

Retail investors seize spotlight in record-breaking IPO rally
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. As total fundraising through initial public offers barrels towards a record high in 2025, the definitive trend is of the impressive rise of the retail investors this year — climbing to nearly a quarter of allotments in such share sales. Marquee IPOs from Aequs, Meesho, Vidya Wires, and Wakefit Innovations hit the Street in December and are set to take total fundraising for the year past ₹1.61 trillion across 97 issues this week surpassing last year’s ₹1.59 trillion raised from 91 issues.
More IPOs are lined up for the rest of the month, making it almost certain that the calendar year will end with an even bigger bounty for companies listing for the first time. Retail allotments now command a 24% share in the amounts raised this year, a noticeable surge from the 21% share recorded in 2024, according to Prime Database. Though this remains lower than a retail share of 27% in 2023 when ₹ 49,435.5 crore were mobilized.
Retail investors have seized the spotlight this year, showing unprecedented conviction in new offerings. This year, retail investors were allotted ₹36,431 crore across 93 IPOs.This figure marks their highest capital absorption in three years, comfortably eclipsing the ₹32,957 crore received in 2024. The rebound follows a subdued 2023, when retail absorption was around ₹13,553 crore across 57 issues, after having stood at ₹14,034 crore across 40 issues in 2022.
While 2025 features a larger and more competitive issuance pipeline, the sheer volume of retail money poured into the market is a testament to their bullish sentiment. Market participants believe this turnaround is being driven by a mix of stronger deal quality and better pricing. “Retail participation has rebounded
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