WOOF! Petco Soars In First Day Trading WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Pet care retailer Petco Health and Wellness Company Inc.'s shares surged around 63% in the first day trading on Thursday after the Initial Public Offering, reflecting strong demand for pets as majority of people are confined to their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. On the Nasdaq, the shares, which are trading under the ticker symbol WOOF, opened at $26, reflecting 44% above its IPO price. The company's shares closed at $29.40 for the day, putting its market value at $6.4 billion. On Wednesday, the animal supply chain store, which operates around 1,470 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico, sold 48 million shares for $18 each, raising about $864 million. This was higher than its initially expected price target of $14 to $17.