During Thursday’s current trade, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)’s shares dwindled -1.47%, to $83.46.
Yesterday, Facebook Inc, stated financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.
“This was a strong start to the year,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO. “We continue to focus on serving our community and connecting the world.”
First Quarter 2015 Operational Highlights
- Daily active users (DAUs) were 936 million on average for March 2015, a raise of 17% year-over-year.
- Mobile DAUs were 798 million on average for March 2015, a raise of 31% year-over-year.
- Monthly active users (MAUs) were 1.44 billion as of March 31, 2015, a raise of 13% year-over-year.
- Mobile MAUs were 1.25 billion as of March 31, 2015, a raise of 24% year-over-year.
First Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights
Revenue – Revenue for the first quarter of 2015 totaled $3.54 billion, a raise of 42%, contrast with $2.50 billion in the first quarter of 2014. Not including the influence of year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates, revenue would have raised by 49%.
- Revenue from advertising was $3.32 billion, a 46% raise from the same quarter last year. Not including the influence of year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates, revenue from advertising would have raised by 55%.
- Mobile advertising revenue represented about 73% of advertising revenue for the first quarter of 2015, up from about 59% of advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2014.
- Payments and other fees revenue was $226 million, a 5% decrease from the same quarter last year.
Costs and expenses – GAAP costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2015 were $2.61 billion, a raise of 83% from the first quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP costs and expenses were $1.70 billion in the first quarter of 2015, up 57% contrast to $1.09 billion for the first quarter of 2014.
Income from operations – GAAP income from operations for the first quarter of 2015 was $933 million, a 13% decrease contrast to $1.08 billion for the first quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP income from operations for the first quarter of 2015 was $1.84 billion, up 30% contrast to $1.42 billion for the first quarter of 2014.
Operating margin – GAAP operating margin was 26% for the first quarter of 2015, contrast to 43% in the first quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP operating margin was 52% for the first quarter of 2015, contrast to 57% for the first quarter of 2014.
Provision for income taxes – GAAP income tax expense for the first quarter of 2015 was $420 million, representing a 45% effective tax rate. Non-GAAP effective tax rate would have been about 35%.
Net income and EPS – GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2015 was $512 million, down 20% contrast to $642 million for the first quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2015 was $1.19 billion, up 28% contrast to $926 million for the first quarter of 2014. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.18 in the first quarter of 2015, down 28% contrast to $0.25 in the first quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP diluted EPS for the first quarter of 2015 was $0.42, up 20% contrast to $0.35 in the first quarter of 2014.
Capital expenditures – Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2015 were $502 million.
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities – Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were $12.41 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2015.
Free cash flow – Free cash flow for the first quarter of 2015 was $1.20 billion.
Facebook, Inc. operates as a social networking company worldwide. It provides a set of development tools and application programming interfaces that enable developers to integrate with Facebook to create mobile and Web applications. The company’s products comprise Facebook mobile app and Website that enable people to connect, share, discover, and communicate with each other on mobile devices and personal computers; Messenger, a mobile-to-mobile messaging application accessible on Android, iOS, and Windows phone devices; Instagram, a mobile application that enable people to take photos or videos, customize them with filter effects, and share them with friends and followers in a photo feed or send them directly to friends; and WhatsApp Messenger, a cross-platform mobile messaging application that allows people to exchange messages on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows phone, and Nokia devices.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s shares jumped 0.41% to $43.16, during the current trading session Thursday’s.
Yesterday, EY declared a planned business relationship with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) to deliver new and innovative services through their digital-age strengths to companies around the world. The services will utilize EY’s practices in analytics, cyber security, digital enterprise strategy, digital and emerging technology enablement, people services, and program administration to deliver new offerings using Microsoft’s cloud and data platforms. The aim is to assist customers remove barriers to digital adoption, improve employee experience at work, and maximize companies’ return on their investment in digital technologies.
“By using the combined forces of EY and Microsoft, companies can accelerate into a highly digitally-enabled enterprise and optimize the investments in software they have made over the years,” said EY Global Chairman and CEO Mark Weinberger. “This is all about assisting companies improve their return on investment as they move to a more analytical, automated, cloud-based environment.”
The core of the relationship focuses on the vast number of users with Microsoft product experience and brings EY’s business, digital, analytic, and program administration experience to companies in a way that is familiar, yet allows them to transition to a more powerful cloud-based experience to realize improved business outcomes. The alliance will focus on:
- Jointly delivering business services using Microsoft technologies and EY’s business and technology skills, counting advanced program administration and purpose-led transformation
- Combining Microsoft technologies and EY expertise to advance cyber security across industries
- Deploying a variety of enterprise products on Microsoft Azure, with EY collaborating closely with Microsoft Consulting Services
- Using Azure based applications to harvest near-term value out of software and data that reside presently within customers’ existing operations
- Establishing co-innovation capabilities on a host of advanced administration science applications and driving customers’ business advantage from the “internet of things”
“Bringing together EY’s advisory services with Microsoft’s trusted cloud capabilities will assist customers turn data insights into action, deliver measurable business outcomes and accelerate their transformations,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer, Microsoft. “Together we will assist customers realize the full benefits of their investments more quickly and utilize technology for planned advantage.”
Microsoft Corporation develops, licenses, markets, and supports software, services, and devices worldwide. The company’s Devices and Consumer (D&C) Licensing segment licenses Windows operating system and related software; Microsoft Office for consumers; and Windows Phone operating system. Its Computing and Gaming Hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories.
In an afternoon trade, eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY)’s shares climbed 3.52%, to $58.72.
