Why burden ourselves with investor expectations?: Nithin Kamath on Zerodha's IPO holdout

Zerodha founder and CEO Nithin Kamath has revealed that despite the recent wave of companies rushing to go public, Zerodha has held back, prioritising long-term strategies over chasing inflated valuations.

Speaking on the latest updates at the stock broking firm in his blog, Kamath explained why the brokerage firm has resisted the temptation to launch an IPO, even though it could have fetched sky-high valuations over the last few years.

“An IPO is not the end, but rather a new beginning. When retail investors enter the cap table, the company should be able to predict revenue to some extent. In the last 14 years, I have not once been correct in predicting revenue growth and dips,” Kamath said, citing the unpredictable nature of Zerodha’s business.

Kamath made it clear that the company's decision against going public is rooted in the uncertain environment surrounding financial markets and regulation.

"Our business, while it looks good based on financials, can change in a heartbeat due to a change in regulation or markets taking a turn for the worse,” he noted, emphasising the need for Zerodha to focus on revenue predictability before considering an IPO.

He also questioned the logic of raising excess capital without a meaningful purpose: “Why take on the burden of expectation from investors when there is nothing strategic or material to gain for the business? Once listed, most companies are forced to shift their focus to growing quarter after quarter at all costs.”

Key numbers

Sharing the latest updates, the CEO mentioned that Zerodha has allocated Rs 680 crore to over 120 companies through Rainmatter, the firm’s investment arm focusing on fintech, climate, health, and sports. The company has also committed Rs 1,000 crore to Rainmatter Foundation, which addresses climate action and livelihood issues.

Zerodha Capital, the firm’s loan arm, currently has a book size of Rs 300 crore, providing Loan-Against-Securities (LAS). Furthermore, Zerodha's Fund House, India's only passive asset management company operating in a joint venture with Smallcase, has surpassed Rs 3,000 crore in assets under management (AUM) in less than a year.

Further diversifying into new segments, the company is set to launch Margin Trade Funding (MTF) to offer more diversified products. It is also investing in public markets through proprietary funds in stocks, bonds, and gold, and growing its Loan-Against-Securities offering through Zerodha Capital.

The CEO said that the firm is also making strides in the insurance space with Ditto Insurance, a spam-free health and term insurance provider that has already become the second-largest online distributor for its partner insurance companies, Kamath said.

"Sensibull, Tijori, Streak, and many other companies that add significant value to the trading and investing experience," he added.