Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of January 16, 2024

Article Excerpt

We’ve often pointed out that IPOs (Initial Public Offerings, otherwise known as new stock issues) are generally poor choices for most investors. Their first and biggest drawback is that they come on the market when it’s a good time for the company or its insiders to sell. This is not necessarily a good time, and may be a bad time, for outsiders to buy. Of course, many investors agree to buy new stock issues because of rumours or hints from a broker or the media that an upcoming new stock issue may turn out to be a “hot new issue.” That’s a rare new stock issue that shoots up soon after coming on the market. Brokers reserve the bulk of most hot new issues for their best clients. These may be clients who do a lot of trading (and generate a lot of commission income for their brokers). Or they may be current clients who are in a position to refer new…