Yesterday, Global commerce platform and payments leader eBay (EBAY) stated that revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 raised to $4.45 billion. GAAP earnings were $626 million or $0.51 per diluted share, and Non-GAAP earnings were $943 million or $0.77 per diluted share, driven by transaction growth and expense control.
eBay Inc.’s commerce and payments ecosystems continued to raise the role they play in global commerce, but the strengthening dollar significantly influenced first quarter results and reduced the 9% organic growth rate to 4%. Revenue growth was negatively influenced by foreign currency translation at eBay and PayPal by 7 pts and 3 pts respectively, with benefits from foreign currency hedging partially offsetting the influence at PayPal. Additionally, weaker local currencies in some markets led to reduced demand for goods in export-oriented markets like North America, influencing the growth of cross border trade.
“We had a strong first quarter, with eBay and PayPal off to a good start for the full year,” said eBay Inc. President and CEO John Donahoe. “I feel very good about the performance of our teams at eBay and PayPal. Each business is executing well with greater focus and operating discipline as we prepare to separate eBay and PayPal into independent publicly traded companies. We are moving forward with clarity and speed, with a smooth separation predictable in the third quarter. We are deeply committed to setting up eBay and PayPal to succeed and to deliver sustainable value to our shareholders.”
eBay Marketplaces gross merchandise volume (GMV) declined 2%, with the strengthening dollar significantly influencing results. In the U.S., GMV was up 2%, while International volume was down 4%, producing $2.1 billion in revenue. On a fx-neutral basis, International GMV was up 7% and global GMV was up 5%. Marketplaces gained 2.1 million new buyers in the quarter, up 8% to 157 million. While active buyer growth continued to decline on a rolling 12-month basis, we are seeing signs that our business is stabilizing, with both three-month active buyer growth and FX neutral GMV growth flat at 5% on a sequential basis. Sold item growth improved sequentially to 9%. We are ongoing to invest to improve buyer and seller experiences and provide consistency across devices while building platform capability to improve traffic.
eBay Inc. operates as a technology company that enables commerce and payments on behalf of users, merchants, retailers, and brands of various sizes in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Marketplaces, Payments, and Enterprise. The Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform, eBay.com; localized sites, counting eBay.de and eBay.co.uk; vertical shopping Websites, such as StubHub; and classifieds Websites, such as alaMaula, BilBasen, dba.dk, eBay Classifieds, eBay Kleinanzeigen, eBay Annunci, Gumtree, Kijiji, iBazar, 2dehands.be, 2ememain.be, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, and mobile.de, in addition to provides advertising services.
Dow Chemical Co (NYSE:DOW), during its Thursday’s current trading session gained 0.74% to $50.39.
Today Dow Chemical Co (DOW), stated earnings per share of $1.18 or operating earnings of $0.84 per share. This compares with earnings of $0.79 per share on both a stated and an operating basis in the year-ago period.
EBITDA for the quarter was $3.1 billion. Operating EBITDA was $2.4 billion, with gains stated in Consumer Solutions, Infrastructure Solutions, Performance Materials & Chemicals, in addition to Performance Plastics. Operating EBITDA raises were led by Consumer Solutions and Infrastructure Solutions (both up 10 percent).
Operating EBITDA margin expanded to the highest levels since 2005, up 284 basis points as compared to the year-ago period, with raises across most operating segments. Margin expansion was driven by high-value, differentiated products in Performance Plastics (up 558 basis points), Infrastructure Solutions (up 297 basis points) and Consumer Solutions (up 269 basis points).
Sales were $12.4 billion. Demand for Dow products grew across all geographic regions (not including Hydrocarbons & Energy businesses and divestitures). Volume raised in Performance Plastics (up 6 percent), and Performance Materials & Chemicals and Consumer Solutions (both up 5 percent). Overall, growth was led by emerging geographies (up 5 percent), with particular strength in Greater China (up 10 percent). Price declined 12 percent on the same basis, driven by changes in crude oil values and currency devaluations as compared to the dollar.
Research and Development (R&D) expenses and Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses together reduced $35 million as compared to the year-ago period due primarily to targeted cost-savings initiatives, coupled with influences related to currency.
First Quarter 2015 Highlights
- Dow stated earnings per share of $1.18 or operating earnings of $0.84(1) per share. This compares with earnings of $0.79 per share on both a stated and an operating basis in the year-ago period.
- EBITDA(2) for the quarter was $3.1 billion. Operating EBITDA(3) was $2.4 billion, with gains stated in Consumer Solutions, Infrastructure Solutions, Performance Materials & Chemicals, as well as Performance Plastics. Operating EBITDA raises were led by Consumer Solutions and Infrastructure Solutions (both up 10 percent).
- Operating EBITDA margin(4) expanded to the highest levels since 2005, up 284 basis points as compared to the year-ago period, with raises across most operating segments. Margin expansion was driven by high-value, differentiated products in Performance Plastics (up 558 basis points), Infrastructure Solutions (up 297 basis points) and Consumer Solutions (up 269 basis points).
- Sales were $12.4 billion, down 14 percent driven primarily by price declines, due to changes in crude oil values and currency devaluations as compared to the dollar. Demand for Dow products grew across all geographic regions(5). Volume raised in Performance Plastics (up 6 percent), and Performance Materials & Chemicals and Consumer Solutions (both up 5 percent). Overall, growth was led by emerging geographies (up 5 percent), with particular strength in Greater China (up 10 percent).
The Dow Chemical Company manufactures and supplies products that are used primarily as raw materials in the manufacture of customer products and services worldwide. It operates through Agricultural Sciences, Consumer Solutions, Infrastructure Solutions, Performance Materials & Chemicals, and Performance Plastics segments.
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