For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – December 12, 2014 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Facebook (FB-Free Report), Twitter (TWTR-Free Report), Baidu, Inc. (BIDU-Free Report) and Internap Corp. (INAP-Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
Instagram Crosses 300M Users, Tops Twitter
Facebook’s (FB-Free Report) Instagram has reportedly topped Twitter’s (TWTR-Free Report) user base with more than than 300 million active users. Instagram’s growing popularity can be assessed by the massive 70 million photos and videos shared on the platform everyday. We believe that the rise in Internet data consumption remains a favorable trend for the social networking sites that will eventually spur growth for major players in this category.
According to reports, Instagram is also focusing on deactivating “spammy accounts” to improve user experience. It is also working on authenticating celebrities’ accounts by offering “verified” badge to their profiles. We believe that new innovation and technology support will enable Instagram to stand out as a premium video and photo sharing site offering a competitive advantage against emerging players like Snapchat.
Instagram was acquired by Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion and since then has gained immense popularity. Apart from Instagram, other successful acquisitions by Facebook include LiveRail, Monoidics, Snaptu, Face.com, Lightbox, Glancee, Threadsy and Parse that expanded its content and applications for the desktop as well as mobile.
The company spent $456 million on acquisitions in the first nine months of 2014. Earlier this year, Facebook announced the acquisition of WhatsApp and Oculus VR. The WhatsApp acquisition not only expanded the company’s mobile product line-up but also added a predominantly young user base.
The WhatsApp acquisition will help Facebook to leverage its strong presence in Europe, India and Latin America.
Although the Oculus acquisition will not have any positive effect on Facebook’s financials in the near term, we believe this will offer the social networking site an early entry into the virtual reality market. Oculus’ technology is currently limited to gaming, but the company plans to extend it to new industries such as communications, media and entertainment, and education, thus driving growth over the long term.
Stocks to Consider
Facebook currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks worth considering in this segment include Baidu, Inc. (BIDU-Free Report) and Internap Corp. (INAP-Free Report), both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.
Get the full Report on FB - FREE
Get the full Report on TWTR - FREE
Get the full Report on BIDU - FREE
Get the full Report on INAP - FREE
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Read the analyst report on FB
Read the analyst report on TWTR
Read the analyst report on BIDU
Read the analyst report on INAP
Zacks Investment Research