Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is testing new video ads for its desktop and Instagram products, a move that has analysts excited even as they expect sales and EPS growth to slow in Q4. Facebook’s Q4 revenue is expected to rise 46% to $2.23 billion from $1.59 billion in the year-earlier period, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. That would mark the slowest growth in three quarters, but would also be an acceleration from the 40% growth posted in Q4 2012. The company is slated to report results after the market close Wednesday.Much of Facebook’s growth is coming via users that access the site via mobile devices, says Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Yousef Squali, who rates the stock a buy. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) stock opened today at $54.02 and is currently trading at $54.58. The stock showed a negative weekly performance of -4.88%.
Shares of Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) are climbing after research firm Jefferies was optimistic about the company’s outlook ahead of its earnings report. WHAT’S NEW: Google should report “solid” Q4 results on Thursday, Jefferies analyst Brian Pitz wrote in a note to investors earlier. Pitz said his estimates for the search giant’s fourth quarter results were the highest among all analysts because he believes the company’s core search business “fired on all cylinders” last quarter. Data from comScore and data reported by a number of marketing firms that partner with Google support this conclusion, Pitz wrote. The analyst increased his price target on the stock to $1,300 from $1,150 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. WHAT’S NOTABLE: Another research firm, Susquehanna, stated on January 22 that Google’s search trends remain solid. That firm was also upbeat on the company heading into its Q4 results and kept a $1,325 price target and Positive rating on the stock. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) stock opened at $1,110.32, in current trading session and currently is at $1,121.69, by gaining 1.89%. The 52 week range of $746.54 – $1,167.89. Company’s market capitalization is $374.67 billion.
Twitter, Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) Monday learned that the is not immune to more valuationreality checks. Marc Faber, produces of Gloom Boom and Doom Report, in the weekend edition of Barron’s Roundtable, bashed Twitter and other momentum stocks. Mr. Faber is known for taking Bearish stands, but it seems that the 75 or 100X revenues is too much for him. Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) stock is open at $57.44 and currently trading at $59.93. The EPS of the stock is -0.30. Company’s market capitalization is $33.27 billion.
Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) shareholders approved the company’s sale of its 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless on Tuesday, paving the way for one of the largest acquisitions in corporate history. Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) stock opened the session at $36.85, and now is at $37.02. The 52 week range of the VOD stock remained $24.42 – $39.44 and the day range was $36.85 – $37.14.