $85 and gave Google a market capitalization of over $23 billion. Shares closed at $100.50 on the first day of trading, making it a success. Google is now one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $1 trillion.

Build-A-Bear Workshop’s IPO was not as successful as Google’s or Blackboard’s. The company’s shares opened at $14 and closed at $12.50 on the first day of trading, giving Build-A-Bear Workshop a market capitalization of over $500 million. However, Build-A-Bear Workshop has continued to grow and is now a popular destination for children and families around the world.

Domino’s Pizza went public on August 19, 2004, under the ticker symbol DPZ. The company raised $650 million in its IPO, which was the largest IPO for a restaurant company since McDonald’s went public in 1965. The IPO was a success, and Domino’s Pizza’s stock price more than doubled in the first few months of trading. The stock bottomed out at $13.35 in 2009, but it has since rebounded and is currently trading close to $400 per share.

Volterra Semiconductor was a fabless semiconductor company that designed and manufactured mixed-signal integrated circuits used in power management applications. The company was founded in 1996 and went public on July 29, 2004, under the ticker symbol VLTR. Volterra Semiconductor’s IPO was a success in the short term, but the company was not able to sustain its growth. Maxim Integrated Products acquired Volterra Semiconductor in 2013.

Companies That Had Their IPO in 2004 (Continued)

Blackboard’s IPO was also very successful. The company’s shares opened at $12 and closed at $15.50 on the first day of trading, giving Blackboard a market capitalization of over $1 billion. Blackboard is now a leading provider of educational technology solutions, with over 100 million users worldwide. However, the company is no longer listed on the public stock exchange. In 2021 it merged with Anthology. 

Qualcomm Atheros was another semiconductor company that designed and manufactured wireless networking chips. The company was founded in 1998 and went public on February 12, 2004, under the ticker symbol QCOM. Qualcomm Atheros continued to grow in the years following its IPO. The company acquired a number of other wireless networking companies, and it became a leading supplier of wireless networking chips. In 2011, Qualcomm Atheros was acquired by Qualcomm for $3.7 billion.

Salesforce, a trailblazer in cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software, made its debut in September 2004. With its visionary CEO, Marc Benioff, at the helm, Salesforce disrupted the software industry by providing businesses with scalable and customizable solutions. Now a global force, Salesforce boasts a market capitalization of over $200 billion and continues to drive digital transformation across enterprises.

The companies that had their IPO in 2004 were a sign of the times. The tech bubble was still in full swing, and investors were eager to get their hands on shares of the next big thing. These IPOs also helped to pave the way for the future of the IPO market.

In the years since, the IPO market has become increasingly globalized, and companies from all over the world are now able to raise capital through IPOs. 

What Can We Learn From Companies That Had Their IPOs in 2004?

The IPOs of 2004 were a watershed moment for the IPO market. They helped to launch some of the most successful companies in the world, and they paved the way for the future of the IPO market.

Companies that had their IPO in 2004 offer some valuable lessons for investors. First, it is important to do your research before investing in an IPO. Make sure you understand the company’s business model, its financials, and its competitive landscape. Second, be prepared for volatility. IPOs can be very volatile, especially in the short term. Third, don’t invest more than you can afford to lose. IPOs are a risky investment, and there is always the possibility that you could lose money.

However, the IPOs of 2004 also show that there are great rewards to be had for investors who are willing to take risks. If you do your research and invest wisely, you could be one of the early investors in the next big thing.

The Future of IPOs

The IPO market is constantly evolving, and it is difficult to predict what the future holds. However, there are some trends that are likely to continue in the years to come.

One trend is the increasing globalization of the IPO market. In the past, most IPOs were conducted in the United States. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of companies from all over the world going public. This trend is likely to continue as more and more companies seek to raise capital from global investors.

Another trend is the increasing use of technology in the IPO process. In the past, the IPO process was a manual process that was time-consuming and expensive. However, in recent years, there has been a growing use of technology to streamline the IPO process. This trend is likely to continue as technology continues to evolve.

Finally, the IPO market is likely to become more regulated in the years to come. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile IPOs that have been marred by fraud and abuse. As a result, regulators are likely to impose stricter regulations on the IPO market in order to protect investors.

The future of the IPO market is uncertain, but it is clear that the market is constantly evolving. The trends covered today are likely to continue in the years to come, and they will shape the future of the IPO market.

Last Word on Companies That Had Their IPO in 2004

Indeed, the IPOs of 2004 were a watershed moment for IPOs. The companies that had their IPO in 2004 helped to launch some of the most successful companies in the world. While we only covered seven of the companies that had their IPO in 2004, you can see a full list below. 

Please note that just because a company may not have been discussed above does not mean they were any less pivotal to the IPO market. As mentioned earlier, each company and IPO offers us a lesson. By studying each of these companies and their IPOs, we can learn a multitude of lessons, making us wiser investors. 

While the IPO market has cooled down from the white-hot temperatures of 2020-2021, we are starting to see signs of life again. We will be keeping a close eye on the IPO market moving into 2024 and beyond. Be sure to follow Wealth Daily to stay on top of the latest IPO investment opportunities.

Full List of Companies That Had Their IPO in 2004 

• ADATA
• Air China
• Alynylam Pharmaceuticals
• Assurant 
• Blackbaud
• Blackboard Inc.
• Blue Nile
• BlueLinx
• Build-A-Bear Workshop
• Cambridge Display Technology
• C&C Group
• CubeSmart
• CyberLink
• Delfi Limited
• Digital Realty
• Domino’s
• DreamWorks (Animation)
• ELong
• Extra Space Storage
• Genworth Financial
• Google
• Greenhill & Co. 
• Halfords
• Halozyme
• The Home Depot
• Jessops
• Las Vegas Sands
• Marchex
• MarketAxess
• Micron Memory 
• Monolithic Power Systems
• New York & Company
• Ninetowns Internet Technology Group
• NuVasive
• Pinewood Group
• Premier Foods
• Qualcomm Atheros
• Salesforce
• Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
• Shopping.com 
• Signature Bank
• TCL Technology
• Teledyne e2v
• Tencent
• TRW Automotive
• Volterra Semiconductor
• WellCare
• Wincor Nixdorf