Public, a US-based multi-asset investing platform, launches in the United Kingdom, entering its first market outside the United States.
With the firm’s UK expansion, Public aims “to be the preeminent place to invest in US-listed equities, offering over 5,000 stocks, deep data and insights, and a simple and transparent fee structure with zero commission trading and low FX fees.”
UK members can build “a portfolio on the Public app with over 5,000 US-listed equities and access features that provide additional data and context, such as custom company metrics, Morningstar research, earnings call recordings, and insights from a community of millions of investors, all in one place.”
Starting now, members can “access the app on a rolling basis on both iOS and Android devices.”
Key product features available at launch include:
Over 5,000 stocks: Public reportedly “has over 5,000 US-listed equities on its platform, providing UK investors with a broad range of options to build their portfolios, from large-cap tech to dividend stocks, to emerging markets stocks.”
The platform aims “to offer the widest range of US-listed equities available to UK investors.”
Commission-free trading and low FX fees: Public members can “trade stocks commission-free during market hours. Unlike many other brokerages, Public converts members’ currency from GBP to USD when they deposit funds rather than on every individual trade, which can result in fewer FX transactions and significantly lower fees.*
Advanced data and insights: Investors can “access data and context that can help them make more informed investment decisions.”
UK members can “access custom company metrics, Morningstar research, earnings reports, and breaking news, all in the same place they invest.”
Investors can tune into daily live shows “about the markets and access a community of analysts, company executives, and creators to discuss the markets.”
Many of these features are available to all Public members, “while some are part of Public Premium, the company’s paid subscription tier.”
Leif Abraham, co-CEO and co-founder of Public, said:
“London and the broader UK market has always been the financial epicenter of Europe, so it’s a natural place for Public to start our international expansion. Public has always had European roots: my co-founder and I are both European, and we have a team across multiple European countries, including the UK. We’re excited that now it won’t just be the team in Europe and the UK, but the members we serve.”
Dann Bibas, GM of International at Public, said:
“Our first goal with launching Public in the UK is to be the best place to invest in US stocks. With over 5,000 US listed stocks, competitive FX fees, commission-free trading during US market hours, and comprehensive data on all listed stocks, we aim to be the best place for UK investors who want to explore the US markets.”
Public has reportedly “raised over $300M in venture capital funding.”
Investor in the company “include Accel, Greycroft, Lakestar, Maria Sharapova and JJ Watt, the NFL star and new owner of Burnley FC. The company has team members “in New York, Copenhagen, London, and Amsterdam.”
Public says it does “not participate in Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) as a source of revenue. Instead, all orders are routed directly to the exchanges and other execution venues.”
Currently, the US product :offers additional asset classes, such as ETFs, Treasuries, crypto, and alternatives, which may be available in future releases in the UK.”
Public aims to launch Investment Plans in the UK, “a tool that allows members to create customized recurring investments.”
