IPO

Analyst warns of Facebook-ad backlash, sets $16 stock price

Facebook's recent push to make money could backfire, warns an analyst who believes a user backlash may depress its shares to $16 over the next year.

BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield lowered his firm's target price for Facebook today, citing concern over Facebook's "aggressive" increase of monetization efforts, particularly mobile ads, according to his report. Facebook's stock opened at $20.40 a share this morning.

Since going public in May, Facebook has faced increasing pressure from investors to demonstrate that it can keep revenue and profits growing quickly. The social network has increased advertising efforts, … Read more

Where does Zynga go from here?

Yesterday, Zynga announced a big write-off and told Wall Street its growth was slowing. Today, Wall Street returned the favor by crushing Zynga shares, forcing them down 12 percent to $2.48.

Analysts say Zynga could still recover. It remains a leader in the casual-gaming industry, with more than 300 million monthly users, and as of July 30, it held a decent financial cushion in the form of $436 million in cash and equivalents on hand -- a good chunk of the $1 billion it raised in its IPO late last year.

It's starting to look like Zynga's … Read more

Huawei mulls initial public offering, report says

Huawei, the embattled Chinese mobile company looking to expand its footprint internationally, is now eyeing an initial public offering, according to a new report.

Huawei has contacted investment banks to learn more about the process that would eventually take its shares public, The Wall Street Journal is reporting today, citing sources. The company isn't sure yet where it might list its stock and doesn't know how that process might go, according to the Journal's sources.

Over the last several months, Huawei, which derives much of its business activity from telecommunications equipment, has come under fire in the … Read more

Lawsuits over Facebook's IPO flop to be consolidated in NY

Facebook's wishes have been granted, at least for now. The dozens of lawsuits brought against the social network over its bungled initial public offering have been consolidated and will be heard before one federal judge in New York, according to Reuters.

Approximately 50 lawsuits have been brought against the social network, some of its underwriters, and the Nasdaq exchange. Earlier today, a panel of federal judges ruled that all of these cases will be collected throughout the U.S. and transferred to U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet in Manhattan.

According to Reuters, Facebook said that it was pleased … Read more

The Zuckerberg tour continues: Next stop -- the 'Today Show'

Clearly, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has decided he's ready for his close up.

After months of silence from Zuckerberg, the hacker-turned CEO is basking in the limelight. He's been doing public appearance after public appearance recently, with the latest -- an interview with Matt Lauer -- airing Thursday on the "Today Show."

Zuck and crew didn't make a peep as Facebook recoiled from a bungled IPO. And, now, with fallen stock and lawsuits dragging down the company's image, the social network is working hard to make sure the public hears its message loud and … Read more

Confused by Facebook? Meet its new Help Center

No one has ever accused Facebook of being easy to figure out -- particularly when it comes to understanding its privacy polices and just what is getting shared where and with whom.

So today brings Facebook's new Help Center, which it bills as having "improved tools to improve your Facebook experience." This is a major upgrade from Facebook's first Help Center, which was launched in 2007. And while any help section is standard fare for a Web service, it's important for Facebook to be extra clear as it amps up the ways it's using … Read more

Twitter CEO: No interest in selling the company

Twitter isn't interested in selling out, the company has no plans to go public, nor does it feel any pressure from its investors to get ready for an IPO.

That was the word from Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, whose recent interview with CNBC was aired this morning.

"Nothing external to the company has had any bearing on how I think about when to take Twitter public or not to," Costolo told CNBC, adding that he's not interested in selling the company. "We have every hope and belief that we will be a successful -- independent … Read more

Facebook faces deluge of lawsuits over troubled IPO

Facebook is in some legal hot water.

Facebook and its underwriters have been hit with approximately 50 lawsuits over its troubled initial public offering, the Wall Street journal is reporting, citing lawyers working on the cases. To make matters worse, the Journal's sources say that the brokers and financial firms that pushed investors to buy Facebook shares could face arbitration claims from those same buyers.

According to the Journal, it had a chance to look through some of the lawsuits, and many of them take aim at Facebook and its chief underwriter, Morgan Stanley, for failing to adequately warn … Read more

Facebook's stock falls as Zuckerberg effect wears off

Looks like the Facebook pessimism has returned.

Shares of Facebook, which have been on a tear since CEO Mark Zuckerberg sought to calm Wall Street during an in an interview at TechCrunch Disrupt less than two weeks ago, are getting slammed today. The stock fell more than 10 percent at one point and triggered the SEC's short-sale restriction, which is designed to keep short-sellers from battering the stock even further. Shares closed down more than 9 percent at $20.75.

Why the sudden change of heart? The broader market is taking a hit, which of course doesn't help. … Read more

Friend mining: Facebook preps for social search future

No other company in the world holds as much personal data as Facebook, which puts it in an ideal position to cull data from your friends and friends-of-friends, and even those you don't know, to bring you answers to your deepest questions. Such as, "What sushi restaurants have my friends gone to in New York in the last six months and Liked?"

Ok, maybe that's not your deepest questions, but it's the example that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg used during an interview at the TechCrunch Disrupt SF conference earlier this month when he was talking … Read more