Small cap small cap Internet, app or digital signage stocks Blast Applications, Inc (OTCMKTS: BLAP), TGFIN Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: TGFN) and Data Call Technologies, Inc (OTCMKTS: DCLT) were getting some extra attention last week. Specifically, two of these stocks have been the subject of paid promotions while the third surged 114.29% on Friday. With that in mind, here is a closer look along with a reality check on all three small cap stocks:
Blast Applications, Inc (OTCMKTS: BLAP) Announced $10 Million in Financing Last AugustSmall cap Blast Applications is a marketer and developer of applications for Android, iPhone庐, Twitter庐 Facebook庐 and Nokia with unique opportunity to monetize the web surfer's dedication to social media sites through direct advertising programs tied to the Company's tools, applications and websites. On Friday, Blast Applications rose 4.67% to $0.0157 for a market cap of $8.57 million plus BLAP is up 124.3% over the past year and down 94.6% over the past five years according to Google Finance.
Top 10 Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN)
Amazon.com, Inc. operates as an online retailer in North America and internationally. It operates retail Web sites, including amazon.com and amazon.ca. The company serves consumers through its retail Web sites and focuses on selection, price, and convenience. It also offers programs that enable sellers to sell their products on its Web sites, and their own branded Web sites. In addition, the company serves developer customers through Amazon Web Services, which provides access to technology infrastructure that developers can use to enable virtually various type of business. Further, it manufactures and sells the Kindle e-reader. Additionally, the company provides fulfillment; miscellaneous marketing and promotional agreements, such as online advertising; and co-branded credit cards. Amazon.com, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Douglas A. McIntyre]
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) admitted that the discounts it gave on gifts during its Black Friday Deals Week and Cyber Monday Deals Week are over. Like every other retailer, it has to keep the attention of shoppers until the holidays have ended. So, it has launched a new set of incentives for people to shop on the most visited e-commerce site in America — its�Top Holiday Deals event.
- [By Tim Brugger]
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN ) Coins, the online retailer's new virtual payment method, can now be used to purchase apps, games, and in-app items from the Amazon Appstore and on Kindle Fire, the company announced today.
- [By Douglas A. McIntyre]
Several retailers should hold profits, even with late holiday discounts. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) should post huge revenue growth and net income, if the e-commerce firm has not undermined margins with free-shipping costs. Higher margin retailers that cater to the middle class, like Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), should have built good enough margins to keep them relatively high as they bring in people who shop between Christmas and the end of the year.
Top 10 Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: eBay Inc.(EBAY)
eBay Inc. provides online platforms, services, and tools to help individuals and merchants in online and mobile commerce and payments in the United States and internationally. Its Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform eBay.com; vertical shopping sites, such as StubHub, Fashion, Motors, and Half.com; and classifieds Websites, including Den Bl�Avis, BilBasen, Gumtree, Kijiji, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, Alamaula, Rent.com, eBay Anuncios, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and eBay Annunci, as well as provides advertising services. The company?s Payments segment offers payment and settlement services for consumers and merchants on and off eBay Websites and other merchant Websites. This segment operates PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to send and receive payments online and through mobile devices; Bill Me Later that enables the United States merchants to offer, the United States consumers to obtain, credit at the point of sale for ecommerce and mobile tra nsactions; Zong, which allows users with mobile phones to purchase digital goods and have the transactions charged to their phone bill; and BillSAFE that enables customers pay for purchases upon receipt of an invoice. Its GSI segment offers an ecommerce services suite for enterprise clients that operate in general merchandise categories, including apparel, sporting goods, toys and baby, health and beauty, and home; and marketing services comprising full-service digital agency, enterprise email marketing, mobile advertising, affiliate marketing, advertisement retargeting, and in-depth analytics services. The company also offers X.commerce platform that provides software developers access to the company?s applications programming interfaces to develop functionality for various merchants; and Magento Connect, which allows developers to market and sell add-on functionality and solutions to merchants that use a Magento storefront. eBay Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquarter ed in San Jose, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tim Beyers]
Suddenly, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) is getting grabby. According to a report from the Google Operating System, a new service called Google Mine is in the works that would allow Google+ users to document and share what they own.
All Google will say is that it is always working on new things. No news there. But imagine if Google Mine does come to be. Not only could you share notes about your collections, or document valuables for insurance purposes, but you could also Imagine a barter system whereby you sell or trade via Google+, with any money exchanged via Google Wallet. A tailored credit or debit card might not be far behind, says Fool contributor Tim Beyers in the following video.
At the very least, the idea threatens eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY ) . The company depends on an ever-increasing volume of transactions to fund growth. In Q1, the auctioneer was responsible for $49 billion worth of commerce. By 2015, eBay wants to enable $300 billion in commerce annually, up from $175 billion last year. Google Mine, like Craigslist before it, could stand in the way of that.
