在7月29日上市的前幾周,Robinhood Markets高調宣布,其將為自己的經紀客戶保留一大部分新發行的股票,作為對公司2250萬忠實用戶的特殊獎勵。但是,Robinhood的股價在開盤當天出現暴跌,這或許意味著,Robinhood大力宣揚的讓普通投資者受益的營銷活動的效果與其初衷適得其反。
在大多數IPO中,個人投資者只分得5%左右的一小部分,華爾街的銀行通常會將大部分股票獎勵給他們的對沖基金和共同基金客戶。這些客戶享受這種分配方式,因為銀行會系統性地壓低承銷股票的價格,然后在交易開始時制造“暴漲”,以獲得大量交易和豐厚傭金回報銀行。在過去的18個月里,IPO首日漲幅非常大,今年以來和2020年的平均漲幅分別為33%和42%。一位經歷過IPO的首席執行官認為,在這個“精英過程”中,“華爾街的肥貓們得到了豐富的牛奶”。
作為免傭金交易的先驅,Robinhood以將小投資者吸引到股市而聞名,達到了前所未有的數量。對于自己的IPO,這家在線經紀公司宣稱,其主流客戶可以以與大型基金相同的內幕價格購買股票。Robinhood在7月28日的注冊聲明中表示:“我們很自豪能夠以與機構投資者同等的條件,向客戶開放本次發行?!?/p>
簡而言之,Robinhood的IPO不僅僅是為了成為一家上市企業并籌集大量新資本,更是為了讓其小投資者享有與大型基金同樣優越的地位。在推動股票投資這方面,沒有哪個股票市場成員比Robinhood付出過更多的努力。Robinhood自稱使命是“為所有人實現金融民主化”,此次IPO是這一使命的的又一個里程碑。
但是,到目前為止,這場IPO令小投資者感到沮喪,也損害了Robinhood“支持小人物”的聲譽。
羅賓漢要求為其客戶分配一大筆資金
很顯然,Robinhood利用了與承銷商的杠桿關系,為散戶群體(特別是公司的經紀客戶)獲得了比最近幾乎任何其他大型IPO都要大的發行份額。Robinhood在承銷中預售了5240萬股,并授予其投資銀行在售后市場再購買10.5%或550萬股的權利。Robinhood在其注冊聲明中表示,承銷商將為其客戶保留20%至35%的發行份額,相當于通常份額的7倍之多。確切的數字將由Robinhood和銀行之間的談判確定,目前尚未披露。
Robinhood宣布,其賬戶持有人可以通過公司旗下的在線平臺IPO Access購買股票——這一平臺通過投資銀行提供的配售,以承銷價格向客戶提供新股發行。平臺母公司的IPO,使平臺能夠出售的股票數量遠遠超過其所處理的其他典型IPO。注冊聲明披露,所有客戶都可以申請股票,這意味著,每個申請者都有獲得股票的平等機會。
目前還不清楚Robinhood的客戶購買了多少比例的股份。如果他們拿下了全部35%,這個數字可能高達2100萬股。Robinhood和銀行首先披露了38美元到42美元之間的可能價格區間。但是,上市后總體需求卻不溫不火,股價低至38美元的底端。因此,如果Robinhood的小投資者們購買了35%的股票,他們將為此支付8億美元的損失。
Robinhood不僅沒有成功,反而在下午1點左右暴跌11%,至33美元,然后又在下午4點收盤時小幅回升,至34.82美元,虧損了8.4%,市值為290億美元——就在幾天前,市場的樂觀估計是320億美元,而現在的數字要低得多。Robinhood的用戶在一天內蒙受了大約6700萬美元的損失。這聽起來是一筆巨大的數字。但好消息是,盡管IPO令人失望,而Robinhood用戶得到的股票本身就很少,攤到每個人身上,可能就只是很小的打擊了。
如果在Robinhood龐大的用戶基數中有四分之一——525萬人申購,他們平均每個人只能獲得4股。佛羅里達大學經濟學家、全美領先的IPO專家杰伊?里特(Jay Ritter)懷疑,是否有許多申購者拿到了不止10股。從這個數字來看,投資者本來以380美元的價格買入,到這一天結束時就只損失了32美元?;鸾M織蒙受的損失更大。如果這些機構購買了此次發行量的65%,他們最初支付的價格就是13億美元,到7月29日收盤時,虧損了1.07億美元。
結論:Robinhood正與其“民主化”交易的目標背道而馳
股價暴跌給Robinhood帶來的打擊可能只是暫時的。但Robinhood背叛自己“交易民主化”初心的地方是在傳統的IPO中與華爾街合作?!八麄円稽c都不民主,”里特說。“華爾街投行的定價是低于市場價格的,所以股票才會出現短缺。IPO越熱,小投資者和大型基金能買到的股票就都越少。”他指出,一些頗具影響的基金在研究哪些IPO能成為“爆款”時會很狡猾,并利用他們和銀行的裙帶關系參與這些交易,同時避開需求疲軟的產品——它們的股票可能會平倉,或者最多只漲一點點。在那些不太受歡迎的交易中,股價甚至會下跌,就像Robinhood經歷的那樣。
