Anthropic sets November for record-breaking IPO debut

Anthropic intends to launch its initial public offering in November, a timeline later than the October debut anticipated by many investors. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, September 18, citing unnamed sources, that the company aims to list within weeks. This move follows earlier reports from Bloomberg, which referenced a New York Times article based on similar anonymous sources, indicating that the artificial intelligence firm is preparing for a market debut as soon as next month.

The selection of a November date may be designed to allow Anthropic to disclose its third-quarter financial results, which are expected to demonstrate strong performance. According to the reporting, this timing was determined before the recent public debate regarding the pace of artificial intelligence development. However, the specific date remains subject to change. Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment from PYMNTS regarding these plans.

The potential listing could value Anthropic at approximately two trillion dollars and raise up to 100 billion dollars. Such a transaction would surpass the records established by SpaceX in June. The company’s revenue run rate has surged from nine billion dollars at the end of 2025 to 65 billion dollars by the end of July. This acceleration in revenue is reported to bolster the company’s IPO plans, despite growing public concern about the technology.

Contextual developments in the sector include statements from OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, who told Fortune on September 11 that OpenAI’s own IPO will not take place in 2026. Altman noted that the company has long maintained it is in no rush to list, adding that concerns about AI safety make the current moment ill-advised for a public offering. Both Anthropic and OpenAI have previously filed confidentially for IPOs, with Anthropic announcing its filing on June 1 and OpenAI on June 8. Experts have also suggested that a potential slowdown in frontier AI development would not halt enterprise adoption of the technology.

Update, 20 September 2026: Hours after this report, Bloomberg cited the New York Times reporting that Anthropic now expects annualised revenue of more than $100 billion for the full year, up from the $65 billion run rate recorded at the end of July. Reuters has separately reported that IPO marketing is expected to begin in mid-October at the earliest, with the listing itself targeted for the days before the US midterm elections in November.