On June 25, JBS (NYSE: JBS) founder José Batista Sobrinho, also known as Zé Mineiro, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to applause. The ceremony culminated a yearslong effort by the Brazilian meatpacking giant to achieve a dual listing on both the Brazilian and U.S. stock exchanges. The long journey that began back in 2009 was marked by environmental violations, corruption scandals and greenwashing allegations. Finally reaching American investors, analysts say, marks a new era for the company under the direction of Sobrinho’s sons, the meatpacking brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista, who serve as the controlling shareholders, board members and executives. The listing will pave the way for considerable growth and expansion for the corporation, already the world’s largest meat producer by revenue. But the public offering will also generate greater scrutiny of its global operations. On June 13, JBS made its Wall Street debut with an opening share price of $13.65. Despite initial reports that the company had underperformed, the stock has remained at midrange levels, within market expectations. “Stock investors see JBS as a mature company where the earnings fluctuate a lot,” said Jay Ritter, an expert on initial public offerings (IPOs) and professor emeritus at the University of Florida. “Right now, the company has high earnings, but investors know this industry is cyclical.” Only 10 days later, debt investors cast a vote of confidence in the company’s long-term growth. As JBS held its first bond sale, investors purchased $3.5 billion in loans,…This article was originally published on Mongabay