Microsoft IPO Date and Initial Price
Microsoft held its initial public offering on March 13, 1986, listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker MSFT. The IPO price was set at $21 per share, and the stock began trading on the open market the same day SEC filing.
Microsoft sold 2.47 million shares in the IPO, raising roughly $61 million for the company at that time. The offering was managed by a group of investment banks that helped set the terms and structure the distribution to institutional and retail investors.
IPO Performance and Early Shareholder Impact
On the first day of trading, Microsoft shares closed at $27.75, representing a roughly 32% gain from the $21 offering price. The strong debut reflected high demand for the company's software business and its growing visibility in the personal computer market.
Investors who bought shares at the IPO price and held them through subsequent stock splits and price increases experienced extraordinary long-term returns. Microsoft later executed a 2-for-1 stock split in 1987 and additional splits in the 1990s, which adjusted the share count and price history for modern investors.
Microsoft Market Position After the IPO
In the years following the IPO, Microsoft grew from a software startup into a dominant force in operating systems and enterprise software. The company's market capitalization rose steadily, making it one of the most valuable public companies in the world Forbes.
Today, Microsoft remains a top-ranked company by market cap, with its IPO history frequently cited as a landmark moment in tech investing. The company's transition from a PC-era software leader to a cloud and AI-focused giant has kept it central in discussions about the largest and most influential public companies Forbes.
