• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

How Scott Bessent used financial engineering to finance the $2 trillion deficit while leaving it untouched—and created a $1.45 trillion shortfall

2

The emerging deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz reportedly recognizes Iran’s control—and the U.S. may have to accept it

3

The tables have turned: Florida and Texas are the biggest losers in the housing market as Ohio emerges a surprise winner

1

How Scott Bessent used financial engineering to finance the $2 trillion deficit while leaving it untouched—and created a $1.45 trillion shortfall

2

The emerging deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz reportedly recognizes Iran’s control—and the U.S. may have to accept it

3

The tables have turned: Florida and Texas are the biggest losers in the housing market as Ohio emerges a surprise winner
Finance

IPOs rev up for millennial-targeted companies

By
Vera Gibbons
Vera Gibbons
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Vera Gibbons
Vera Gibbons
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 21, 2015, 1:06 PM ET
Photograph by Alli Harvey — Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

If you’ve noticed a surge in health, food, and fitness brands aimed at millennials, you’re not alone. Companies are aggressively trying to snag those consumers born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, says Matt McCall, president of Penn Financial Group. “Everyone wants a piece of them.”

After all, Generation Y, some 80 million strong, have $1.3 trillion in buying power in the U.S., according to some estimates. They’re quickly becoming one of the largest demographics in the world—and one of the most influential, of generations both young and old, says Joan Kuhl, founder of Why Millennials Matter. “They’re the most tech-savvy, tapped-in, and socially responsible generation to date, and they’re very vocal when it comes to making family purchasing decisions.”

Companies have long taken notice, but are upping their game as the uptick in IPOs for millennials heats up across a number of categories, says Kathleen Smith, principal and manager of IPO-Focused ETFs at Renaissance Capital.

In fitness technology, there’s wearable devices maker Fitbit (FIT), which went public in June. Its stock has nearly doubled in value since. “Others are going down that fitness path as millennials continue to track and share all things as it pertains to exercise, from steps to playlists,” says Smith. In fact, rumored to be targeting an IPO is rival, Jawbone.

The gym business is also pumping up: Planet Fitness (PLNT)went public last week. The discount, no-frills gym “targets millennials who are not gym people, but just want a cheap place to work out,” says Smith. At just $10 a month (and no initiation fee), it doesn’t get much cheaper than that. Shares have barely budged since their debut, but that could be the result of bad timing.

 

At the opposite end of the affordability spectrum is SoulCycle. One of the most widely celebrated, inspirational, and popular classroom-based workouts, its classes can cost about $40 a pop, or nearly $1 a minute. “It’s a cash cow money machine,” says McCall.

Despite the price, “millennials are wiling to allocate a large part of their budget to pay for SoulCycle in part because of the community/social aspect,” says Smith. SoulCycle, which has morphed into a lifestyle brand, boasts its own app and digital reservation system, capitalizing on the estimated 67 hours a week that millennials spend immersed in media. The company is going public in a matter of weeks.

Also targeting an IPO is Greek yogurt maker, Chobani. In a field dominated by big players like Danone and General Mills’ Yoplait (GS), Chobani, which did about $1 billion in sales last year, is marketed as “better for you,” says Smith.

That resonates well with millennials, who want good, affordable, healthy food, says Steve Cortes, senior strategist at BGC Partners. Their desire extends well beyond all-natural (and guilt free) snacks like SkinnyPop popcorn from Amplify (BETR), which debuted on the Nasdaq early in August, and into the “fresh fast casual” sub-category. By all accounts, this millennial-inspired segment is booming. “Just look at Chipotle (CMG),” he says. “It’s extremely popular with millennials and the stock’s been an absolute rocket.”

Competing in the same space are burger chain Shake Shack (SHAK), whose stock has more than doubled since going public in January, and Pret a Manger, which offers fresh, daily-made sandwiches and salads. Pret, which is based in Britain and boasts nearly 400 stores worldwide, has been discussing an IPO.

What does the future hold for those companies that have already gone public and countless others still waiting for their debut? “If they execute well, some of them will get to levels where the big companies will come in and buy them,” says McCall.

For now, these niche players, which are “disruptive to the big establishments,” he says, just need to stay hip. “The cool factor is important to millennials.”

About the Author
By Vera Gibbons
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.