Global equity issuance closes out 2024 with strong Q4; New IPOs performing well

Global equity capital markets activity hit a three-year high in 2024 with global proceeds totaling $531 billion across 5,624 offerings closed. Those figures represent a 22.3% increase in proceeds and 3.9% change in deal volume compared to the same period last year.

Global IPO performance in 2024 was aligned with comparable post-IPO figures from 2022 and 2023. The post-listing returns of 2024 IPOs performed well, especially in the six-month timeframe, with the highest average gain of 60.7% posted. Full-year performance is expected to exceed 2022 and 2023 figures thanks to the generative AI rally last year.

In 2024, the Industrials and Financials sectors led the way in global equity capital market issuance proceeds. Within the five most active sectors in 2024, only Information Technology had consecutive year-over-year double-digit growth in gross proceeds raised. US companies generated the lion share of the gross proceeds (roughly 66%) within the sector.