Annie’s Natural Foods (BNNY) Experiences Surging Stock After IPO

image credit: Annies.com

When we have talked about impact investing, it is often in the context of theory, of possibility, and of the past experience of emerging sustainable companies, start-ups, and organizations. But what about the financial viability?

Can your stock portfolio boom while championing corporations who are doing well by doing good?

Annie’s Historic IPO: March 28, 2012

If you don’t think so, don’t mention it to Annie’s, the natural and organic food company whose mission statement is ” to cultivate a healthier, happier world by spreading goodness through nourishing foods, honest words and conduct that is considerate and forever kind to the planet” offered its stock to the public on March 28, 2012 at $19 per share and closed at just under $36 per share. The surge continued, with Annie’s (stock abbreviation “BNNY,” an adage to the company’s signature bunny-shaped pasta) shares closed the week posting a gain of more than 80%.

To put it another way, not since LinkedIn’s IPO in May 2011 has a company experienced such a sharp gain on opening day.

Sustainability, In the Open Market

Just like the progress of the new crowdfunding fund bill making headway at the federal level, IPO’s such as Annie’s give the average Sustainability-Minded Sue and Triple-Bottom-Line Tom the chance to be impact investors.

The ability of us as consumers to vote with our wallets as well as our voices reaches a new level when we can plant sustainable stocks into our portfolios right alongside our usual picks. Especially when they are on track to bear fruit.