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Facebook is nearing the end of its toughest year as a public company. Ahead of results on Tuesday, analysts are hoping the news can’t get any worse.
The social-media giant is expected to report third-quarter revenue of $13.8bn, up 34% from a year earlier. Operating profit will be $5.79bn, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Those cheery projections belie another quarter of turmoil that included executive departures, a huge privacy breach, threats of regulation, and struggles to contain misinformation ahead of key elections in the US.
Three months ago, Facebook stunned Wall Street with a second-quarter revenue miss and a warning that growth would slow while spending rises.
Nasty surprises
On Tuesday, investors will be watching user engagement numbers and expenses closely. Top of the wish list: No more nasty surprises.
"As long as management doesn’t surprise with more negative announcements about long-term revenue and expense trends, we think the stock could have a good 4Q," Macquarie analyst Ben Schachter wrote in a recent note to clients.
Facebook has lost more than $200bn in market value since a record high in July and the shares are trading at the lowest level since May 2017. Investors are concerned that use of its main social network has plateaued, while future sources of growth, such as messaging, will be less profitable.
Facebook monthly active users are expected to total 2.28 billion in the third quarter, up from 2.23 billion in the previous three months, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
If Facebook can keep users coming back to its social network, the advertising dollars will likely continue to flow, giving the company room to invest in solutions for its problems.
A recent survey by RBC Capital Markets found that the percentage of Facebook advertisers who plan to increase their spending on the service had fallen to 49% in September from 66% a year earlier.
On the other hand, Instagram is seeing sizable increases ad budgets, according to the RBC poll.
"So long as its revenues grow, the company will have the flexibility to manage its spending," said Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter.
Just the numbers
- 3Q GAAP EPS estimate $1.47 (range $1.29 to $1.96)
- 3Q revenue estimate $13.80bn (range $13.12bn to $14.09bn)
- 3Q operating profit estimate $5.79bn (range $5.30bn to $6.82bn)
- 3Q monthly active user estimate 2.28 billion (3 estimates compiled by Bloomberg News)
- 3Q daily active user estimate 1.50 billion (4 estimates)Last quarter, Facebook reported 2.23 billion MAUs and 1.47 billion DAUs
Data
- 42 buys, 8 holds, 2 sells Avg PT $203.02 (39.7% upside from current price)
- Implied 1-day share move following earnings:
- 8.0% Shares rose after 7 of prior 12 earnings announcements
- GAAP EPS beat estimates in 12 of past 12 quarters
- Shares down 5.6% in past 5 days vs SPX Index down 3.9%
- Shares down 14.8% in past year vs SPX Index up 3.8%
Timing
Earnings release expected 4:05pm (New York time) October 30 Conference call website.
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