Anthropic Seeks Over $61 Billion in IPO: What Buyers Should Know

Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, plans to sell 825 million shares at $70 to $78 each in its initial public offering, which could raise more than $61 billion, according to Scripps News. For everyday investors, the key point from financial experts is that the IPO price in headlines may not be the price they actually pay on the first day of trading.

Shares are expected to begin trading on Nov. 19, though Scripps News reported that the official date can still shift.

What this means for people who want to buy on day one

Ryan Sterling, founder and CEO of NerdWallet Wealth Partners, told Scripps News that shares at the initial offering price are typically allocated through brokerage firms. Those allocations often go to institutional investors and certain clients, and each brokerage decides how to distribute its share.

Once trading opens to the public, supply and demand set the price. Sterling said that if a stock is offered at $75, it could be in the 80s or 90s by the time the general public can buy it, though he said it depends on the stock. A stock can also move below its offering price, sometimes quickly.

Share price is not the same as company value

Sterling cautioned against focusing on the price of a single share. A stock at $20 is not necessarily cheaper than one at $100, he said, because the number of shares outstanding and the company’s total market value matter more.

Scripps News said Anthropic is seeking a valuation of more than $1.3 trillion, while Sterling and a related Scripps report referred to $1.4 trillion. The outlet did not explain the difference. Sterling said the real question is whether the company’s total valuation is fair, undervalued or overvalued, and that “the price per share is really irrelevant.”

Growth and losses at the same time

Scripps News reported that Anthropic, which is five years old, posted surging revenue from 2025 to 2026. It also reported an $80 billion net loss in the first half of this year. Sterling and Scripps noted that a business can grow quickly while spending heavily or losing money, so strong revenue does not by itself mean a company is profitable.

Newly public stocks can swing sharply as investors decide what they will pay. Scripps pointed to SpaceX as a recent example: its shares are now above the initial offering price, but they have also traded below it along the way.

Ways to get exposure without buying on day one

Sterling said investors who sit out the first day still have options. One is to wait until a stock has traded publicly for a while, which gives the market more time to show how it values the company. Another is to gain exposure through diversified funds. He noted, for example, that an actively managed mutual fund could choose to add a newly public company to its portfolio.

Sterling said he personally passes on IPOs and waits for companies to become part of a diversified portfolio over time. He described that as his own approach, not a general rule.

Points Scripps News highlighted for IPO buyers

The publicly traded price may differ substantially from the advertised IPO price.
A lower price per share does not automatically make a stock inexpensive.
Strong revenue growth does not necessarily mean profitability.
Newly public stocks can see sharp price swings once trading begins.
Buying one stock carries different risks than holding a broader mutual fund or diversified portfolio.
Investors do not have to buy on day one, and opportunities may remain after the initial excitement settles.

What happens next

Trading is expected to start Nov. 19. The pricing range of $70 to $78 and the schedule come from a regulatory filing, and Scripps News said the official date could still change.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Scripps News

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