Google (GOOG) is accustomed to being in the top spot. It leads search and virtually owns the online ad space. Its Google News portal is among the top sites for directing traffic to media outlets. But, the behemoth is starting to feel the feet from social media sensation Facebook.

Not only is the rather young platform stealing market share from Google News, it's now encroaching on its e-mail turf ... a situation that Google isn't taking lightly. To compete more effectively with Facebook, Google is upgrading its Gmail capabilities to include more social media tools reminiscent of those found on its competitor.

Continue reading Google Wants Gmail to Take Social Media Market Share

Google Wants Gmail to Take Social Media Market Share originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) was down in the after-hours session by over 9% on the heels of the gaming publisher's Q3 report. Non-GAAP sales were off by over 20%. Adjusted income came in at 33 cents per share. This was two cents higher than expectations according to my earnings preview, but a lot less than the 56 cents per share earned in the comparable frame.

The press release mentions the lower quantity of titles released during the holiday season as being a driver of the decline in revenue (a tough European market was also cited). That may be, but it doesn't absolve EA of its fundamental challenges.

Continue reading Electronic Arts Down Big in After-Hours Following Q3 Report

Electronic Arts Down Big in After-Hours Following Q3 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Facebook wants to take over the display advertising on its larger-than-life social network. In the process, it will stop using Microsoft (MSFT) to display the majority of advertising at what is becoming one of the most heavily-trafficked pieces of Internet real estate globally.

Is Microsoft angry? It should be -- every time the world's largest software company crafts some small way to try and compete with Internet advertising leader Google (GOOG), the rugs gets pulled from under it.

Continue reading Facebook Boots Microsoft Display Ads

Facebook Boots Microsoft Display Ads originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

How are readers finding the news? Well, increasingly, the answer is Facebook. The social networking site, which boasts well over 350 million registered users, is now the fourth largest referral source of traffic to online news destinations. Almost a year ago, only 0.5% of traffic to news and media sites came from Facebook. Today, that level is 3.5%, according to data from Web analytics firm Experian Hitwise.

Only Google (GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO) and MSN (MSFT) send more traffic to news sites. Google News, a subset of the search engine giant, failed to keep pace with Facebook, despite the fact that it exists specifically to send Internet users to media outlets. Only 1.39% of referrals came from this source.

Continue reading Facebook Grows as a Source for News

Facebook Grows as a Source for News originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronic Arts (ERTS), a software maker whose colleagues include Activision Blizzard (ATVI), Microsoft (MSFT), Nintendo (NTDOY) and Sony (SNE), will be reporting third-quarter numbers on Monday, Feb. 8, after the market closes up shop. This is going to be an interesting one.

I doubt there are many market watchers out there who aren't aware of the problems in the video game industry; 2009 was not the best of years for the sector, and investors are hoping that 2010 will execute a rebound. However, EA has specific fundamental problems. The declines seen in its share price cannot be solely sourced to the macro conditions of the current console cycle.

Continue reading Electronic Arts to Report Q3 Data: Should You Play This Game?

Electronic Arts to Report Q3 Data: Should You Play This Game? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Microsoft: Windows 7 Fastest-Selling Operating System Ever

Microsoft: Windows 7 Fastest-Selling Operating System Ever originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Apple $300 -- Not This Year!

Apple $300 -- Not This Year! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Apple Inc. (AAPL) posted its highest quarterly revenue ever, easily beating estimates, as iPhone sales doubled.
• Boeing Co. (BA) swung to a larger-than-expected Q4 profit but guidance fell short of analysts' estimates.
• Chevron Corp. (CVX) fell short of analysts' earnings estimates for Q4, sending shares lower.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) shares rose after optimistic statements by the CEO ahead of Q2 results.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) shares surged after it beat Q4 expectations by a wide margin and cash flow improved.
• Ford Motor Co. (F) reported its first annual profit in four years due to cost-cutting and improved market share.
• Halliburton Co. (HAL) reported lower Q4 earnings but beat estimates by a penny, and revenue also fell.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Apple, Boeing, Cisco, Ford, Kodak, Microsoft, Yahoo! ...

Earnings Highlights: Apple, Boeing, Cisco, Ford, Kodak, Microsoft, Yahoo! ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Forget 5.7% GDP, Bears Taking Charge (AMZN, MSFT, POT, AUTH, NBG, USU)

Closing Bell: Forget 5.7% GDP, Bears Taking Charge (AMZN, MSFT, POT, AUTH, NBG, USU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

However, net profit rose over 80% because of currency issues. This was pretty cool, since the effect of the yen had been a previous concern. Also cool was the fact that Nintendo came in ahead of estimates.

Continue reading Nintendo: Not Necessarily a Buy After Report

Nintendo: Not Necessarily a Buy After Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Microsoft (MSFT), the tech giant behind the Windows operating system, whose colleagues include Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), IBM (IBM), and Yahoo! (YHOO), issued Q2 numbers after the bell on Thursday. Revenues increased 14%, and diluted earnings per share went up well over 50% to 74 cents.

