What is Instagram’s stock price, and are they publicly traded? Investors cannot purchase Instagram, but their parent company (NASDAQ: META), commonly known as Facebook.
If there’s ever been a good investment, buying Instagram stock is it. According to Bloomberg, Instagram’s estimated worth is over $100 billion. With numbers like this, you should be clamoring to buy Instagram stock or at least wondering how to get your hands on a piece of the profits. If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone.
Is Instagram Publicly Traded?
Instagram is a private company owned by Facebook (Meta Platforms), so there is no stock symbol. Since Facebook owns Instagram, you can’t buy Instagram stock directly. As I mentioned, Facebook purchased Instagram eight years ago for $1 billion.
Shortly after, Facebook opened an initial public offering of over 400 million shares of Instagram stock for $38 per share. The main point is that if you want to buy Instagram stock, you must invest in Facebook. Facebook is one of the biggest growth stocks in the world.
Even though there’s no Instagram stock, there are several social media companies that traders can invest in.
Instagram Company Overview
Over two years ago, Instagram’s mobile photo-sharing network reached the 1 billion monthly active user mark (TechCrunch, 2018).
With a user base like this, it is no surprise that the Instagram app is one of the most popular social networks in the world. And their ad revenues are just as impressive! With the uncertainty of TikTok, Instagram could dominate social media.
Instagram stocks would be as hot as the app if they had stock. Unfortunately, we traders can’t buy a stock symbol for Instagram directly. However, there is a way to get around this. Facebook owns Instagram. Therefore, by owning Facebook, $META, you’re indirectly owning a piece of one of the hottest social media networks out there.
In 2019, Instagram pulled in $20 billion. Yes, billion! It’s projected that their Q3 2020 revenues could soar to as much as $7 billion.
Coupled with money rolling in faster than during Pablo Escobar’s heyday, owning Instagram stocks is every investor’s dream.
Instagram History
Instagram is a photo and short-video-sharing social network for those living under a rock. Founded in 2010 by Michel Krieger, a software engineer, and Kevin Systrom, a former Google employee, IG took the world by storm.
Ironically enough, the idea came to Systrom during a holiday in Mexico. During this time, his partner complained that the photos on her iPhone 4 were not of a standard to share.
With no filters, I don’t blame her. Kevin’s solution was to apply filters to her pictures, which quickly became IG’s selling point. Before the filter idea, Systrom and Krieger developed a location-sharing social platform called Burbn.
With that, they added a photo-sharing feature, and IG was born. In April 2012, Facebook purchased Instagram for a staggering $1 billion. To say Instagram was a hit is an understatement.
Instagram rapidly became one of the world’s biggest and most influential social media platforms. By June 2018, the platform had hit 1 billion monthly active users. Another critical point about Instagram is its role in 21st-century popular culture.
Many popular users (the Kardashian clan) are called ‘influencers.’ The name is apt, with followers of these popular users as they’re being, well…influenced.
It’s too bad we can’t influence some Instagram stocks into our portfolio, right? We have to look for something else instead. But we don’t have to look too far.
Five Impressive Facts About Instagram
- Instagram has over 1 billion monthly users, with more than 500 million of them using the platform daily (Statista, 2018).
- Instagram brought in $2 billion in ad revenue in Q2 2018 (Bloomberg).
- If Instagram were a stand-alone company, it would be worth more than $100 billion (Bloomberg Intelligence).
- Instagram is estimated to have brought in $2 billion in ad revenue in Q2 2018; this could rise to as much as $7 billion by Q3 2020.
- Instagram helps 80% of users decide whether to buy a product or service (Facebook, 2019).
Instagram Revenue and Financial Overview
| Year | Estimated Revenue ($bn) | 2025 (est.) | $160.6 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $134.9 |
| 2023 | $134.9 |
| 2022 | $116.6 |
| 2021 | $117.9 |
Final Thoughts on Instagram Stock
A little over seven years ago, in June 2013, Instagram had 130 million monthly active users. Since then, it’s grown an impressive ten times.
That’s a major milestone for the mobile photo-sharing network! More than 500 million active users are using the platform daily.
At this point, it’s safe to say that almost everyone uses Instagram. Ok, not “everyone,” but you get my point.
So, whether you want Popeyes stock price or Instagram stock as traders, we’re looking for what’s hot and trying to make money on that.
Even though there’s no Instagram stock, there are several social media companies that traders can invest in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Instagram doesn't have a stock symbol. However, their parent company, META, does. They are formally known as Facebook.
Instagram does not have shares to purchase. Their parent company, META, has shares to purchase, currently trading at $325.85.
Instagram is currently owned by Meta, which is formally known as Facebook.