相比之下,中小投資者事先并不知道哪些交易會成為爆款。他們不像巨頭們那樣吹毛求疵。因此,他們在投資時要冒著收益寥寥的風險。他們能在無人問津的冷門交易中得到更多股票,但在上市當天就大受歡迎的搶手交易中,分給他們的就少得多了。銀行還會鼓動發行股票的公司把更多“搶手貨”賣給機構,向散戶少發行一點。如果得知Robinhood的用戶得到了35%的股票、而不是20%,因為機構對他們的股票沒什么興趣,事情就很有意思了。
總體而言,通過IPO Access購入大量Robinhood股票的散戶們確實會賺到一筆額外之財,因為至少在目前,大多數IPO確實能爆一把。但他們能得到的股票數量也極少,因為華爾街牢牢控制著這個過程。如果他們想買到更多股票,就要進入售后市場,并按真實的市場價格購買。這個價格不是投行設定的,而是“讓自由市場決定”的。
里特說,真正“民主”的IPO是直接上市,每個人而不僅僅是那些華爾街機構,都能在開盤日早上的公開拍賣中競標,從而決定股票的真實市場價格,并防止銀行精心策劃的虛假繁榮。Robinhood應該支持直接上市,而不是與華爾街合作進行傳統的IPO——后者將給一個真正平等的金融界帶來沉重的打擊。(財富中文網)
編譯:楊二一、陳聰聰
在7月29日上市的前幾周,Robinhood Markets高調宣布,其將為自己的經紀客戶保留一大部分新發行的股票,作為對公司2250萬忠實用戶的特殊獎勵。但是,Robinhood的股價在開盤當天出現暴跌,這或許意味著,Robinhood大力宣揚的讓普通投資者受益的營銷活動的效果與其初衷適得其反。
在大多數IPO中,個人投資者只分得5%左右的一小部分,華爾街的銀行通常會將大部分股票獎勵給他們的對沖基金和共同基金客戶。這些客戶享受這種分配方式,因為銀行會系統性地壓低承銷股票的價格,然后在交易開始時制造“暴漲”,以獲得大量交易和豐厚傭金回報銀行。在過去的18個月里,IPO首日漲幅非常大,今年以來和2020年的平均漲幅分別為33%和42%。一位經歷過IPO的首席執行官認為,在這個“精英過程”中,“華爾街的肥貓們得到了豐富的牛奶”。
作為免傭金交易的先驅,Robinhood以將小投資者吸引到股市而聞名,達到了前所未有的數量。對于自己的IPO,這家在線經紀公司宣稱,其主流客戶可以以與大型基金相同的內幕價格購買股票。Robinhood在7月28日的注冊聲明中表示:“我們很自豪能夠以與機構投資者同等的條件,向客戶開放本次發行。”
簡而言之,Robinhood的IPO不僅僅是為了成為一家上市企業并籌集大量新資本,更是為了讓其小投資者享有與大型基金同樣優越的地位。在推動股票投資這方面,沒有哪個股票市場成員比Robinhood付出過更多的努力。Robinhood自稱使命是“為所有人實現金融民主化”,此次IPO是這一使命的的又一個里程碑。
但是,到目前為止,這場IPO令小投資者感到沮喪,也損害了Robinhood“支持小人物”的聲譽。
羅賓漢要求為其客戶分配一大筆資金
很顯然,Robinhood利用了與承銷商的杠桿關系,為散戶群體(特別是公司的經紀客戶)獲得了比最近幾乎任何其他大型IPO都要大的發行份額。Robinhood在承銷中預售了5240萬股,并授予其投資銀行在售后市場再購買10.5%或550萬股的權利。Robinhood在其注冊聲明中表示,承銷商將為其客戶保留20%至35%的發行份額,相當于通常份額的7倍之多。確切的數字將由Robinhood和銀行之間的談判確定,目前尚未披露。
Robinhood宣布,其賬戶持有人可以通過公司旗下的在線平臺IPO Access購買股票——這一平臺通過投資銀行提供的配售,以承銷價格向客戶提供新股發行。平臺母公司的IPO,使平臺能夠出售的股票數量遠遠超過其所處理的其他典型IPO。注冊聲明披露,所有客戶都可以申請股票,這意味著,每個申請者都有獲得股票的平等機會。
目前還不清楚Robinhood的客戶購買了多少比例的股份。如果他們拿下了全部35%,這個數字可能高達2100萬股。Robinhood和銀行首先披露了38美元到42美元之間的可能價格區間。但是,上市后總體需求卻不溫不火,股價低至38美元的底端。因此,如果Robinhood的小投資者們購買了35%的股票,他們將為此支付8億美元的損失。
Robinhood不僅沒有成功,反而在下午1點左右暴跌11%,至33美元,然后又在下午4點收盤時小幅回升,至34.82美元,虧損了8.4%,市值為290億美元——就在幾天前,市場的樂觀估計是320億美元,而現在的數字要低得多。Robinhood的用戶在一天內蒙受了大約6700萬美元的損失。這聽起來是一筆巨大的數字。但好消息是,盡管IPO令人失望,而Robinhood用戶得到的股票本身就很少,攤到每個人身上,可能就只是很小的打擊了。
