In 2014, the number of firms going public is at its fastest pace in years as investors are bidding aggressively for new shares of new companies, paying on average 14.5 times annual sales for firms.  The average U.S. IPO stock price in 2014 has risen 19 percent, rewarding investors.  45 Interestingly however, nearly three-quarters of the firms going public in 2014 are unprofitable,, and most have annual sales of less than $50 million.

Source:  Telis Demos, “Companies Rush to Join IPO Surge,” Wall Street Journal, March 7, 2014, p. A1.