Initial Public Offering (IPO)

The term IPO, or initial public offering, refers to the very first time a company sells their shares or stocks to the public.  This is usually a huge deal for both the company and for the investor, since it marks the first time this type of deal is open to bids and is sold to the general public.  The IPO process is fairly simple, and its main purpose is to raise capital for the company. 

Read more about Initial Public Offerings.