FACTBOX: OpenAI joins AI listing queue with Anthropic

OpenAI said on Monday that it has confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering (IPO), joining rival Anthropic in moving closer to the stock market as investors continue to seek exposure to the artificial intelligence boom.

Wall Street is betting that 2026 could become a breakout year for the U.S. IPO market, supported by a strong pipeline of high-profile private companies and pent-up demand for new listings.

Earlier this year, Goldman Sachs projected that proceeds from U.S. IPOs could surge to a record $160 billion in 2026, provided that several marquee companies move forward with public offerings.

Below is an overview of some of the major IPOs expected in 2026:

OpenAI

The ChatGPT maker said on Monday that it recently submitted a confidential filing for a U.S. listing, although it has not yet decided on the timing of its IPO.

The Sam Altman-led company noted that the IPO process may take time, as there are “things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company.”

“But it’s a complicated set of tradeoffs, and this gives us the option to go public sooner if that ends up being best,” the company added.

OpenAI did not disclose the size or terms of the offering. However, Reuters has reported that the artificial intelligence company is targeting a valuation of up to $1 trillion in a stock market debut that could come as early as September.

Anthropic

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic revealed earlier this month that it has confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO, setting the stage for what could become a landmark moment in Wall Street’s AI-driven rally.

Anthropic, which operates the AI chatbot Claude, most recently raised $65 billion at a post-money valuation of $965 billion in late May, placing it ahead of rival OpenAI in valuation terms.

SpaceX

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has filed publicly for its highly anticipated U.S. IPO, moving the company closer to what could become the largest stock market flotation in history.

The company has reportedly accelerated its IPO timeline, with a roadshow launch targeted for June 4 and a potential share sale as early as June 11, according to Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter.

In February, SpaceX acquired Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI in a record-setting deal, aligning his AI and space ventures by combining the company with the maker of the Grok chatbot.

If SpaceX raises $75 billion, it would mark the world’s largest IPO, surpassing Saudi Aramco’s 2019 listing.

-Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru and Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli, Pooja Desai, and Leroy Leo / Reuters