Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is a must own stock heading into 2015 as the social networker has many new revenue potentials in the form of Instagram and WhatsApp, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Ross Sandler. In a research report issued on Wednesday, October 15th, Sandler has placed a Buy rating on Facebook with a price target of $90.
Facebook under-earning
“We would add to FB positions heading into 3Q results,” noted Sandler. Analyst further notes that the social networker controls almost 25% of the total time users spend on a PC or mobile device. However, the company only manages to control 10% of U.S. digital advertising, which makes the analyst believe that the company is earning less than its potential.
On Monday, in a research report, Piper Jaffray reiterated its Market Perform rating on Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), and raised the price target from $90 to $92. Analysts at Susquehanna, in a report issued last Friday, also restated their Positive rating on the company and raised their price target to $88 from $84.00.
Analysts rate Facebook a Buy
Apart from these recent notes, many analysts have come out with an opinion on Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB). In a research report on October 9th, analysts at Nomura reiterated a Buy rating on the stock and lowered their price target from $90.00 to $87. Evercore Partners, in a note on September 30th, gave an Overweight rating to the social networker and increased their price target from $90.00 to $95.00. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a Buy rating on Facebook and raised their price target to $93 from $80, in a research note on September 29th. Overall, seven analysts have assigned a Hold rating to the social networker, while thirty-four have rated it as a Buy. Presently, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $81.87.
In separate news, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) VP David B. Fischer sold 36,000 shares of the company’s stock in an open market transaction on October 9th. Fischer sold the shares at an average price of $76.57, for a total value of $2,756,520.00, according to a filing with the SEC.
In pre-market trading Friday, FFacebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) shares were up 1.73% to $73.89. Year to date, shares of the social networker are up over 35%.
