The pace of initial public offerings (IPOs) so far in 2015 has been half that of last year. But then, last year was an extraordinary year for IPOs, with 275 companies making a debut compared, with 222 in 2013, the second largest number of IPOs since 2005. Through last week, 43 IPOs have priced and begun trading so far in 2015, down from 91 in the same period a year ago.

In the first quarter of 2015, IPO proceeds totaled $5.5 billion, compared with $10.6 billion in the first quarter of 2014 and $7.6 billion in 2013, and there is essentially no chance that the month of April’s total ($1.4 billion so far) will come anywhere near last April’s $8 billion total. The data come from IPO ETF manager Renaissance Capital.

Here are the top five U.S. IPOs through April 17, based on percentage gain to date from the IPO price.

5. Etsy
Etsy Inc. (NASDAQ: ETSY) is a global online marketplace where craftspeople sell and buy handmade goods. The company priced its IPO at $16 a share, the top of its expected range, and sold 16.7 million shares that began trading this past Thursday. Shares popped to a gain of 88% on the first day of trading, and they closed at $27.58 on Friday for a gain of 72.4%.

ALSO READ: Etsy IPO Engineered for Major Rise, but Supports Strong IPO Market in 2015

4. Aduro Biotech
Aduro Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ADRO) is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing cancer therapies. Shares priced at $17 last Wednesday, above the expected range $14 to $16. The biotech firm is the first health care company in more than 10 years with a market cap above $1 billion to double on its first day of trading. The stock closed its first day of trading up 147%, and it closed the week at $40.00, up 135.3%.

3. Shake Shack
Shake Shack Inc. (NYSE: SHAK) is a fast-casual restaurant featuring premium hamburgers and other foods. The company originally planned to offer 5 million shares in price range of $14 to $16, but demand for the shares was so high that the IPO range was raised to $17 to $19 a share and finally priced at $21. Shares got a first day pop of 118.6%, and as of Friday’s close are trading at $61.67, for a gain since the January 30 IPO of 193.7%.

2. Spark Therapeutics
Spark Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCE) is a biotech firm working in the field of gene therapy to develop one-time treatments for patients suffering from genetic diseases. Spark’s stock debuted on the same day as Shake Shack’s and with nearly as big a first day pop, closing up 117.4% for the day. Also like Shake Shack, Spark’s IPO priced well above its expected range of $15 to $17 at $23 a share. As of the most recent close, Spark shares have gained $204.2%.

1. Tantech
Tantech Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: TANH) is a China-based maker of bamboo-based charcoal products for industrial energy applications and household cooking, heating, purification, agricultural and cleaning uses. The IPO was a “best efforts, all or none” affair and was not underwritten. The IPO offered 3.2 million shares priced at the bottom of its $4 to $6 expected range and more than doubled to post an opening day high of $9.50, before closing its first day of trading at $8.00. As of Friday, shares have gained 239% since the March 24 IPO.

ALSO READ: Secondary Offerings Outnumber IPOs by 9 to 1 in 2015 Q1

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.