Facebook (FB) Estimates Raised at Sterne Agee Following Strong Q3

Facebook (FB) PT Trimmed at BofA/Merrill Lynch; Self-Inflicted Pain Should Yield Long-Term Benefits

October 29, 2014 1:08 PM EDT

BofA/Merrill Lynch analyst Justin Post lowered estimates slightly and his price target on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) to $88.00 (from $92.00) following Q3 results but maintained a Buy rating. The firm highlights another 'clean' beat in the quarter but notes expense growth guidance of 50-70% was a... More

Facebook (FB) Price Target Lowered to $90 at FBN; Analyst Maintains Outperform Rating

October 29, 2014 9:34 AM EDT

FBN Securities maintained an Outperform rating on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) with a price target of $90.00 (from $95.00). The change follows Q3 results. Analyst Shebly Seyrafi noted concerns about expense growth in 2015, but he views Q3 as a strong quarter and remains bullish on the stock.

"The company reported a strong quarter with almost 60% Y/Y revenue growth and improving engagement... More

Facebook (FB) PT Trimmed to $82 at Cantor Fitzgerald on Aggressive 2015 Investment Outlook

October 29, 2014 9:11 AM EDT

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Youssef Squali reiterated a Buy rating on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) but lowered his price target to $80.00 (from $82.00) as an aggressive 2015 investment outlook overshadows excellent Q3 results.

Squali commented, "We maintain a BUY rating on FB on the back of... More

Facebook (FB) Sell-Off Appropriate But Add on Weakness Over Time, Deutsche Bank Said

October 29, 2014 9:06 AM EDT

Deutsche Bank analyst Ross Sandler reiterated a Buy rating and $90 price target on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) following Q3 results noting "a little ice bucket dumped on the bull-case, but we're still warm."

Sandler commented, "Facebook reported strong 3Q revenue and EBITDA, which were 4% and... More

Buy the Dip in Facebook (FB), RBC Capital Says

October 29, 2014 8:23 AM EDT

RBC Capital analyst Mark Mahaney reiterated a Outperform rating and $92 Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) following strong Q3 results with a material increase in opex. The analyst is telling clients to Buy the dip.

Keys in the quarter, according to the analysts: 1. More Friends MAUs up 14% Y/Y to 1.35B (excl. Instagram & WhatsApp), better than expected; 2. More Friendliness DAU/MAU ratio (measure of engagement) rose to record-high 64% overall and expanded in every geography; 3. Broad Geographic Growth 50%+ Ad Rev growth in every region; 4. Rising... More

Facebook (FB) Cost Outlook Overshadows Continued Strong Top-Line Growth, Baird Says

October 29, 2014 8:01 AM EDT

Baird analyst Colin Sebastian reiterated an Outperform rating but trimmed his price target on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) to $80.00 (from $82.00) following Q3 results.

Sebastian commented, "Q3 results above expectations, driven by continued mobile monetization momentum; initial 2015 expense guidance reflects aggressive long-term growth strategy. As previewed,... More

Facebook (FB) Results Neutral Overall, Negative vs Expectations - BMO Capital

October 29, 2014 7:58 AM EDT

BMO Capital analyst Daniel Salmon reiterated a Market Perform rating and $72 price target on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) following Q3 results calling them neutral overall, but negative versus expectations.

Salmon comments, "A similar story to TWTR: inline 3Q results and 4Q revenue guidance werent enough to meet expectations. Compounding this is higher-then-expected 2015 cost growth at FB. We have... More

Facebook (FB) Expense Growth a Negative Surprise But Thesis Intact, Piper Jaffray's Munster Says

October 29, 2014 7:51 AM EDT

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster reiterated an Overweight rating on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) but cut his price target to $82.00 (from $90.00) following Q3 results and disclosure of a heavy investment cycle in 2015.

Munster comments, "We believe the reaction of shares of FB in the after market (down 8%) is driven by the company's unexpected guidance for Q4 revenue and CY15 expenses. We believe that the... More

Buy of Facebook (FB) on Weakness, Needham & Company Says

October 29, 2014 7:29 AM EDT

Needham & Company analyst Laura Martin lowered estimates on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) following Q3 results and guidance but maintained a Buy rating and $93 price target saying they would be buyers on weakness.

Martin comments, "FB initiated its call with an overview of their 3, 5... More

Facebook's (FB) High Expectations and Heavy Investment Weigh On Strong Results, Janney Capital Says

October 29, 2014 7:26 AM EDT

Janney Capital analyst Tony Wible reiterated a Neutral rating and lowered his price target on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) price target of $78.00 (from $82.50).

Wible comments, "FB's 3Q revenue and earnings beat was marred by lower revenue guidance for 4Q, the prospect of heavy... More

Facebook (FB) Qtr 'Strong' But Noticeably High Opex Guidance, Evercore Partners Says

October 29, 2014 7:23 AM EDT

Evercore Partners Ken Sena reiterated a Buy rating and $95 price target on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) following Q3 results.

Sena commented, "On a strong quarterly result, FB provided a noticeably high opex guide on 2015 at the mid-point (a quarter earlier-than-expected) and an uncharacteristic top-line... More

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Maintains Bullish View on Facebook (FB) Despite Spend Guidance Surprise

October 29, 2014 7:20 AM EDT

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey analyst Robert Peck reiterated a Buy rating and $90 price target on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) following results.

Peck's key points: 1) 3Q bested consensus by 3%/8% top/bottom-line with: ad revenue up 11% Q/Q driven by mobile, op margin better than consensus by... More

Goldman Sachs Comments on Facebook's (FB) Q3 and Guidance

October 29, 2014 7:04 AM EDT

Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) with a price target of $85. The stock declined yesterday during its earnings call.

Analyst Heather Bellini said, "Given the registration of the WhatsApp shares, FB offered its first and likely last... More

Facebook (FB) PT Trimmed to $86 at Susquehanna

October 29, 2014 6:51 AM EDT

Susquehanna analyst Brian Nowak maintained his Positive rating on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) following Q3 results but trimmed his price target to $86.00 (from $88.00).

"Solid 3Q top-line & profitability and more drivers for strong ad budget growth into 2015...but '15 opex growth guidance could weigh on stock... More

Cowen Lowers Target on Facebook (FB) to $86; Expenses Tighten as Company Enters Investment Cycle

October 29, 2014 6:07 AM EDT

Cowen and Company lowers its price target on Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) from $90 to $86 and maintains an Outperform rating on the stock following Q3 results.

Analyst John Blackledge noted the following points:

3Q14 Results: Financials Slightly Above Forecast; Users/Engagement Solid

FB delivered revenue of $3.20BN, +59% y/y, 2% and 3% above our and consensus' est. Adv revenue of $2.96BN, +65% y/y and 2% above our and consensus' forecast. 3Q14 Opex was 6% above our estimates, led by higher R&D and G&A. Adj. EBITDA was $2.1BN (+63% y/y) and 1% above our and consensus' forecast, implying. EBITDA... More

Facebook (FB) Tops Q3 EPS by 3c

October 28, 2014 4:02 PM EDT

Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) reported Q3 EPS of $0.43, $0.03 better than the analyst estimate of $0.40. Revenue for the quarter came in at $3.2 billion versus the consensus estimate of $3.11 billion.

Third Quarter 2014 Operational Highlights

Daily active users (DAUs) were 864 million on average for September... More