Do you agree? Please watch the video to get Tim's full take, and then let us know if having Google Mine would make you more or less bullish on the search king's long-term prospects. - [By Jim Jubak]
That could actually be true. Started as a business-to-business e-commerce site, Alibaba has expanded to include Tmall (where companies sell to consumers) and Taobao (where consumers sell to other consumers). According to Morgan Stanley, the gross value of goods that moved through Alibaba exceeded the combined value of goods that moved through Amazon.com (AMZN) and eBay (EBAY) in 2012.
- [By John Divine]
Perhaps if SanDisk decides to try a little harder, it could pawn its wares through eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY ) , which could use some business of its own. Shares in the web-based auction site cratered 5.9% Thursday, as Wall Street was disappointed by slowing sales growth. Though 14% revenue growth in a wildly competitive environment like online retail ain't shabby, it's less than half the 29% pace seen a year ago. With PayPal sales growth also easing rapidly, it looks like the company may finally be reaching maturity. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but growth investors are leaving in hordes.
- [By James Brumley]
Move over PayPal: There’s a new e-commerce middleman coming to town. In October, Amazon unveiled “Login and Pay With Amazon,” which allows shoppers to use their Amazon account to facilitate a payment to an online retailer�… even for transactions not being made at Amazon.com. Like PayPal, the vendor must also have an established “Login and Pay” payment-receipt account in order to receive that payment. With an established name like Amazon, however, it’s not like those e-tailers are going balk at the new payment venue. But what about PayPal’s dominance in this space? The eBay (EBAY) subsidiary owns about half of the online-payment industry’s market share, and it doesn’t plan on rolling over. Amazon doesn’t have to take this market by storm right away. The cost is relatively minimal, and incremental, and third-party sellers are going to do the marketing work. In other words, the company has nothing to lose here, and everything to gain. And even a small slice of the market would be a big victory for the value of AMZN stock. The online payment industry is on pace to transact $2.7 trillion worth of commerce next year.
10 Best Supermarket Stocks To Own For 2015: IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI)
IAC/InterActiveCorp engages in the Internet business in the United States and internationally. The company�s Search segment develops, markets, and distributes various downloadable toolbars; provides search, reference, and content services through its destination search and other Websites, including Ask.com and Dictionary.com; and aggregates and integrates local advertising and content for distribution to publishers on Web and mobile platforms, as well as markets and distributes mobile applications through which it provides search and additional services. Its Match segment offers subscription-based and advertiser-supported online personals services through its Websites comprising Match.com, Chemistry.com, OurTime.com, BlackPeopleMeet.com, and OkCupid.com, as well as through mobile applications and Meetic-branded Websites. The company�s ServiceMagic segment offers Market Match service that matches consumers with service professionals; Exact Match service, which enables con sumers to review service professional profiles and select the service professional that meets their specific needs; and 1800Contractor.com, an online directory of service professionals. This segment also offers Website design and hosting services. Its Media and Other segment operates CollegeHumor.com, an online entertainment Website that targets young males; Vimeo, a Website on which users can upload, share, and view video; and Pronto.com, a comparison search engine. This segment also engages in the creation of video content for various distribution platforms; and operates as an Internet retailer of footwear and related apparel and accessories, as well as focuses on multimedia business. The company was formerly known as InterActiveCorp and changed its name to IAC/InterActiveCorp in July 2004. IAC/InterActiveCorp was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) shares fell 14.51% to $49.50 in the pre-market trading after the company reported downbeat Q3 revenue.
Posted-In: PreMarket LosersNews Movers & Shakers Pre-Market Outlook Markets
Top 10 Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Yahoo! Inc.(YHOO)
Yahoo! Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital media company that delivers personalized digital content and experiences through various devices worldwide. It offers online properties and services to users; and a range of marketing services to businesses. The company?s communications and communities offerings include Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, Flickr, and Connected TV, which provide a range of communication and social services to users and small businesses enabling users to organize into groups and share knowledge, common interests, and photos. Its search products comprise Yahoo! Search and Yahoo! Local, available free to users to navigate the Internet and discover content. The company?s marketplaces offerings and services include Yahoo! Shopping, Yahoo! Travel, Yahoo! Real Estate, Yahoo! Autos, and Yahoo! Small Business, which allow users to research specific topics, products, services, or areas of interest by review ing and exchanging information, obtaining contact details, or considering offers from providers of goods, services, or parties with similar interests. Its media offerings comprise Yahoo! Homepage, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Finance, My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Toolbar, Yahoo! Entertainment & Lifestyles, Yahoo! Contributor Network, and Yahoo! Pulse, which are designed to engage users with online content and services on the Web. The company also offers marketing services, such as display and search advertising, listing-based services, and commerce-based transactions to advertisers. In addition, it provides software and platform offerings for third-party developers, advertisers, and publishers, such as Yahoo! Developer Network, Yahoo! Open Strategy, Yahoo! Application Platform, Yahoo! Updates, Yahoo! Query Language, and Yahoo! Search BOSS. The company has strategic alliances with Nokia and ABC News, Inc. Yahoo! Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Californi a.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Douglas A. McIntyre]
The battle between Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) for the lead in U.S. unique visitors continued into November. Once again, the portal edged out the search firm–based on desktop visitors, Yahoo! had 194.6 million in November, as opposed to 192.7 million, according to�new data from comScore. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) sites, which include portal MSN, reached a total of 173.4.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) and Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO ) are reportedly discussing expanding their relationship.
