In what year did Wingstop go public?

Wingstop went public in 2015.

The company completed its initial public offering in 2015, offering shares at an IPO price of $19 each. Its stock began trading under the ticker symbol WING, giving public investors a way to participate in the growth of the rapidly expanding restaurant franchise.

Wingstop’s public debut followed years of expansion through franchising. The brand was founded in Garland, Texas, in 1994, began franchising in 1997, and was acquired by Gemini Investors in 2003. Roark Capital Group later acquired the company in 2010, before the IPO brought it back into public markets.

A frequent mix-up is confusing the IPO year with a later period of strong stock performance or expansion. The key event was the initial public offering itself, which occurred in 2015. “Went public” refers to that market debut, not the year the company was founded or first franchised.