Business Quote by Daniel Lyons
“There was a time when a company could not sell its shares to the public unless its revenues were growing and it was turning a profit. Companies that lost money were deemed too risky for public investors.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Wall Street Journal, “The Changing Landscape of IPOs”, 2018
Historically, public markets demanded revenue growth and profit, excluding loss‑making firms from listing.
In simple terms: Public markets once required profit to go public.
Recognize that growth metrics evolve.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- startup fundraising
- corporate strategy
- investor relations
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess a company’s worth without profit?
- What alternative metrics can satisfy investors?
Modern markets now value growth potential over current profit.