• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer

2

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

3

Marc Lore’s robots make 500 burrito bowls an hour. A human can make 45

1

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer

2

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

3

Marc Lore’s robots make 500 burrito bowls an hour. A human can make 45
FinancePinduoduo

The Groupon of China Is Going Public—and It’s More Expensive Than Alibaba, Snap, or Facebook’s IPO

Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 26, 2018, 3:27 PM ET

Investors are still betting on fast growth in China’s more rural cities, if Pinduoduo’s Thursday initial public offering is anything to go by.

Sometimes dubbed the Groupon of China, discount e-commerce company Pinduoduo soared 36% on its first day of trading Thursday, after raising $1.63 billion in an offering of American Depository Receipts priced at $19 a share. That gives the three-year-old company a fully diluted valuation of about $32.4 billion.

Founded by ex-Google engineer Colin Huang, Pinduoduo has grown meteorically in past quarters, racking up about 343.6 million active buyers in the second quarter of 2018. Backed by Tencent, the startup has thrived by promoting ultra-cheap goods using the internet giant’s ubiquitous WeChat app, and rewarding users who buy in bulk alongside friends and family.

Investors seem convinced in the Shanghai-based company’s ability to continue its upwards trajectory. Backed by Sequoia Capital and Banyan Partner Funds, the company’s stock is no cheap bet. Comparing the company’s sales—just over a quarter billion dollars—to its valuation (in lieu of the more popular price to earnings ratio, as Pinduoduo has yet to post a profit) yields a ratio of 116.5.

By that measure, Pinduoduo is a more expensive stock than Snapchat maker Snap Inc. was in the hours following its IPO, as well as Alibaba with its 27.4 P/S ratio, Facebook’s 31, or Amazon’s 19.1 at the time of their respective offerings. It does, however, pale in comparison to the post-IPO valuation of Baidu, which went public at a time when interest in the country was surging, giving it a 2005 P/S ratio of 298.5. Pinduoduo is also overshadowed by JD.com’s 2014 IPO, which commanded a ratio of 238.3.

It’s a sign that investors are betting on the growth of China’s less wealthy cities, despite a recent slowdown in the nation’s economy. Through Pinduoduo, say Morningstar’s Jennifer Song, investors are hoping to tap into China’s less affluent consumers who may one day have more spending money in their wallets.

“The spending power growth of lower-tier cities population is outpacing that of tier-1 and tier-2 cities, and the increased spending power of these lower-tier cities represent massive opportunities for retailers,” reads Pingduoduo’s prospectus.

According to mobile analytics firm Questmobile, about 60% of Pinduoduo’s users are in cities with less than $67 billion in Gross Domestic Product. In comparison, Alibaba and JD.com appear to be focusing on wealthier users, says Blue Lotus’ Silvia Wang. Both of those e-commerce firms have focused increasingly on higher quality goods and more personalized content. As a result, both have “inevitably lost parts of their user base from lower tier cities,” she says.

But Pinduoduo isn’t the only company that’s betting on growth in China’s rural population. Alibaba, for instance, has been trying to expand its offering to less affluent locations, recently investing $716 million in Huitongda network, a rural e-commerce platform. JD.com, meanwhile, has said it would open about half a million convenience stores in rural locations over the next five years.

Another potential problem: The platform doesn’t currently charge merchants fees or commissions—a step it will likely have to take in order to be profitable.

And as its rural user base receives more disposal income, Pinduoduo will also have to level up with its customers. While the company offers cheap goods (a pair of sneakers on the platform, for instance, is now going for 9.5 yuan, or $1.40), the goods can often be of low quality and poorly packaged, says Song.

Though in its prospectus, Pinduoduo insists that it is focused on quality controls. And for now, it doesn’t seem to bother users too much. Annual spending per active buyer rose 13% to the equivalent of $116 in the second quarter of 2018.

But it may still have time.

“In the near-future, the majority of China will still live in lower tier cities, which means Pinduoduo still has space to grow its users,” says Wang.

About the Author
Lucinda Shen
By Lucinda Shen
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

defense
PoliticsDefense
Trump says Europe freeloads on defense. Britain’s own (former) Defense Secretary just agreed
By Jill Lawless, Danica Kirka and The Associated PressJune 11, 2026
4 hours ago
SpaceX lowballed its bankers on fees. Goldman Sachs has another way to win big
Startups & VentureFinance
SpaceX lowballed its bankers on fees. Goldman Sachs has another way to win big
By Shawn TullyJune 11, 2026
7 hours ago
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during afternoon trading on June 10, 2026 in New York City.
InvestingWall Street
Bank of America told investors to ‘take profits.’ Then the Nasdaq fell 7%
By Eva RoytburgJune 11, 2026
7 hours ago
Full Coverage Car Insurance: What It Covers, What It Costs, and Who Needs It
Personal FinanceInsurance
Full Coverage Car Insurance: What It Covers, What It Costs, and Who Needs It
By Joseph HostetlerJune 11, 2026
9 hours ago
Exclusive: Consumer device giant LG Electronics to launch blockchain to place and sell ads
CryptoBlockchain
Exclusive: Consumer device giant LG Electronics to launch blockchain to place and sell ads
By Jack Kubinec and Ben WeissJune 11, 2026
12 hours ago
As SpaceX goes public, a $100 billion shadow market faces a reckoning
Startups & VentureSpaceX
As SpaceX goes public, a $100 billion shadow market faces a reckoning
By Allie GarfinkleJune 11, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
Energy
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
By Sasha RogelbergJune 10, 2026
1 day ago
Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
Environment
Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
By Catherina GioinoJune 9, 2026
3 days ago
Marc Lore’s robots make 500 burrito bowls an hour. A human can make 45
Innovation
Marc Lore’s robots make 500 burrito bowls an hour. A human can make 45
By Amanda GerutJune 9, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 11, 2026
17 hours ago
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
Success
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
By Preston ForeJune 8, 2026
4 days ago
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.