The Facebook F8 developer conference kicked off last year on April 12, 2016, and the markets liked what they heard.
Last year, the Facebook stock price climbed 2.6% in one day thanks to CEO Mark Zuckerberg's presentation of a 10-year road map for the company at the conference.
For the 2017 F8 developer conference, new plans and innovations could once again help shareholders net a respectable one-day gain.
And in the long run, the plans Zuckerberg announces today could send the FB stock price skyrocketing to $250 per share.
The annual Facebook Inc. (Nasdaq: FB) conference will start today (April 18, 2017), and the two-day event will cover 16 topics, some of which include:
- Ads and monetization
- Growth
- Analytics
- Research
FB will also discuss four of its biggest and newest-revenue growing platforms: Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Workplace.
But what could make the FB stock price really jump today are announcements on one potential massive long-term revenue generator: virtual reality (VR). Just on the topic of VR, Facebook will have six sessions.
In comparison, Facebook will have just two sessions on analytics and three sessions on growth.
And there's a massive reason the company is so eager to discuss VR technology with developers...
How VR Could Send the Facebook Stock Price Skyrocketing
According to TechCrunch, the VR/AR (augmented reality) market will be worth between $94 billion and $122 billion by 2021.
And in 2014, Zuckerberg made sure he was going to be a part of the hundred-billion-dollar market...
Must See: Get $45,000 Worth of Our Best Stock Research for Just Pennies a Day
In July 2014, Facebook closed its acquisition of VR headset maker Oculus VR for $2 billion. At the time, Wall Street didn't understand how Zuckerberg would use the technology for social networks.
That's because VR and AR technology is often only associated with gaming.
Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook F8 Keynote
However, the Facebook CEO shared in a March 25, 2014, Facebook post that he had much bigger plans for the technology.
And his vision could help the Facebook stock price climb nearly 80% in the next three years.
Here's how...
Our Bold Facebook Stock Prediction Shows Massive Gains Ahead
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In his Facebook post, Zuckerberg acknowledged gaming would initially be a big part of Oculus VR's market.
He said Facebook would help Oculus create partnerships with developers to support more games.
"But this is just the start. After games, we're going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a courtside seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world, or consulting with a doctor face-to-face -- just by putting on goggles in your home," Zuckerberg said in the March 25, 2014, Facebook post.
But how will he make money through VR technology? That's a great question, and the answer is he'll monetize VR experiences through ads.
You see, advertisers would pay handsomely to directly reach a consumer who has a high probability of buying their products or services. For example, advertisers could use Facebook's massive amount of data to determine the average age and interest of a person who would use VR for courtside seats to a game.
That would then allow an advertiser to tailor an ad to a very specific audience.
Pharmaceutical companies and insurance agencies could do the same thing for face-to-face doctor visits through VR, promoting ads for drugs and health insurance.
This may sound far-fetched now, but VR advertising is already happening...
According to Ad Age, The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) staged a VR experience at the 2014 World Cup. Through a VR headset, soccer fans were able to enter a replica of Brazil's locker room at Marcana Stadium.
The headset users were then able to move from the locker room to the soccer field and play on the field.
Because of VR and Facebook's other sources of growing revenue through Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, Money Morning Director of Technology & Venture Capital Research Michael A. Robinson has a bold FB price prediction.
By 2020, Robinson believes the FB stock price will climb to $250 per share. From today's opening price of $139.76, that's a potential profit of 78.87%.
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