In terms of expectations, Earnings.com says 59 cents was the number to beat. Obviously, the company had no problem doing that. As the news outlets have been reporting, Windows 7 was the big driver of the quarter's success.

Continue reading Microsoft Q2 Earnings Jump, Aided by Windows 7

Microsoft Q2 Earnings Jump, Aided by Windows 7 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the Bell: Futures Higher Ahead of GDP

Before the Bell: Futures Higher Ahead of GDP originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For the most part, SAP (SAP) sells sophisticated and expensive business software. Needless to say, such offerings are often deferred as budgets get squeezed.

However, after a tough 2009, it looks like SAP is seeing some improvement. In fact, the company expects revenue growth of 4% to 8% in 2010. Moreover, it looks like operating margins will improve because of the cost-cutting efforts. How much? The expectation is for 30% to 31%. Last year's margin was at 27.4%.

Continue reading SAP Finding Growth Again

SAP Finding Growth Again originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google (GOOG) proudly posted its fourth-quarter numbers on Thursday after the bell, probably assuming it would see a bid once the market digested its performance. But it didn't happen. Instead, the market sold the company on what I would call a very good report. Are you getting the feeling that the bullish sentiment on Wall Street is fading away?

The search giant, feared by both Microsoft (MSFT) and Yahoo! (YHOO), among others, said it made $6.79 per share on a non-GAAP basis. Which means management grew the bottom line by a more than respectable 33%. According to our earnings preview, the market was looking for $6.43.

Continue reading Google Delivers in the Fourth Quarter

Google Delivers in the Fourth Quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A big player in the tech sector is ready to report today. Google (GOOG) will publish Q4 results later this afternoon. Traders and investors alike get super excited when the search behemoth tells the world how it's doing.

I think the company will show that it's doing quite well. According to Earnings.com, expectations peg the per-share profit at $6.43. If that number is hit, then the growth rate will be a solid 26% (last year at this time, Google made $5.10 per share). Of course, most people aren't interested in hitting the projected stat, they want management to rise above it and demonstrate true earnings power.

Continue reading Google's Q4 Is Here: What Should We Expect?

Google's Q4 Is Here: What Should We Expect? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here's something many of us thought would never happen: Apple Inc. (AAPL) teaming up with Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) for, well, anything. The mighty Google Inc. (GOOG) is the common enemy. How so? Check out the embedded Google services on the Apple iPhone.

With internet search on mobile devices becoming the soup du jour in tech circles, whoever wins mobile search on the iPhone is due some greatness. So far, Google has been there. With Google's Android mobile operating system becoming more and more of a perceived competitor to the iPhone, Apple probably wants Google off the iPhone. It makes logical sense, and it would not be the first time that Microsoft's has cozied up to Apple.

Continue reading Apple to Join Forces with Microsoft to Fend Off Google?

Apple to Join Forces with Microsoft to Fend Off Google? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

International Business Machines (IBM) nailed another quarter. Going into the report, it was difficult to believe that Big Blue's fundamentals were going to suddenly collapse. Although they didn't, yesterday's after-hours crowd wasn't kind to the company's shares, which slid by almost 2%.

Who cares? The stats from the Q4 release should dissuade anyone from feeling bearish. Earnings per share increased 10% to $3.59. Expectations were for $3.47 per share, so congratulations are in order for another solid beat. Furthermore, gross margin experienced a nice expansion.

Continue reading IBM's Q4 Was Superb

IBM's Q4 Was Superb originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I am looking forward to International Business Machine's (IBM) Q4 earnings report, which is scheduled to be released after the close of today's session. No, I don't have a trade going on with the shares, but I have a feeling the numbers are going to be pretty good for Big Blue. When I covered the company's Q3 data back in October, I found myself impressed. I firmly believe the fundamental strength is set to continue.

According to Earnings.com, IBM, whose colleagues include Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Microsoft (MSFT), is expected to deliver around $3.47 per share for the bottom line. Last year at this time, the company made $3.28 per share. So, investors might see an increase of around 6% in the metric.

Continue reading IBM's Q4 Report Should Be a Good One

IBM's Q4 Report Should Be a Good One originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The German government recommends using browsers other than Internet Explorer until Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) provides a patch to fix a critical security flaw that allowed a cyber attack against Google Inc. (GOOG).

In a statement posted on its website, Germany's Federal Office for Information Security warned that attacks by hackers "cannot be fully prevented," even if users run Microsoft's browser in safe mode.

Continue reading Stay Away from Microsoft's Browser, Warns German Government

Stay Away from Microsoft's Browser, Warns German Government originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Google Raises Internet Search Market Share Again in December; Bing Drops Share

Google Raises Internet Search Market Share Again in December; Bing Drops Share originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.