Corporate News

LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD) is evidently the new Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL)...but more focused on business/social networking.

Revenue in LinkedIn's fourth quarter reached $167.74 million, up 105 percent from $81.70 million reported in the same period last year.

Total net income improved just 340 percent to $6.91 million, or 6 cents per share. After adjusting for stock-based comps and intangible asset amortization, EPS were a more robust 12 cents.

The Street was looking for revs of $159.7 million and EPS of 7 cents.

LinkedIn added 18.8 million members in the quarter, for a total of 150 million.

Hiring solutions revs rose 136 percent to $84.9 million, Marketing Solutions saw a 77 percent increase to $49.5 million, and Premium Subs revs rose 87 percent to $33.3 million.

"Q4 once again exceeded our expectations for member engagement and business growth," commented Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn CEO. "It was a fitting end to a memorable year in which we reinforced our position as the pre-eminent professional network on the web."

Looking ahead, LinkedIn sees first-quarter revs of $170 million to $175 million, versus the Street's expectations of $170.8 million. For fiscal 2012, the company sees revs of $840 million to $860 million, compared with views calling for $828 million.

Shares are up 9 percent in post-market trading Thursday.

CBOE Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOE) will replace Temple-Inland, Inc. (NYSE: TIN) in the S&P MidCap 400 index after the close of trading on a date to be announced. S&P 500 constituent International Paper Co. (NYSE: IP) is acquiring Temple-Inland in a transaction expected to be completed soon pending final approvals.

Akorn, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKRX) will replace Blue Coat Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCSI) in the S&P SmallCap 600 index after the close of trading on Monday, February 13. Blue Coat Systems is being acquired by an investor group led by private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo, LLC in a deal expected to be completed on or about that date pending final approvals.

ViewPoint Financial Group, Inc (NASDAQ: VPFG) will replace SonoSite, Inc. (NASDAQ: SONO) in the S&P SmallCap 600 index after the close of trading on Wednesday, February 15. FUJIFILM Holdings Corp. is acquiring Sonosite in a tender offer expected to be completed on or about that date pending final conditions.

Activision (Nasdaq: ATVI) shares are trading higher Thursday following its fourth-quarter report. Shares are up about 0.7 percent.

Non-GAAP revenue for Activision rose 11 percent to $2.41 billion, from $2.17 billion in the same period last year.

Activision swung to profit during the quarter, from a loss of $233 million last year to net gain of $99 million, or 8 cents per share, in the recent quarter. Excluding certain one-time items, earnings rose to 62 cents per share.

The Street was expecting earnings of 56 cents on revs of $2.20 billion.

"Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft maintained its leadership position as the #1 subscription-based MMORPG around the world and Activision Publishing’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the #1-selling game," commented CEO Bobby Kotick,. "Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure was the biggest new IP launch in Activision’s history and it is on track to become an important and sustainable franchise."

Looking ahead, Activision sees first-quarter 2012 EPS of 3 cents and revs of $525 million, versus consensus views calling for EPS of 14 cents and revs of $771.7 million. For 2012, Activision expects EPS of 94 cents and revs of $4.5 billion, nearly in-line with views for EPS of 96 cents nad revs of $4.55 billion.

Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC) and the New York Attorney General have agreed to terminate the lawsuit alleging violation of U.S. and state antitrust laws that was filed by the New York Attorney General in November 2009.

The agreement, which follows a December 2011 court ruling that greatly reduced the scope of the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit, expressly states that Intel does not admit either any violation of law or that the allegations in the complaint are true, and it calls for no changes to the way Intel does business. The agreement includes a payment of $6.5 million from Intel that is intended only to cover some of the costs incurred by the New York Attorney General in the litigation.

Cincinnati Bell, Inc. (NYSE: CBB) reported Q4 EPS of ($0.17), versus ($0.11) reported last year. Revenue for the quarter came in at $365 million versus the consensus estimate of $369.99 million.

Exploring alternatives for data center unit.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Cincinnati Bell, Inc. (CBB) click here.