The Top 10 IPOs of 2010

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IPOs Return to Life in 2010

For investors lucky enough to be granted shares of the hottest Initial Public Offerings, or IPOs, 2010 was one of the best years in recent memory.  After several years of a virtually dry IPO pool, the waterline on this once-overflowing asset class has once again started to rise. 

This year, there were several very high-profile IPOs, including what was perhaps the biggest name to come public this year — General Motors (NYSE: GM).  But GM’s IPO performance was anemic when compared to the biggest IPO winners of 2010. So, which companies grabbed top-performing honors this year? 

Let’s take a look at each of the top 10 in descending order now.

Note: performance data as of 12/13/10.

#10 –  JinkoSolar Holding (JKS)

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The Chinese solar panel maker’s shares opened at $11 on May 13, and by early November JinkoSolar Holding (NYSE: JKS) had surged to nearly $39.  Since shining to its November high, the stock has come way off.  However, despite coming off their high JKS shares still enjoyed a 166.48% gain so far in 2010 — and that’s good enough to make it onto our top 10 IPO list for the year’s best performers.

#9 –  Motricity (MOTR)

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Motricity (NASDAQ: MOTR), a provider of mobile data solutions for wireless carriers, began its public life at $10 per share on June 17, and by November the stock had more than tripled.  And though MOTR shares have come well off their highs, remaining IPO holders still enjoy a 174.53% gain since early summer.

#8 –  Qlik Technologies (QLIK)

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Business software maker Qlik Technologies (NASDAQ: QLIK) went public at $10 per share on July 15.  Fast forward five months and those who got in on the deal now enjoy a 182.97% gain.  Although Qlik shares are slightly lower than they were when they hit their peak in September, the stock has maintained much of its original demand.  To take advantage of that demand, the company recently announced a secondary offering of 11.5 million shares at $23 each.

#7 –  HiSoft Technology Intl. (HSFT)

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Debuting at $10 per share on June 29, IT outsource service provider HiSoft Technology (NASDAQ: HSFT) saw its shares more than triple before reaching their 2010 zenith in early December.  Since then shares have come down about 20%. Still, based on the closing price on Dec. 13, HSFT shares have enjoyed a stellar 201.17% surge since going public.

#6 –  BroadSoft Inc. (BSFT)

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Edging HiSoft out for the sixth spot on the top 10 list is residential and business voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) software maker BroadSoft (NASDAQ: BSFT).  The company’s shares were very slow out of the gate, actually falling below the $9 IPO price and basically stagnating there for the first four months. Then the stock caught fire, surging to nearly $25 a share and posting a gain of 201.88% since its June 15 debut.

#5 – RealPage Inc. (RP)

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Property software and property management services company RealPage (NASDAQ: RP) went public on August 11, and since then it’s made steady progress higher.  RealPage shares debuted at $11, and by mid-December the shares had surged to $28.  The gains in RP total 218.75%, putting this stock in the top five best-performing IPOs for 2010.

#4 –  E-Commerce China Dangda (DANG)

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In fourth place on our list is a company that’s only been public for a week — E-Commerce China Dangda (NYSE: DANG).  This company has been called the Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) of China, as it is that country’s leading online book seller.  Dangda also has recently branched out into general merchandise such as beauty products and home décor, and appears to be following the Amazon.com model.  The stock is up 227.71% since debuting at $16 on December 7.

#3 – Youku.com Inc. (YOKU)

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The third spot on our top 10 list is another Chinese Internet IPO, Youku.com (NYSE: YOKU). The firm has been described as China’s YouTube, but it’s really more like a cross between YouTube and online TV content provider Hulu.  Like DANG, this stock also debuted on December 7.  Shares started at $12.80, and in less than a week they’ve delivered investors a 237.50% gain.

#2 –  Molycorp Inc. (MCP)

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Coming in second on our list is U.S.-based rare earth mineral company Molycorp. Inc. (NYSE: MCP).  The stock began trading on July 29 at $14, and since then shares have dug up a 267.81% return.  Although the company’s mine has yet to produce any actual rare earth minerals, expected demand, as well as a constricted supply found mostly in China, have made MCP an intriguing speculative play for adventurous precious metals investors.

#1 –  Vera Bradley Inc. (VRA)

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Topping the list of the best IPOs in 2010 is fashion handbag maker Vera Bradley (NASDAQ: VRA).  The stock went public on October 20 at $16, and since then it accessorized shareholders’ portfolios to the tune of 288.05%.  The company recently reported strong third-quarter earnings after taking a one-time charge, making its first quarterly report as a public entity a winner.  Of course, the stock is also a winner in this year’s IPO sweepstakes, as it has the honors of being the top-performing IPO in what’s proven to be a very good year for new stock offerings.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2010/12/top-10-ipos-of-2010/.

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