WeWork fiasco, Peloton flop endanger Unicorns hoping for big IPOs

WeWork, Peloton, Endeavor, Poshmark and more just got the message: It’s not a great time to go public. Disappointing initial public offerings and unsettled economic conditions could shut down many IPOs for the rest of the year — and maybe well into 2020, when the next batch of marquee IPO candidates like Airbnb could meet an even gloomier market and geopolitical environment.

The Hollywood agency Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. shelved its IPO on Thursday, saying unfavorable market conditions have dented investor sentiment. Poshmark Inc., an online resale marketplace for second-hand clothing, is expected to postpone its IPO into next year. Also in flux are a range of stock offerings from e-commerce companies and cybersecurity firms Palantir Technologies Inc., Postmates Inc., and McAfee Inc.