IPO Pullbacks Signal Caution as Anthropic Debut Delayed; US Listings Raise $161.4 Billion in 2026

Two companies postponed their US initial public offerings within days of each other, rattling investor confidence ahead of Anthropic PBC's delayed debut. Holtec Nuclear Corp. and Bamboo Insurance Services Inc. cited market conditions for the pullbacks, according to Bloomberg News. Only three companies have gone public since Labor Day, a quieter-than-expected September. Anthropic's anticipated filing has yet to materialize. The AI company is seeking to raise at least as much as SpaceX's record $86.2 billion debut. The S&P 500 has risen 1.1% in September, while the Nasdaq Composite rallied over 3% to a record high. Of more than two dozen companies that filed publicly since July with top Wall Street banks, only nine have gone public, Bloomberg data show. US listings have raised $161.4 billion this year, the highest volume since 2021, excluding blank-check firms. Despite strong indices, five of the 10 largest 2026 IPOs trade below their offer prices.