Shares in US restaurant chain Cava virtually doubled on their New York debut on Thursday, sparking hopes its success would spur others to observe it to market and assist finish a capital-raising drought.

Cava’s pop made it the perfect opening-day efficiency by a US preliminary public providing of greater than $300mn in virtually two years, based on knowledge supplier Dealogic.

The Mediterranean-style chain, which describes itself as bringing “coronary heart, well being, and humanity to meals” raised $318mn from its IPO, placing the lossmaking firm’s market capitalisation at $4.9bn.

Cava’s positive aspects got here regardless of aggressive pricing. It initially raised the vary by which it was providing its shares, then priced them 10 per cent above the highest finish of that new vary at $22 a share.

Shares within the firm rose 99 per cent on Thursday to $43.78.

Whereas the benchmark S&P 500 has risen 15 per cent this 12 months, market sentiment has been much less assured as buyers anxious in regards to the danger of a recession and fretted in regards to the rally’s reliance on a handful of large know-how firms together with Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon.

On Wednesday, hours earlier than Cava priced its deal, the Federal Reserve held rates of interest regular for the primary time in 15 months following a marketing campaign that has pushed official borrowing prices from virtually zero to a spread of between 5 per cent to five.25 per cent.

IPOs have raised $8bn within the US this 12 months, based on Dealogic. That’s approaching the $8.6bn raised in all of 2022 — a 12 months by which US markets fell closely — however is way from the $154bn achieved within the growth of 2021.

Bankers cautioned towards anticipating a rush of offers.

“I proceed to anticipate a gradual reopening of the market, not a gap of the floodgates,” stated Brittany Collier, head of client and retail fairness capital markets at JPMorgan. “Clearly there’s demand for high-quality firms although.”

JPMorgan, together with Jefferies, led the deal, however Collier declined to touch upon the transaction itself.

The IPO drought is just not solely a US drawback. Globally, firms have raised $56bn, down virtually 1 / 4 from ranges this time final 12 months and 70 per cent decrease than within the 2021 growth.

On Wednesday in London soda ash producer WE Soda pulled plans to promote shares value as much as £1bn after buyers balked on the value the corporate wished. It was anticipated to be the UK capital’s largest float this 12 months.