Investing in social media internet stocks has certainly proven to be thrilling. Since their initial public offerings, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Linkedin Corporation (NYSE:LNKD), and Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA)have challenged investors with volatile, sometimes gut-wrenching price swings. But share prices of all three have recovered, and investors were recently delivered annual reports to digest from all three. The markets seemed pleased with the annual reports of all three. The companies disclosed surprising increases in revenue and active users, and their share prices increased since. The remaining questions for investors are whether these companies are worthy of their lofty valuations and should be scrutinized beyond their user numbers.
To say that Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has been on a wild ride would be an understatement. After perhaps the most closely-watched IPO of all time last year, excitement quickly turned to despair as investors saw the company’s share price collapse from $38 to $17 in four months. Fortunately for investors, the stock has recovered to a current level of $28 on the strength of massive user numbers.
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) had 1.06 billion monthly active users at the end of 2012, a 25% annual increase. The market was also encouraged by 57% year-over-year growth in the number of monthly active mobile users. Furthermore, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) saw revenue growth of 37% in 2012. Unfortunately, all this didn’t translate into strong profit: the company only earned $0.01 per diluted share in 2012.
Zynga develops online social games, including CityVille, FarmVille, Mafia Wars, and Words with Friends. Revenue was $1.28 billion in 2012, a year-over-year increase of 12%. Diluted EPS was $0.28 for the full year 2012, compared to $1.40 for all of 2011. The company’s monthly active users increased from 240 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 to 298 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 24% year-over-year.
LinkedIn is something of a Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) for professionals. The company’s namesake networking platform allows busy professionals to connect with each other and search for jobs and job applicants. The website boasts more than 200 million members, and the market cheered its full-year results. In 2012, revenue increased 86% to $972.3 million from $522.2 million. Additionally, GAAP-diluted EPS increased to $0.19 from $0.11.
Have you heard of the price-to-user ratio?
If not, you’re not alone. Valuation still matters. It’s worth noting that despite the strong growth of daily and monthly active users for each of these companies, they have little to brag about in terms of profitability. Facebook and LinkedIn currently change hands for trailing price-to-diluted earnings ratios of 2,800 times and 850 times, respectively. They also trade for price-to-sales ratios in the teens. Zynga, meanwhile, doesn’t have a price-to-earnings ratio, due to the company’s reported loss in 2012.
