Facebook Stays in the Friend Zone
April 25 2018 - 6:46PM
Dow Jones News
By Dan Gallagher
Facebook is a hard friend to dump, even when it has it
coming.
The social network's first-quarter report Wednesday afternoon
showed that about 48 million daily active users signed up during
the period. That was up 3.4% from the December quarter and was in
line with Wall Street's expectations. Assuming that at least some
of them read newspapers, that alone was remarkable considering the
scandal that erupted late in the period involving Cambridge
Analytica that landed CEO Mark Zuckerberg before Congress and
relieved the company of nearly $74 billion in market value.
Facebook has yet to fully recover from that affair. The company
also still faces the difficult task of improving the security of
its network, not to mention its public image. Mr. Zuckerberg spoke
at length about this in the company's earnings call Wednesday
afternoon, reiterating a promise to "invest heavily" in the
effort.
The bill is still pending. The company's total costs and
expenses rose 39% year over year for the quarter, below the 50%-60%
boost the company is now projecting for the full year.
But Wednesday's results suggest the world's largest social
network isn't easily unplugged. Facebook's ability to keep users
and to convince even more to join means that advertisers aren't
going anywhere either. Advertising revenue jumped 50% year over
year to $11.8 billion. Also worth noting is that revenue in the
U.S. and Canada -- nearly half of the company's total -- jumped 44%
year over year despite less than 2% growth in the company's daily
user base in those countries during the period.
Much remains unknown, including what form new regulations may
take and how they could impact social media profits. But even a 7%
price jump in after-hours trading Wednesday keeps Facebook around
20 times forward earnings, adjusted for net cash. That is slightly
below Google-parent Alphabet's valuation and a bargain compared to
much smaller Twitter. Given the clouds hanging over it, it may be a
while before Facebook can command much more.
-end
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 25, 2018 18:31 ET (22:31 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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