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To: stockman_scott who wrote (117)	1/29/2012 1:56:10 PM
From: Glenn Petersen	1 Recommendation Respond to of 272

The shares of LNKD have performed rather well, particularly when compared to those of GRPN and ZNGA. Not only is the company profitable (if marginally), it inhabits a market niche that is relatively free from competition. That could change: <snip> COMPETING WITH LINKEDIN When it comes to social networks with gravitas, though, LinkedIn, not Google+, is the network Facebook needs to beat. Last year, a Performics survey of 2,997 active social networkers found that the majority of them (59%) said it is important to have a LinkedIn account, more than any other social network. Not surprisingly LinkedIn Chairman Reid Hoffman seems to agree. He told the audience at San Francisco’s Web 2.0 Summit last year he isn’t worried about Facebook as a competitive threat. This is how the Los Angeles Times described the encounter: Asked whether LinkedIn would be held back by its demographic –- the average user is in his or her early to mid 40s –- Hoffman retorted: “You mean, like someone who could give you a job?” Facebook and the Labor Department announced their collaboration last year via a dedicated Facebook page. The page offers job listings and information about available training programs and educational opportunities. It’s a good start but not nearly enough to compete with LinkedIn in this respect. <snip> Message 27913608

To: stockman_scott who wrote (117)	1/31/2012 4:25:28 PM
From: Glenn Petersen	1 Recommendation Respond to of 272

Social Network Ads: LinkedIn Falls Behind Twitter; Facebook Biggest Of All By Ingrid Lunden @ingridlunden paidContent Jan 31, 2012 12:33 PM ET It remains to be seen whether all social networks can be profitable on advertising alone—and crucially what formats will work best alongside people’s communications with each other—but for now we are at least seeing some big growth in the space. In 2011, Twitter’s advertising revenues grew 233 percent, and LinkedIn’s sales were up 95 percent, and both are set to see more growth in the years ahead. Meanwhile, just days before an expected IPO, Facebook has solidified its lead in online display advertising not just in social networking, but over all online properties. According to figures out from eMarketer today, Twitter’s revenue from advertising was a mere $139.5 million in 2011, but that was actually up by 233 percent over 2010. The analysts believe that international growth will further push that number up to $259.9 million this year, a rise of 83 percent. Meanwhile, LinkedIn ( NYSE: LNKD) actually rounded off 2011 with more ad revenues than Twitter, with $154.6 million in sales. But it will see much more modest growth in the years ahead, with that figure only going up by 46 percent in 2012 to $226 million. At the moment, LinkedIn is proving to have the bigger international profile when it comes to advertising, with some 32 percent of its ad revenues expected to come from outside the U.S. in 2012, versus only 10 percent for Twitter. (Full tables with forecasts at the bottom of this post.) Today, Twitter has some 300 million users compared to 135 million for LinkedIn, and so some of Twitter’s gain on LinkedIn in ad revenues could be down to that simple fact. User numbers may, too, be the reason why Twitter will widen its lead in ad sales even further in the years ahead. By 2014, eMarketer predicts that Twitter will have annual ad revenues of $540 million compared to $405.6 million for LinkedIn. But even those 2014 figures are still less than 15 percent of what Facebook makes in advertising at the moment, mostly in the form of display ads. With revenues of $4.27 billion in 2011, $3.8 billion of that from advertising (eMarketer via WSJ) Facebook is the social network to beat. That’s true today but also in the future, as it only continues to enhance the services it offers to engage users and keep them on the site for longer. According to figures provided by comScore ( NSDQ: SCOR), in the U.S. Facebook has widened its lead in the display-advertising market in 2011. It now has 27.9 percent of that market, compared to 21 percent the year before. That puts Facebook significantly ahead of the next-closest competitor in display, Yahoo ( NSDQ: YHOO), which is at 11 percent. The full figures for 2011 and how they compare to 2010: In UK figures provided also by comScore, the leadership of Facebook is even stronger, with over 30 percent of the market for 2011 in terms of revenues. With Twitter and LinkedIn, it is too early to tell which social network’s ad formats prove to be the more engaging, and more attractive to media buyers. For now, it looks like LinkedIn is winning at least in the variety stakes, with ads to match particular user profiles and professions, as well as different areas for placement (Profile Page, Home Page, Inbox, Search Results Page and Groups) and formats. Twitter has, so far, concentrated on promoted tweets as the basis of their advertising. LinkedIn offers advertisers a self-serve platform for its services. Twitter launched its ad platform only in November 2011, and as eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Wiliamson puts it, the “verdict is still out” on whether it will gain traction. paidcontent.org

To: stockman_scott who wrote (117)	2/8/2012 8:32:19 AM
From: Glenn Petersen	Respond to of 272