Wouldn't it be wild if Apple's next move was to put a ring on it?
- [By David Trainer]
MOVE has had strong cyclical winds at its back in recent years, and the stock is up 95% year-to-date. The stock is richly valued, and several red flags hidden in the footnotes raise questions about the company’s ability to justify its stock price. MOVE operates in a niche field with significant competition from companies like Zillow (NASDAQ: Z) and Trulia (NASDAQ: TRLA), not to mention Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO), which has its own real estate listing site. Clever earnings management and the recovery in the housing market has helped propel MOVE upward this year, but don’t expect the ride to continue. The company is already lagging its competitors and continuing to lose market share.
Top 10 Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Symantec Corporation(SYMC)
Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions internationally. The company?s Consumer segment delivers Internet security, PC tune-up, and online backup solutions and services to individual users and home offices. Its Security and Compliance segment provides solutions for endpoint security and management, compliance, messaging management, data loss prevention, encryption, and authentication services to large, medium, and small-sized businesses, as well as offers solutions through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offerings. This segment?s products enable customers to secure, provision, and remotely manage their laptops, PCs, mobile devices, and servers. The company?s Storage and Server Management segment provides storage and server management, backup, archiving, and data protection solutions across heterogeneous storage and server platforms, as well as solutions delivered through its SaaS offerings to large, medium, and small-s ized businesses. Symantec?s Services segment offers implementation services and solutions, including consulting, business critical services, education, and managed security services. The company also provides various enterprise support offerings, such as annual maintenance support contracts, including content, upgrades, and technical support. It sells its products through its eCommerce platform, as well as through distributors, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, system builders, ISPs, and retail locations worldwide. Symantec markets and sells its products through distributors, retailers, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, original equipment manufacturers, system builders, and Internet service providers; and its e-commerce channels, as well as direct sales force, value-added and large account resellers, and system integrators. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Anora Mahmudova]
Symantec Corp. (SYMC) slid 13% after the security-software maker fired Chief Executive Steve Bennett late Thursday and replaced him with board member Michael Brown.
- [By Vanina Egea] and earnings growth (which came in better than expected on the last reported quarter), profit margins and other profitability ratios.
Additionally, I will evaluate which institutional investors bought the stock in the recent quarters (institutional backup can tell a lot about a stock), and the initiatives that the company is putting in motion in order to ameliorate its sales and margins.
Earnings
The first step is analyzing Symantec Corp�� earnings growth. I am looking for companies that are able to expand both their quarterly and annual earnings by more than 15% a year. Last quarter the company generated 13% quarterly EPS growth when compared to the same quarter last year. Thus, I am not encouraged by SYMC�� numbers. Past growth winners (Apple, Baidu, etc.) generated consistent quarterly EPS growth above 15% and I am certainly looking for that level before investing.
In addition, SYMC generated three-year average annual EPS growth of 10%. This is an important metric to follow in growth stocks because it highlights how well the stock grew in the past years. I like to invest in companies that are growing consistently.
Revenue
Let's take a look at SYMC麓s revenue growth. This is a key metric that needs to be analyzed before investing in a company, as it is one of the scarce figures that cannot be modified through accounting tricks and similar dodges.
The company reported a 5% quarterly revenue drop year over year. On the contrary, I look for companies that generate more than 15% in quarterly growth.
When betting on a company, an investor wants to see sales grow or improve over time ���nd not just in the last reported quarter. Looking at the company�� financials in comparison to previous years will give participants a much better idea of how well a company is doing. Symantec Corp generated a three-year average annual sales growth rate of 4%.
A New Strategic Plan
Accepting the problems in its
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Symantec Corp. (SYMC) �shares dropped 7% to $19.44 on heavy volume, after a brief halted at the closing bell, as the security software company fired Chief Executive Steve Bennett.
