By 1993, the U.S. economy was finding its stride again after the early-90s recession. Interest rates were falling, consumer confidence was building, and the stock market was heating up. Tech was quietly laying the groundwork for an internet age, while consumer brands looked to scale into national players.
| Company (Ticker) | IPO Date | IPO Price* | Current / Final Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intuit (INTU) | Mar 12, 1993 | $2.03 (split-adj) | $651.30 (today) |
| Deckers (DECK) | Oct 1, 1993 | $15.00 | ~$766 |
| Microchip (MCHP) | Mar 19, 1993 | $13.00 | ~$85.50 |
| Allstate (ALL) | Jun 1993 | $27.00 | ~$156 |
| Papa John’s (PZZA) | Jun 8, 1993 | $9.00 | ~$75.10 |
| Jabil (JBL) | Apr 29, 1993 | $14.00 | ~$125.90 |
| Wolfspeed (WOLF) | Feb 19, 1993 | $14.00 | ~$33.85 |
| Avid Technology (AVID) | Dec 3, 1993 | ~$20.00 | $27.05 (buyout 2023) |
| Fossil (FOSL) | Apr 8, 1993 | (varies, split-adj) | ~$3.10 |
| Gymboree (GYMB) | Mar 1993 | ~$10.00 | $0 (liquidated) |
That year turned out to be a banner one for IPOs. Nearly 500 companies went public, raising more than $30 billion, the most in years. Investors were hungry for growth stories, whether in software, consumer staples, or industrials, and Wall Street was more than willing to oblige.
Three decades later, some of those 1993 IPOs have become household names and long-run compounding machines. Others fizzled or disappeared. Looking back now gives us a clear view of what worked, what didn’t, and what $1,000 bets at those IPOs would be worth today.
1. Intuit (INTU)
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Intuit went public in March 1993 at a split-adjusted $2.03 per share. It turned Quicken, TurboTax, and QuickBooks into staples of consumer and small-business finance, then expanded with acquisitions like Credit Karma and Mailchimp. At $651.30 today, a $1,000 IPO investment would be worth about $321,000. The company is a classic example of sticky software that compounds steadily over decades.
2. Deckers Outdoor (DECK)
Deckers was listed in October 1993 at $15 a share as a small sandal company. Today, it’s known for powerhouse brands like UGG and HOKA, with global reach. The stock now trades near $766, turning $1,000 at the IPO into about $51,000. Few footwear firms have reinvented themselves this successfully.
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3. Microchip Technology (MCHP)
Microchip went public in March 1993 at $13, focusing on microcontrollers for embedded systems. Over the years, it expanded into analog and power semiconductors, securing a place in everything from cars to appliances. With shares around $85.50, that original $1,000 grows to roughly $6,600. It’s a steady, if less flashy, semiconductor winner.
4. Allstate (ALL)
Spun off from Sears in 1993, Allstate IPO’d at $27. It built a reputation for underwriting discipline and consistent dividends, becoming one of America’s largest insurers. With the stock at $156, a $1,000 IPO buy would now be about $5,800 (not counting decades of dividends). Sometimes, slow and steady really does win.
5. Papa John’s (PZZA)
Papa John’s went public in June 1993 at $9, betting that franchising and delivery could fuel national pizza dominance. The brand expanded quickly across the U.S. and abroad, weathering tough competition and its fair share of controversies. Shares at $75 today translate into about $8,300 for a $1,000 IPO stake. It’s a strong reminder that quick-service food often makes for durable growth stories.
6. Jabil (JBL)
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Jabil, the contract manufacturer, IPO’d in April 1993 at $14. It grew alongside the electronics boom, producing hardware for PCs, networking gear, handsets, and now cloud infrastructure. Shares near $126 turn $1,000 into roughly $8,100. It’s a story of steady execution in a cyclical industry.
7. Wolfspeed (WOLF)
Originally known as “Cree,” the company went public in February 1993 at $14, riding the LED wave before pivoting into silicon carbide power chips under the Wolfspeed brand. While the long-term payoff is still developing, it’s carved out a key role in next-gen semiconductors. At around $34, that $1,000 stake is now near $2,400. A reminder that pivots can extend a company’s life, but not consistently deliver outsize returns.
8. Avid Technology (Acquired)
Avid debuted in December 1993 at around $20 per share, changing video and audio editing with its non-linear systems. It became a standard in film and television but never achieved the mass-market ubiquity of Adobe. Taken private in 2023 at $27.05 per share, that IPO investment would end at about $1,400. A respectable outcome, but modest compared to the giants.
9. Fossil (FOSL)
Fossil priced its IPO in April 1993, riding high on fashion watches and accessories. The stock soared in the 2000s but later collapsed as smartwatches eroded demand. Today it trades near $3, leaving $1,000 at the IPO essentially flat after three decades. A cautionary tale of shifting consumer tastes.
10. Gymboree (Out of Business)
Gymboree went public in 1993 as a mall-based children’s apparel brand. It grew rapidly but took on too much debt, struggling to adapt to e-commerce. After multiple bankruptcies, its stores were liquidated by 2019. Investors who held from the IPO to the end wound up with nothing.
What the 1993 IPO Winners Have in Common
The class of 1993 offered a wide spectrum of outcomes. On one end, Intuit and Deckers created generational wealth for investors willing to buy and hold, turning four-figure bets into six-figure fortunes. On the other, mall stalwarts like Gymboree and faddish brands like Fossil show just how quickly consumer trends can flip.
For long-term investors, the lesson is clear: it’s not about catching the hottest debut, it’s about finding businesses with durable products, wide moats, and the ability to adapt. The winners from 1993 proved that compounding works when paired with category leadership, while the losers remind us that disruption is always just around the corner.
If 1993 teaches anything, it’s that you didn’t need to catch every rocket, you needed one or two durable compounders and the patience to hold them through cycles. A thousand dollars in the right name could change your financial life; the trick was (and still is) focusing on business quality and runway rather than the first-day pop.
At the same time, the losers serve as a useful reminder that categories mature, debt can be biting, and moats can erode. The next time you look at a fresh IPO slate, ask: Is there a durable moat here? Is the balance sheet resilient? Does management have a record of adapting? Those were the tells in 1993, and they still are today.
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Disclaimer:
Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!
