A potential Anthropic IPO is putting IPO investing and artificial intelligence stocks in the spotlight. But investors looking for ways to invest in newly public companies don’t have to chase a single stock on its opening day. The First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (NYSE ARCA: FPX) offers exposure to a basket of qualifying IPOs and spin-offs, making it worth a closer look for those interested in opportunities beyond one highly anticipated debut.
Reportedly, Anthropic shifted its planned offering to November 2026 from October, with investors discussing a potential valuation around $2 trillion. That would make it a substantial market debut, although the timing and valuation remain subject to change.
It’s easy to understand the excitement. Investors want exposure to businesses that could help shape the future of artificial intelligence. When a recognizable company finally becomes available to public investors, the temptation to jump in can be strong.
But an exciting company and an attractive entry price are two different things.
Why Investors Should Wait Beyond the Anthropic IPO Opening Day
Highly anticipated IPOs can bring out Wall Street’s fear of missing out, better known as FOMO. Investors see the headlines, imagine enormous gains, and worry that waiting means missing their chance. The problem is that the advertised IPO price may bear little resemblance to the price available when you place an order.
Consider a hypothetical company that prices its offering at $50 a share but opens at $80. Someone buying at the opening is paying 60% more than investors who received shares at the offering price. The business hasn’t suddenly become 60% better. Demand has simply pushed the trading price higher.
That doesn’t guarantee a decline. Some IPOs keep climbing. But it does mean that expectations are already doing a lot of work. Waiting gives investors time to examine the valuation, watch trading settle, and decide whether the opportunity still makes sense.
How the FPX ETF Gives Investors Broader IPO Exposure
FPX tracks the IPOX-100 U.S. Index, which targets 100 qualifying companies associated with recent IPOs, spin-offs, and certain acquisitions of recently public businesses. Its underlying selection universe follows newly public companies during their first 1,000 trading days, and the index rebalances quarterly.
FPX’s published expense ratio is 0.57%, equivalent to approximately $57 annually on a $10,000 investment, assuming its value stays unchanged.
Think of FPX as a way to participate in a broader opportunity while accepting that some businesses will outperform and others will disappoint. That thesis is evident in the fund’s holdings, which include names like GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) and SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) that have recently IPO’d. It also offers exposure to momentum names such as Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY), and SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK).
Anthropic could bring renewed attention to IPO investing. FPX provides a fund worth researching as that story develops. The sensible approach is to understand what it owns, evaluate the price, and resist the urge to treat enthusiasm as a substitute for investment discipline.
The Best IPO Investment May Not Be the First Trade
The biggest opportunity in an IPO isn’t always the first trade.
Sometimes, it comes after the initial excitement fades and investors can take a clearer look at what they’re buying. There’s no prize for being first if you end up paying a price the business struggles to justify.
For investors who want exposure to newly public companies, FPX offers a practical way to spread that bet across multiple businesses. It won’t eliminate risk, and investors shouldn’t assume it will automatically own Anthropic. But its broader approach can reduce reliance on a single debut living up to enormous expectations.
As the Anthropic story develops, keep your focus on the price you pay and the businesses behind the headlines. A successful investment needs more than an exciting opening day—it needs reasons to keep owning it long afterward.
