Transparent braces are a rapidly growing business, and SmileDirectClub plans to cash in with a bigger-than-expected initial public stock offering.
SmileDirectClub has priced its IPO at $23 per share, which is more than expected, ahead of its Thursday debut. The company originally expected to price its shares between $19 and $22.
The stock opened at $20.55 per share, 11% lower than expected. Losses accelerated through the afternoon with shares losing 18% of their value.
SmileDirectClub started five years ago, selling “tight-fitting clear aligners” that act as braces. The product costs $1,895, but it also offers monthly payments for $85 a month over 24 months, which, with a deposit, brings the total price of the aligner to $2,290.
The company is now valued at nearly $9 billion, according to a company press release.
The company’s stock is expected to start trading Thursday on the Nasdaq under the symbol “SDC.” Executives from the company rang the Nasdaq’s opening bell.
According to a regulatory filing from August, revenues have sharply jumped over the past few years. SmileDirectClub pulled in $423 million in total revenue last year — an increase of 190% from 2017.
SmileDirectClub plans to use the money it’s raising for international expansion, developing new dental products and opening new so-called SmileShops. The company said those are a “key driver in expanding access to care.” So far, the company 300 stores in four countries and expect to open roughly 80 more this year.
Its IPO joinsa sea of dreariness. WeWork is reportedly weighing whether to cut its targeted IPO valuation drastically, Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) stocks have recently hit all-time lows.
