Bob's Discount Furniture IPO: Stock price will be closely watched today amid trail of chain retail bankruptcies

"Bob's Discount Furniture, a Connecticut-based furniture retailer backed by Bain Capital, is putting it all on the table. The company is going public, with shares expected to begin trading on Thursday, February 5, after being priced at $17. The retailer raised $331 million in its initial public offering (IPO). Shares will trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol BOBS."

"The company's retail operations are expansive-it has more than 200 locations in 26 states as of September of last year, but the East Coast is its stronghold. Data from Renaissance Capital shows that 61% of its revenue came from stores in New England, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic. Retail headwinds and risk factors Bob's listing will test investor appetite for traditional retail businesses as the space has faced headwinds."

Bob's Discount Furniture priced its initial public offering at $17 per share and raised $331 million. Shares will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BOBS on Thursday, February 5. The retailer operates more than 200 stores across 26 states, with a heavy concentration on the East Coast. Renaissance Capital data attributes 61% of revenue to stores in New England, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic. The public listing will confront investor sentiment toward traditional brick-and-mortar retail amid ongoing headwinds, including higher consumer prices and challenging market conditions for physical retailers.

Read at Fast Company