LNKD reports after the close on Thursday. A preview: LinkedIn's 4Q to provide more networking insights Investors look to LinkedIn's 4Q results to keep good vibes flowing for online networking Associated Press February 8, 2012 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- LinkedIn Corp.'s fourth-quarter earnings should provide some insights into how much employers have been relying on the online professional networking service to fill jobs as the pace of hiring has been accelerating in recent months. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The results, due out after the stock market closes Thursday, come at a time of escalating investor excitement about Internet services that bring together people with common interests. Facebook Inc., the owner of the largest social network, triggered the latest outbreak of giddiness last week when it revealed details of its rapid earnings and revenue growth in documents filed for an initial public offering of stock. Now, it falls upon LinkedIn to keep the good vibes flowing. The economy seemed to be working in LinkedIn's favor during the final three months of the year. Government labor statistics already have showed companies have been expanding their payrolls, a trend that bodes well for LinkedIn because its website has emerged as a digital rolodex that headhunters peruse to find prospective job candidates. LinkedIn, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., gets more than two-thirds of its revenue from fees it charges companies, recruiting services and other people who want broader access to the profiles and other data on the company's website. The rest comes from advertising. The improving economy, coupled with the publicity that LinkedIn has attracted since it completed its own IPO last May, may be spurring more people to post their resumes on the professional networking service. LinkedIn ended September with 131 million members. Management didn't predict how many more would join LinkedIn during the fourth quarter. Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Herman Leung expects LinkedIn to report it ended the year with about 147 million members. WHY IT MATTERS: The company's performance will likely sway investors' opinions about young Internet companies trying to prove they have built solid business foundations. LinkedIn has passed the test so far by delivering steady revenue and member growth. It also has been making money with the exception of last year's third quarter when it spent more on new equipment and employees. The performance has kept LinkedIn's stock well above its IPO price of $45. The shares closed Tuesday at $77.77. WHAT'S EXPECTED: Analysts polled by FactSet expect LinkedIn to earn 6 cents per share, excluding certain items unrelated to the company's ongoing operations. Revenue is projected to be nearly $160 million. LAST YEAR'S QUARTER: LinkedIn earned $1.6 million, or 3 cents per share, on revenue of $81.7 million at the same time in 2010. finance.yahoo.com

To: stockman_scott who wrote (117)	3/5/2012 5:24:19 PM
From: Glenn Petersen	1 Recommendation Respond to of 272

Monster puts itself on the block: Monster soars as CEO mulls "strategic alternatives" By Scott Malone Thu Mar 1, 2012 3:33pm EST <SPAN class="articleLocation">(Reuters) - Monster Worldwide Inc Chief Executive Sal Iannuzzi told investors on Thursday that the operator of the job-search website was considering all "strategic alternatives," sending the company's shares up more than 17 percent. "Our shareholders deserve a better return," Iannuzzi told an investor conference. "The board and the management is also focused on pursuing all strategic alternatives to increase shareholder value." Iannuzzi did not specify what alternatives the company was considering. However, investors typically interpret discussions of "strategic alternatives" as an indication a company is considering selling all or part of itself. A Monster spokeswoman declined to elaborate on Iannuzzi's statements. Prior to Thursday's rally Monster shares had tumbled about 61 percent over the past year, a far steeper slide than the 21 percent fall of the Thomson Reuters United States Employment Services Index. One analyst cautioned that there were no signs that a deal for Monster was imminent. "We know of no buyer poised to scoop up MWW," James Janesky of Avondale Partners wrote in a note to clients. He said that the company could sell for $10 to $13 per share, but held steady his "market perform" rating and $8 target price on the stock. "Given that the company is engaged in layoffs of 7 percent of its work force and other restructuring, any kind of deal might be a ways off," Janesky wrote. COMPETITIVE THREATS Slow hiring as a result of the weak U.S. economy and rising competition from the social media sites including Facebook and LinkedIn Corp have taken a toll on Monster's traditional business model -- job ads on its Monster.com website. When the company reported financial results in January, it warned investors that it expected first-quarter profit to be lower than analysts expected and that it planned to cut its staff by about 7 percent, or 400 jobs. Iannuzzi said his company regards itself as sharply undervalued compared with its peers, which also include Dice Holdings Inc, Manpower Group and CareerBuilder.com, partly owned by Microsoft Corp. "The stock price is not where it should be," Iannuzzi said at a R.W. Baird conference. "If you compare us to our competition, any company in our space, our multiple is severely below them." Shares of LinkedIn have nearly doubled since the company's May initial public offering. He said Monster has no interest in pursuing takeovers of its own. "We have no acquisitions in mind," Iannuzzi said. "So if anyone's concerned about where our money is going to go, we don't have acquisitions. Any excess cash will be returned to the shareholders via stock purchase." The New York-based company has $250.3 million in cash and equivalents on its balance sheet and a market value of $828.4 million, according to Thomson Reuters Data. Options traders piled on Monster in the wake of the news, with volume surging 32 times higher than a typical day, according to options analytics firm Trade Alert. "The positive comments spurred a rush into Monster Worldwide options," said Interactive Brokers Group options analyst Caitlin Duffy. Shares of Monster were up $1.21, or 17.4 percent, at $8.15 in late trading on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting By Scott Malone in Boston, additional reporting by Doris Frankel in Chicago; editing by Andre Grenon and Mark Porter) reuters.com

