Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) IPO

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Will Apple Buy Facebook? No, But It'll be More than a Friend

By David Zeiler, Associate Editor, Money Morning • @DavidGZeiler - August 17, 2012

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Will Apple Buy Facebook? No, But It'll be More than a Friend

By David Zeiler, Associate Editor, Money Morning • @DavidGZeiler - August 17, 2012

It's a question that was getting asked as far back as three years ago, and seems to pop up again every time the Facebook stock price hits another new low: Will Apple buy Facebook?

Some tech pundits think that because Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has so much cash -- $117 billion as of the June quarter - and lacks a presence in social media, buying Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) just makes sense.

Those with more level heads think such a move would be a spectacularly bad idea -- and extremely unlikely.

"I can see Microsoft making a stupid decision like this but not Apple - MSFT has a history of overpaying for questionable assets, being late to the game and having lost what truly innovative mojo they had under [CEO Steve] Ballmer's watch," said Money Morning Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald.

"I think Apple knows that the Facebook model is kaput and that it's not profitable - very similar to Google in that regard, which has held off from really rolling out Google+," Fitz-Gerald added."Shareholders would revolt...and so would the institutional money."

But Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has strongly hinted at a cozier Apple-Facebook relationship.

Calling Facebook a "great company" at the D10 conference in May, Cook said, "We have great respect for them. I think we can do more with them. Just stay tuned on this one."

Why Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) Will Not Buy FB

Facebook's shaky business model isn't the only reason Apple would shy away from buying the social media giant.

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Facebook Earnings Report Gives Investors Zero Reasons to Stick Around

By Guest Editorial, Money Morning - July 26, 2012

The first Facebook earnings report since the company went public was released today (Thursday), and the numbers came in right in line with lowered, underwhelming expectations.

Facebook met earnings per share estimates of 12 cents on revenue of $1.18 billion. Analysts had expected EPS of 12 cents on revenue of $1.16 billion.

Estimates had been slashed several times and many experts did not think Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) would miss these lowered estimates - especially after is horrible IPO already delivered a colossal disappointment.

But the fact that earnings forecasts were so low made the fact that the company beat them a non-event.

"These earnings are meh," one equities analyst told Business Insider.

Another problem with the earnings report: There were no real clues as to how Facebook was ever going to make real money.

Facebook has had a hard time turning users into profits as more people use Facebook via mobile, an area Facebook has yet to monetize - and a key issue investors want addressed in today's earnings call.

"Everything is moving toward mobile," Debra Williamson, an analyst at eMarketer, told USA Today. "Gaining revenue from mobile and improving that experience are two things that Facebook absolutely has to focus on in coming years."

Reports surfaced Thursday that Facebook hired a team of former Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) employees to completely redesign the Facebook iPhone app, which will no doubt include some of its new advertising plans. The aim is to generate more revenue from its growing mobile user base.

But it's still unclear whether or not Facebook can do that.

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Facebook IPO Fiasco to Cost Nasdaq $40 Million

By Diane Alter, Contributing Writer, Money Morning - June 7, 2012

The Facebook IPO mess has become a costly ordeal.

After market close Wednesday the Nasdaq OMX Group announced it will pay $40 million in compensation damages to brokerages that lost money because of the Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) IPO fiasco.

Facebook's epic debut on May 18 was marred by technical glitches at its home exchange, the Nasdaq. After a great deal of anticipation, a rock-star like roadshow, and repeated SEC filings and re-filings, shares were finally priced at $38 each.

But there were problems from the first trades went off around 11:30 a.m. EDT. Executions were late, allotments askew, and prices delayed. Investors who did manage to get shares were disappointed when Facebook stock barely finished above the IPO price on its first day of trading, closing at $38.27.

Many investors felt misled and cheated. Scores have joined class action law suits against Facebook, Nasdaq, and the 33 underwriters.

But Nasdaq's recompense is being called a public relations ploy and does little to help individual investors.

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