[Infowarrior] - The numbers on the Facebook earnings revisions

[Richard Forno]

The numbers on the Facebook earnings revisions
By Poornima Gupta and Alexei Oreskovic

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/23/facebook-estimates-idUSL1E8GN0FT20120523

SAN FRANCISCO | Tue May 22, 2012 11:11pm EDT

May 22 (Reuters) - Four of Facebook's major underwriters -- Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Bank of America -- reduced their financial estimates for the soon-to-be-public company following the release of a revised prospectus on May 9 that noted the negative impact of mobile users on Facebook's business.

While Facebook did not provide any specifics in its amended S-1 filing, the four underwriters reduced their earnings and revenue estimates for both the second quarter of 2012 and the full year within the next two days, according to sources.

The new estimates highlighted a continued slowdown in Facebook's growth, with the banks forecasting 30.4 percent year-on-year 2012 revenue growth on average, instead of the 36.7 percent growth previously expected. In 2011, Facebook's revenue grew 87.9 percent year-on-year to $3.71 billion.

The new numbers were relayed to big investors through phone calls and conference calls, according to investors. Bank of America held a conference call on May 10 with analyst Justin Post, where the underwriter revealed the lowered estimates.

Here are the detailed figures from the four banks, according to one of the investors who received the new numbers.

Lowered full year revenue estimate for 2012

Morgan Stanley -- $4.854 bln (new)from $5.036 bln (old)

Bank of America -- $4.815 bln (new) from $5.040 bln (old)

JPMorgan -- $4.839 bln (new) from $5.044 bln (old)

Goldman Sachs -- $4.852 bln (new) from $5.169 bln (old)

Lowered estimates for second-quarter 2012

Morgan Stanley -- $1.111 bln (new) from $1.175 bln (old)

Bank of America -- $1.100 bln (new) from $1.166 bln (old)

JPMorgan -- $1.096 bln (new) from $1.182 bln (old)

Goldman Sachs -- $1.125 bln (new) from $ 1.207 bln (old)

Lowered 2013 Earnings per share estimate

Morgan Stanley -- 83 cents (new) from 88 cents

Bank of America -- 64 cents (new) from 66 cents

JPMorgan -- 66 cents (new) from 70 cents

Goldman Sachs -- 63 cents (new) from 68 cents

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