New York, Jan 24, 2026, 05:16 AM EST — Market closed
EquipmentShare.com Inc’s Class A common stock ended Friday at $32.56, gaining $8.06, or 32.9%, above its $24.50 IPO price during its debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Roughly 17.4 million shares changed hands, with the price slipping slightly to $32.29 in after-hours trading. (The Wall Street Journal)
The surge offers an early glimpse into how much risk investors will embrace with new IPOs in 2026. This follows rate cuts and a tech rally that have reopened the U.S. IPO market after last year’s government shutdown, Reuters reported. Lukas Muehlbauer, an IPOX research associate, noted, “Investors are evaluating EquipmentShare’s tech platform as a potential mechanism to outperform the growth rates of legacy rental firms.” (Reuters)
U.S. markets were closed Saturday, leaving traders to wonder if the initial surge will stick when trading resumes Monday — when buyers begin weighing valuation and execution more carefully.
EquipmentShare set its IPO price at $24.50 per share, selling 30.5 million shares and pulling in roughly $747 million, Reuters reported. The range had been $23.50 to $25.50. Based in Columbia, Missouri, the company runs 373 locations across 45 states and employs over 7,500 workers. It aims to grow to around 700 sites within five years. (Reuters)
The offering is set to close on Jan. 26, with underwriters holding a 30-day option to purchase up to 4.575 million extra shares to cover any over-allotments — a “greenshoe” mechanism often used to support the stock in early trading. (GlobeNewswire)
Barron’s reported that the closing price suggested a market value near $8.2 billion. The company recorded a $25.2 million net loss during the first nine months of 2025, on sales totaling $2.8 billion. (Barron’s)
In announcing the listing, co-founder and CEO Jabbok Schlacks stated the company’s goal is “to transform the fragmented and underserved construction industry.” Co-founder and president Willy Schlacks pointed out that contractors have seen “machines sit idle” due to a “failure of visibility.” (EquipmentShare)
The OWN program is a key part of the pitch, drawing in outside capital to fund the rental fleet. EquipmentShare sells gear to third-party buyers who then lease it back, while the company retains operational control and splits rental income with the equipment owner, according to a separate company release. (EquipmentShare)
But the prospectus flags that swings in interest rates could impact results since some debt carries variable rates, with the company relying on interest-rate swaps to hedge that risk. It also highlights the typical post-IPO risk of large stock volumes flooding the market once lock-up periods end. Additionally, the founders hold margin loans backed by pledged shares that might be sold if they default. (SEC)
Trading picks up again Monday, with the Jan. 26 IPO settlement looming and a close watch on whether underwriters exercise their extra-share option. Afterward, attention turns quickly to whether early volume subsides — and what price the next buyer will accept once the initial buzz fades.