To: stockman_scott who wrote (117)	4/12/2012 8:50:42 AM
From: Glenn Petersen	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 272

LinkedIn challenger Viadeo raises $32M to take over China Jennifer Van Grove VentureBeat April 11, 2012 10:00 PM Proving that second place doesn’t always equate to being the first loser, the world’s number two social network for professionals, Viadeo, (LinkedIn is number one), is getting $32 million in fresh financing. The $32 million round, Viadeo’s fourth institutional round, was pooled from the French Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Fonds Stratégique d’Investissement, existing shareholders, and a crop of new investors. The Paris-based company will use this stockpile to push deeper into China as well expand its presence in Russia, India, and Africa. “We are a really local player with huge momentum and traction,” chief strategy and development officer Olivier Fecherolle told VentureBeat. “We think now is the moment to invest in China.” Founded in 2004, Viadeo targets non-English-speaking businesspeople and has swelled to 45 million members across the globe, with an especially dominant presence in Europe, Latin America, and China. Viadeo is profitable and currently adds about 1 million new members to its service each month, the company said. In China, Viadeo operates Tianji, the top professional network of that country (fun fact: CEO Dan Serfaty moved to Beijing in September). The localized Viadeo offshoot has 10 million members and is adding 500,000 new members each month, said Fecherolle. “In China, it’s our market to lose.” LinkedIn, for comparison, has more than 150 million members, albeit with a small presence in China. The company went public nearly a year ago in a successful initial offering and is now valued at $10 billion. Just as LinkedIn was making its public debut, Viadeo shelved its own plans for an offering. At the time, Serfaty told Reuters that, despite frothy levels of interest from investors and bankers, the company wanted to focus on growing the business. Nearly 12 months later, Viadeo’s plans to go public remain on the distant horizon. Fecherolle referred to the $32 million round as pre-IPO financing and said that a public offering is still a target, just likely one that is several months out. Profitable since September 2009, the company makes or 50 percent of its revenue from premium accounts, earns 30 percent from hiring and recruiting tools, and brings in 20 percent from targeted advertising. Viadeo, which employees 400 people across offices in Europe, China, India, Africa, Mexico, China, and Russia, has raised more than $52 million in funding to date. venturebeat.com

To: stockman_scott who wrote (117)	5/30/2012 5:31:37 PM
From: Glenn Petersen	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 272

So Why Is LinkedIn An IPO Standout? Alexia Tsotsis TechCrunch May 30, 2012 Earlier this morning at D10 KPCB analyst Mary Meeker showed a pretty definitive slide about the current state of the public markets with regards to tech companies. “The private market is in a bubble,” Meeker said, “We have a $1 billion fund, and didn’t invest once in Q1 because the valuations too crazy.” The problem with these valuations is that public market investors are more skeptical, Meeker asserted bringing up the above slide comparing the IPOs of Facebook, Zynga, Groupon, Pandora and LinkedIn. Because of this skepticism their valuations are suppressed, almost all were trading at 20% lower than their initial IPO pricing, all except LinkedIn that is. The public market has taken kindly to the career focused social network, which is currently trading at $100 a share, 137% above its strike price of $32. Kara Swisher had the opportunity to ask LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and CEO Jeff Weiner why they thought the company was doing so well later today, dubbing it the “Little LinkedIn That Could” Their answer? Hoffman said part of the company’s success was only focusing on the long-term, “I only look at the stock price once a month, it’s doesn’t really affect what are we building towards. Weiner said that companies were often to focused on IPO events with companies being criticized for talking too much or too little, etc. “People remember what the weather was like on their wedding day, but it has little impact on the long-term health of their marriage,” he went on, referring to the IPO as a stepping stone. Reid added, “The difference from everybody else is that we focus on our business, which why we’ve been able to execute. We have a sense of purpose and extremely amazing talent. “ Okay, so this is what everyone says (Zuckerberg also has said that he doesn’t pay attention to the market) so what’s the real reason? Perhaps because, as Matthew Prince brings up on Twitter, LinkedIn is as viral/sticky as Facebook but with 1) ads that monetize well; 2) a vibrant subscription business; and 3) proven management. So while it’s more boring, people often forget that the “Facebook for professionals” indeed came before Facebook. And (currently) seems like it has a more solid road ahead. techcrunch.com