LinkedIn Earnings Sail Past Estimates

LinkedIn Corp. (NYSE: LNKD) is rising after its earnings report. The social network for professionals (i.e., the network that isn't for burning idle time), showed that its revenue for the third quarter was up 81% to $252.0 million. Its net income was $2.3 million, but the non-GAAP net income rose almost 300% to $25.1 million. That comes to non-GAAP earnings of $0.22 per share.

Thomson Reuters was looking for estimates of $0.11 in non-GAAP EPS and $243.9 million in revenue.

Revenue from its Talent Solutions (Hiring) rose by 95% to $138.4 million. This accounted for 55% of total revenue in the third quarter versus 51% a year ago. Revenue from Marketing Solutions products rose 60% to $64.0 million, and this was 25% of sales versus 29% of sales a year ago. Revenue from Premium Subscriptions products rose by 74% to $49.6 million, and that 20% figure of sales was the same as a year ago. LinkedIn said that U.S. sales were 64% of total sales at totaled $162.4 million.

The company talked up member activity and growth in talent, marketing, and premium product lines. For the company's fourth quarter of 2012 its updated guidance is as follows:

Revenue for the fourth quarter is expected to be $270 to $275 million versus the consensus estimate of $272.27 million from Thomson Reuters. EBITDA is being put in a range of $58 and $60 million.

LinkedIn shares closed down only 8-cents at $106.85 and shares were up 6% around $113.40 in the after-hours.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Earnings, Internet, Media Tagged: featured, LNKD