Top 10 Internet Companies To Invest In 2015: Google Inc.(GOOG)
Google Inc. maintains an index of Web sites and other online content for users, advertisers, and Google network members and other content providers. It offers AdWords, an auction-based advertising program; AdSense program, which enables Web sites that are part of the Google Network to deliver ads from its AdWords advertisers; Google Display, a display advertising network that comprises the videos, text, images, and other interactive ads; DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a real-time auction marketplace for the trading of display ad space; and YouTube that provides video, interactive, and other ad formats for advertisers. The company also provides Google Mobile that optimizes Google?s applications for mobile devices in browser and downloadable form; and enables advertisers to run search ad campaigns on mobile devices, as well as Google Local that provides local information on the Web; and Google Boost for small businesses to participate in the ads auction. In addition, it offers And roid, an open source mobile software platform; Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system; Google Chrome, a Web browser; Google TV, a platform for the consumers to use the television and the Internet on a single screen; and Google Books platform to discover, search, and consume content from printed books online. Further, the company provides Google Apps, a cloud computing suite of message and collaboration tools, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Sites; Google Search Appliance that offers real-time search of business and intranet applications, and public Web sites; Google Site Search, a custom search engine; Google Commerce Search for online retail enterprises; Google Checkout to make online shopping and payments streamlined and secure; Google Maps Application Programming Interface; and Google Earth Enterprise, a firewall software solution for imagery and data visualization. Google Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Doug Ehrman]
In the video below, Fool.com contributor Doug Ehrman discuss AR technology; its application by Apple, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) , and Nokia (NYSE: NOK ) ; and the potential impact on Apple stock as well as the company.
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
The Mountain View, Calif.-based Internet search giant (GOOG) �reported adjusted third-quarter earnings of $10.74 a share on adjusted revenue of $11.92 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $10.36 a share on revenue of $11.69 billion.(Read a recap of Google�� earnings call with analysts.)
- [By David Zeiler]
Here are the top candidates...
The Digital Currencies Most Likely to Succeed Bitcoin: For now, the top candidate to emerge as the world's main virtual currency has to be Bitcoin. It's gotten a great deal of attention over the past year, and far exceeds the value of all other digital currencies. As of today (Friday), the total value of the Bitcoin market is $8.79 billion, while the combined value of the other major digital currencies was in the neighborhood of $310 million. More importantly, a number of startups, such as Coinbase and Bitpay, have structured their businesses around the Bitcoin economy. Such startups have attracted $12 million in venture capital in the second quarter of 2013 alone. With that kind of money behind it, a surge in interest from Chinese investors, and Wall Street rumored to be sniffing around as well, Bitcoin is the odds-on favorite. Litecoin: The brainchild of former Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) programmer Charlie Lee, Litecoin is Bitcoin's little brother. Like many other nascent digital currencies, Litecoin is based on Bitcoin code, but differs in that it processes transactions four times faster. It is the second-most valuable virtual currency at $234 million. Litecoins are also created at a faster rate and have a maximum limit of coins four times that of Bitcoin. "The idea was to create silver to Bitcoin's gold," said Lee, now a software engineer at Coinbase. "I wanted to create something that was a bit cheaper in value and easier to transact." Ripple: This virtual currency, which is more of a hybrid digital currency and online payment system, has the best chance to dethrone Bitcoin. Ripple was founded by former Bitcoin developers as a next-generation virtual currency. It not only allows payments through cyberspace, but in the process provides cheap and easy conversions between itself, other digital currencies, and even government-issued fiat currencies. Like Litecoin, Ripple is much fa - [By Scott Inderbitzen]
Cars are becoming the ultimate mobile devices as automakers and mobile platform providers move toward an integrated future. As a result, the tech giants catalyzing this movement can expect to see substantial revenue increases as the new market develops.
Earlier this month, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) and "iOS In the Car" partner Honda introduced an iPhone-based dashboard system that will be built into the 2014 Civic and the 2015 Fit. Subsequently, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) formed a partnership with Volkswagen's (NASDAQOTH: VLKAY ) luxury Audi brand that, according to the Wall Street Journal, will be announced at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Let's take a look at what these systems have to offer and how they might impact the future of these companies. � The "iOS in the Car" system
The iPhone serves as the brain of Apple's "iOS in the Car" system. In other words, many of the platform's features are accessible only when an iPhone is connected via a wire, or wirelessly through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Once the device is connected, a touchscreen in a center console gives drivers access to Siri, maps, music, and more. Users can utilize this touchscreen or can employ "Eyes Free," which allows them to access the same features with nothing more than voice commands. � � Apple CEO Tim Cook described the "iOS in the Car" system as "very, very important" and "a key focus" for the company. So far, the endeavor has proven successful, considering Apple has already forged several strategic partnerships with the following major auto manufacturers: Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infiniti, Chevrolet, Kia, Hyundai, and Volvo. As the company continues to establish more of these partnerships, it can expect to see increases in licensing revenue and marginal increases in iPhone sales.� � The Android system
Unlike Apple, Google's system will not require a device. Instead, the company wants to run th
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