Investors Doubt Anthropic’s $1.5 Trillion IPO Valuation, WSJ Says

Some large investors doubt that Anthropic can complete its initial public offering at a valuation of about $1.5 trillion, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The AI company filed for its IPO at the end of October 2026 and had planned to raise up to $100 billion in a listing in November 2026.

A sharp sell-off in technology stocks has changed the math. According to the WSJ and Reuters, Anthropic may have to accept a lower valuation or push the listing back.

How the Anthropic offering could change

One of the WSJ’s sources said a revised valuation could land closer to $1 trillion, and the amount raised could be cut to $80 billion. Reuters reported that Anthropic might need to price its shares at a discount to keep investor demand up. New terms and a new timetable have not been disclosed.

Part of the investor base is waiting for Anthropic’s October 2026 financial results before committing. The WSJ reported that the company’s projected annual revenue had passed $80 billion by the end of that month, up from September.

The market drop behind the doubts

The concerns grew after the steepest one-day fall in US technology shares since 2020. The Nasdaq 100 index lost $2.3 trillion in market value in a single session.

That drop came two days after the US midterm congressional elections, in which Democrats won control of both chambers. Investors are worried that a Democratic Congress will tighten rules on artificial intelligence, according to the reports. Sentiment around the AI sector had already been weakening before the sell-off.

Caution had shown up elsewhere too. In late October 2026, OpenAI reduced the target for its new funding round by $10 billion because of the market slump.

What it means for the AI sector and investors

An IPO valuation is the price public investors agree to pay for the whole company at listing. If Anthropic sells shares at a lower valuation than planned, early backers and employees who hold stock would see their stakes priced below what the company had been aiming for. A smaller offering would also mean less new cash for the company than the $100 billion first targeted.

Reuters noted that a delay or a significant cut to Anthropic’s valuation would add to the pressure on the AI sector as a whole.

What to watch next

The next signal is Anthropic’s October 2026 results, which some investors want to see before deciding. After that, readers can watch for:

• Any amended IPO filing that changes the size of the offering or the price range.
• A decision on whether the listing still goes ahead in November 2026 or moves to a later date.
• Whether shares are offered at a discount, as Reuters reported the company might need to do.
• Further moves in the Nasdaq 100 and in AI stocks after the midterm results.

The revised figures come from people who spoke to the WSJ and Reuters, and Anthropic has not disclosed a new valuation or schedule.

Source: vc.ru