如果在Robinhood龐大的用戶基數中有四分之一——525萬人申購,他們平均每個人只能獲得4股。佛羅里達大學經濟學家、全美領先的IPO專家杰伊?里特(Jay Ritter)懷疑,是否有許多申購者拿到了不止10股。從這個數字來看,投資者本來以380美元的價格買入,到這一天結束時就只損失了32美元?;鸾M織蒙受的損失更大。如果這些機構購買了此次發行量的65%,他們最初支付的價格就是13億美元,到7月29日收盤時,虧損了1.07億美元。
結論:Robinhood正與其“民主化”交易的目標背道而馳
股價暴跌給Robinhood帶來的打擊可能只是暫時的。但Robinhood背叛自己“交易民主化”初心的地方是在傳統的IPO中與華爾街合作?!八麄円稽c都不民主,”里特說?!叭A爾街投行的定價是低于市場價格的,所以股票才會出現短缺。IPO越熱,小投資者和大型基金能買到的股票就都越少?!彼赋?,一些頗具影響的基金在研究哪些IPO能成為“爆款”時會很狡猾,并利用他們和銀行的裙帶關系參與這些交易,同時避開需求疲軟的產品——它們的股票可能會平倉,或者最多只漲一點點。在那些不太受歡迎的交易中,股價甚至會下跌,就像Robinhood經歷的那樣。
相比之下,中小投資者事先并不知道哪些交易會成為爆款。他們不像巨頭們那樣吹毛求疵。因此,他們在投資時要冒著收益寥寥的風險。他們能在無人問津的冷門交易中得到更多股票,但在上市當天就大受歡迎的搶手交易中,分給他們的就少得多了。銀行還會鼓動發行股票的公司把更多“搶手貨”賣給機構,向散戶少發行一點。如果得知Robinhood的用戶得到了35%的股票、而不是20%,因為機構對他們的股票沒什么興趣,事情就很有意思了。
總體而言,通過IPO Access購入大量Robinhood股票的散戶們確實會賺到一筆額外之財,因為至少在目前,大多數IPO確實能爆一把。但他們能得到的股票數量也極少,因為華爾街牢牢控制著這個過程。如果他們想買到更多股票,就要進入售后市場,并按真實的市場價格購買。這個價格不是投行設定的,而是“讓自由市場決定”的。
里特說,真正“民主”的IPO是直接上市,每個人而不僅僅是那些華爾街機構,都能在開盤日早上的公開拍賣中競標,從而決定股票的真實市場價格,并防止銀行精心策劃的虛假繁榮。Robinhood應該支持直接上市,而不是與華爾街合作進行傳統的IPO——后者將給一個真正平等的金融界帶來沉重的打擊。(財富中文網)
編譯:楊二一、陳聰聰
In the weeks before its public offering on July 29, Robinhood Markets grandly proclaimed that it was reserving a big chunk of the newly-issued shares for its own brokerage customers. The plan was designed as a special reward for its 22.5 million loyal account holders. But as Robinhood's price plunged on opening day, what amounted to a marketing campaign touting how Robinhood benefits the Main Street investor backfired badly.
In most IPOs, individual investors get a puny slice of around 5% of the offering. The Wall Street banks typically award the vast bulk of shares to their hedge and mutual fund clients. Those customers relish the allocations because the banks systematically underprice the stock sold in the underwriting to create a "pop" at the start of trading, and repay the banks with lots of trading and fat commissions. Those first-day jumps have been especially big in the last 18 months, averaging 33% this year and 42% in 2020. In that elite process, as one CEO who went through an IPO put it, the "Wall Street fat cats get the rich milk."
