SEC releases data showing surge in IPOs and follow-on offerings

The Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Economic and Risk Analysis published updated market statistics on Sept. 23, 2026. The release adds time-series charts, pie charts and heat maps to the SEC's public statistics and data visualizations webpage, allowing users to explore trends across U.S. capital markets.

In the first half of 2026, IPO activity rose to 208 offerings raising over $137 billion, compared with 180 IPOs raising over $27 billion in the first half of 2025. That represents an approximately 16% increase in the number of IPOs and a nearly 400% increase in proceeds. Follow-on registered offerings increased to 557, raising over $111 billion, versus 505 offerings raising nearly $84 billion in the same period of 2025, an approximately 10% rise in count and a 33% rise in proceeds.

Dr. Joshua T. White, chief economist and director of DERA, said the data "highlight the continued strengthening of U.S. capital formation under Chairman Atkins, with notable growth in both IPOs and follow-on offerings." He added that expanding access to transparent, high-quality data aims to equip the public, market participants, and policymakers with insights that support resilient and well-functioning capital markets.

The SEC notes that the visualizations are interactive and downloadable, enabling users to examine geographic distributions and category breakdowns. DERA integrates financial economics and rigorous data analytics into the SEC's core mission, providing high-quality economic and statistical analyses to inform Commission rulemaking and oversight, and to help identify and respond to emerging issues, trends, and innovations in the marketplace.