The company had $0.10 in earnings per share (EPS) on $569 million in revenue. That compared to consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters of $0.05 in EPS on revenue of $559.59 million. In the same period of the previous year, the social media giant posted EPS of $0.01 and $361.27 million in revenue.
Total average monthly active users (MAUs) were 320 million for the third quarter, up 11% year over year, and compared to 316 million in the previous quarter. Excluding SMS Fast Followers, MAUs totaled 307 million for the third quarter, up 8% year over year, and compared to 304 million in the previous quarter. Mobile MAUs represented roughly 80% of total MAUs.
In terms of guidance, Twitter expects revenue to be in the range of $695 million to $710 million for the fourth quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $739.73 million.
Canaccord Genuity maintained a Buy rating for Twitter but lowered its price target to $38 from $40, implying upside of 31% from current prices. According to the firm, Twitter reported solid third-quarter results with in-line MAU results and revenue that exceeded the high end of guidance. However, the fourth-quarter outlook was weak, signaling lack of visibility on the advertiser front that is troubling given typical seasonal strength.
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The firm noted that it is inclined to look past the fourth quarter to the next year or two. While it acknowledges the near-term challenges, Canaccord Genuity believes there are many chances for things to go right against low expectations moving forward. As a result, the firm is inclined to stick with its out-of-consensus Buy rating.
Wells Fargo kept its Outperform rating, and slightly changed its valuation range to $32.00 to $34.00 from a prior $33.00 to $35.00 range. The firm’s summary was that Twitter’s results were ahead of expectations, but this was another “forward guide step-down.” Another point was that the active user growth looks stuck in neutral, and that advertising growth is slowing while the network business is building share.
Merrill Lynch maintained a Neutral rating and backed it up in its report:
MAU growth soft in the third quarter and will likely remain an overhang as fourth quarter MAU growth should remain muted. Lowering our price objective to $32 (25x 2016 EBITDA). We expect the historical multiple gap to Facebook (at 20x street EBITDA) to narrow.
24/7 Wall Street highlighted a few other key analysts that made calls following the report:
- Nomura maintained a Neutral rating but lowered its price target to $30 from $33.
- JPMorgan has an Overweight rating but lowered its price target to $46 from $50.
- Cowen has a Market Perform rating but lowered its price target of $30 to $26.
- Jefferies has a Buy rating but lowered its price target to $42 from $56.
- Morgan Stanley has an Underweight rating and lowered its price target to $22 from $24.
- Barclays has an Equal Weight rating and lowered its price target to $33 from $40.
Shares of Twitter were last seen trading down 6.1% to $29.42 Wednesday, with a consensus analyst price target of $37.62 and a 52-week trading range of $21.01 to $53.49.
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