As a pioneer in commission-free trading, Robinhood is renowned for rallying small investors to the stock market in numbers never seen. For its own IPO, the online-broker trumpeted that legions of its Main Street customers could buy shares at the same insider prices as the big funds. "We are proud to open this offering to our customers on equal terms as institutional investors," Robinhood stated in its July 28 registration statement.
Put simply, Robinhood pitched its IPO not just as a route to becoming a publicly traded enterprise and raising lots of fresh capital, but to putting its small investors on the same privileged footing as the powerhouse funds. No player has done more to lift the folks on the street from a minor to major role in equity investing than Robinhood. Its IPO was targeted as another milestone in its self-described mission to "democratize finance for all."
But so far, the offering's proven a downer for the small investors, and tarnished Robinhood's reputation for championing the little guy.
Robinhood demanded a huge allocation for its customers
Robinhood clearly deployed its leverage with underwriters to secure a larger piece of the offering for the retail crowd––specifically, its own brokerage customers––than in virtually any other major IPO in recent memory. It pre-sold 52.4 million shares in the underwriting, and granted its investment banks rights to purchase another 10.5% or 5.5 million in the aftermarket. In its registration statement, Robinhood stated that the underwriters would reserve between 20% and 35% of the offering for it customers, as much as seven-times the typical share. The exact number was to be determined by negotiations between Robinhood and the banks, and hasn't been disclosed.
Robinhood announced that its account holders could purchase shares through its online platform IPO Access, which offers its customers shares in new issues at the underwriting price, via allocations provided by investment banks. Its parent's debut gave IPO Access far more shares to sell than in the typical offerings it handles. The registration statement disclosed that all customers could apply for shares. It implied that everyone that applied had an equal chance of getting shares.
It's not clear what portion of the offering Robinhood's customers purchased. If they took the full 35%, the number could be as high as 21 million shares. Robinhood and the banks first disclosed a possible range in prices between $38 and $42. But overall demand was tepid, and the shares fetched the low-end of $38. Hence, if Robinhood's small investors bought 35% of the offering, they would have paid a total of $800 million.
Robinhood not only failed to pop, it cratered 11% by around 1 PM to $33 before recovering slightly to $34.82 by the 4 PM close for a loss of 8.4%, giving Robinhood a market cap of $29 billion, below the optimistic estimates of over $32 billion just days before. Robinhood's customers suffered a one-day loss of roughly $67 million. That sounds like a big number. The good news is that although the IPO was a disappointment, Robinhood customers got so few shares each likely suffered only a small hit.
If one-fourth or 5.25 million of Robinhood's customers applied, they'd get an average of just four shares each. Jay Ritter, an economist at the University of Florida who's the nation's leading expert on IPOs, doubts that many applicants received more than about 10 shares. At that number, an investor would have put down $380, and by the end of the day lost just $32. The funds suffered the bigger damage. If the institutions bought 65% of the offering, they initially paid $1.3 billion, and by the close on July 29, suffered a $107 million loss.
The upshot: Robinhood is promoting a process that's the opposite of democratic
The losses give Robinhood a black eye that may be temporary. But where Robinhood's betrayed its own goals is partnering with Wall Street in traditional IPOs. "They're undemocratic," says Ritter. "The banks set the price below the market price, so there's a shortage of shares. The hotter the IPO, the fewer shares both small investors and big funds get to buy." He notes that the powerful funds get sophisticated on research on which IPOs are going to be hot, and use their clout with the banks to get into those deals, while shunning offerings where demand is weak––where shares are likely to open flat, or pop just a little at best. In those less-popular deals, prices can even drop, as in the case of Robinhood.
By contrast, small investors don't know in advance which deal will be hot. They don't cherrypick like the big guys. So they risk getting much lower returns. They get far bigger allocations on the cool deals that do poorly, and far fewer shares of the sought-after deals that deliver a big pop on opening day. The banks also push issuers to sell more shares to institutions and fewer to retail in the hot offerings. It would be interesting to know if the Robinhood customers got an allocation of 35%, say, instead of 20% because institutional interest was so weak.
It's true that overall, Robinhood's customers who buy a lot of IPOs through IPO Access will make a little extra money because for now at least, most IPOs do pop. But they'll be limited to very small numbers of shares because Wall Street controls the process. If they want to buy a significant number, they need to go into the aftermarket and pay the true market price. That price, not the one set by the investment banks, is the "let freedom ring" price.
The truly democratic IPOs, says Ritter, are direct listings where everyone, not just those Wall Street anoints, gets to bid in an open auction on the morning of opening day, establishing a true market price, and preventing the artificial jump orchestrated by the banks. Robinhood should take a stand by endorsing direct listings, and stop partnering with Wall Street on traditional IPOs. That would be striking a blow for true equality in the financial world.