How to buy Roblox Corporation (RBLX) stock | finder.com
finder.com
US
AU
NZ
UK
CA
SG
More

Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.

How to buy Roblox Corporation (RBLX) stock when it goes public

Here's everything we know so far about the Roblox Corporation IPO.

Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell

Updated . What changed?

Fact checked

Our pick for beginner investors: Robinhood

Robinhood logo
  • $0 commissions
  • Download the app or trade online
  • Start trading right away with instant deposits
Go to site

Online video game platform Roblox is expected to go public in March. Here's what we know, including how to buy in when the stock launches.

Latest updates

Monday, February 22: Roblox plans to begin trading March 10.

Friday, January 29: Roblox has reportedly postponed its highly anticipated direct listing after the US Securities and Exchange Commission scrutinized the way it reports revenues. The company had been poised to go public in February.

Friday, January 8: Roblox is expected to go public in February.

Thursday, January 7: Roblox completed a private funding round, raising $520 million. The round values Roblox at $29.5 billion. The company also announced that it plans to go public via a direct listing rather than a traditional IPO.

Monday, December 14: Roblox reportedly plans to postpone its IPO into 2021 after initially stating its intention to complete the offering by the end of 2020.

Thursday, November 19: Roblox filed with the SEC to go public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RBLX.

Thursday, November 12: Roblox is expected to make its filing public as early as next week, according to a CNBC report.

What we know about the Roblox Corporation IPO

The gaming platform announced in January 2021 that it plans to go public via a direct listing rather than an initial public offering. The company intends to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "RBLX." An independent valuation report in December 2020 valued the stock at close to $41.52 per share, but it's difficult to tell where the stock will trade when it does go public. Share prices are determined by the price at which employees and other shareholders are willing to sell and buyers are willing to pay.

In a direct listing, a company can go public without raising funds in an IPO. Additionally, investors can sell their shares without waiting for a lock-up period to expire.

Founded in 2004, Roblox offers a sweeping collection of online games coupled with a game creation system that allows users to program their own games. Amid the pandemic, Roblox has been particularly popular among US kids between the ages of 9 to 12, helping them host hangouts and virtual birthday parties during stay-at-home orders.

We'll update this page with more information as soon as it becomes available.

How to buy shares in Roblox Corporation when it goes public

Once Roblox Corporation goes public, you'll need a brokerage account to invest. Consider opening a brokerage account today so you're ready as soon as the stock hits the market.

  1. Compare share trading platforms. If you're a beginner, look for a platform with low commissions, expert ratings and investment tools to track your portfolio. Narrow down top brands with our comparison table.
  2. Open and fund your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details, like your ID and bank information. Fund your account with a bank transfer, credit card or debit card.
  3. Search for Roblox Corporation. Find the stock by name or ticker symbol: RBLX. Research its history to confirm it's a solid investment against your financial goals.
  4. Purchase now or later. Buy immediately with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until Roblox Corporation reaches your desired price. To spread out your purchase, look into dollar-cost averaging, which smooths out buying at consistent intervals and amounts.
  5. Decide on how many to buy. Weigh your budget against a diversified portfolio that can minimize risk through the market's ups and downs. You may be able to buy a fractional share of Roblox Corporation, depending on your broker.
  6. Check in on your investment. Congratulations, you own a part of Roblox Corporation. Optimize your portfolio by tracking how your stock — and even the business — performs with an eye on the long term. You may be eligible for dividends and shareholder voting rights on directors and management that can affect your stock.

Roblox’s balance sheet

As a result of stay-at-home orders initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic and consumers seeking at-home entertainment options, Roblox has done well. According to Sensor Tower Store Intelligence, Roblox’s March 2020 revenue increased by 28% month-over-month to $69.8 million, followed by a 34% increase in April to $93.2 million. The momentum carried through to turn May 2020 into a record-breaking month for the company, yielding $102.9 million in global player spending.

The company also raised $520 million in a series H private placement in January 2021, a funding round that valued it at $29.5 billion.

The US accounts for approximately 66% of Roblox’s total revenue, but Great Britain and Canada are also big contributors. To date, the platform’s mobile app has been downloaded more than 380 million times across the Apple App Store and Google Play.

With the release of its S-1 filing, we had the opportunity to take a closer look at Roblox’s balance sheet. The company reported $349.8 million in revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. For the same period in 2020, Roblox’s revenue rose to $588.6 million. Unfortunately, Roblox’s revenue isn’t the only thing on the rise. For the first three quarters of 2019, it reported a net loss of $46.3 million — a figure that more than quadrupled to $203.2 million in 2020.

Like many tech-oriented startups, Roblox isn’t profitable. And while its revenue appears to be on an upward trajectory, it continues to report sizable losses.

Why was the direct listing delayed?

Roblox initially planned to go public in February, but the launch was delayed by several weeks, reportedly because of questions from the SEC over the way the company recognizes revenue from the sale of its proprietary Robux currency.

Players use Robux to purchase both consumable and durable goods in games. Roblox has been treating all revenue from Robux the same, but in a memo to Roblox employees, founder and CEO David Baszucki noted that the SEC wants the company to be more specific. The SEC, Baszucki said, expects the company to recognize revenue on consumables as they are consumed and revenue on durable goods over the life of the game user.

How do similar companies perform?

It's impossible to predict how any stock will perform — and IPOs can be particularly volatile. But evaluating the performance of companies like Roblox Corporation can be useful in determining how the market is performing and whether now is a good time to invest in this industry. Select a company to learn more about what they do and how their stock performs, including market capitalization, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio and dividend yield. While this list includes a selection of the most well-known and popular stocks, it doesn't include every stock available.

Compare trading platforms

Compare special offers, low fees and a wide range of types of investments among top trading platforms.
Name Product Stock trade fee Asset types Option trade fee Annual fee Signup bonus
Robinhood
Robinhood
$0
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Gold/Commodities
$0
0%
Free stock (chosen randomly with a value anywhere between $2.50 and $200)
Sign up using the "go to site" link
Make unlimited commission-free trades in stocks, funds, and options with Robinhood Financial.
Go to site
More Info
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers
$0
Stocks, Bonds, Options
$0 + $0.65/contract, $1 minimum
0%
N/A
IBKR Lite offers $0 commissions, and IBKR Pro offers advanced tools for professional traders.
Go to site
More Info
Tastyworks
Tastyworks
$0
Stocks, Options, Cryptocurrency
Stocks & ETFs: $1/contract to open, $0 to close, $10 max/leg
Futures: $2.50/contract to open, $0 to close
0%
Get 100 shares of stock (worth $1 to $6 a share)
Open and fund a new cash or margin account with $2,000+
Trade stocks, options, ETFs and futures on mobile or desktop with this advanced platform.
Go to site
More Info
Moomoo
Moomoo
$0 for US stocks
Stocks, Options, ETFs
$0
N/A
Trade stocks on the US, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen markets.
Go to site
More Info
TradeStation
TradeStation
$0
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
$0 + $0.50/contract
$50
Deposit qualifying assets of $5,000+
A platform built for all kinds of traders and all styles of trading
Go to site
More Info
loading

Compare up to 4 providers

*Signup bonus information updated weekly.

The value of any investment can go up or down depending on news, trends and market conditions. We are not investment advisers, so do your own due diligence to understand the risks before you invest.

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.
Go to site