Trade Social Media Today On Groupon/Pandora IPO Buzz (LOCM, STVI, SPMD)

Bankers forecast Groupon will offer its initial public offering in the spring, while Pandora met with bankers on Tuesday to discuss options. According to reports, Pandora's IPO is reported to be $100 million. Groupon's IPO is reported to be valued at approximately $1 to $1.5 billion, according to Bloomberg TV. Interested in trading these hot companies? Instead of waiting for them to launch, check out secondary market investing sites like Sharespost and Secondmarket. Facebook, Twitter and Linked In are several notorious companies listed on secondary markets. Of course, some investors are not interested in entering the private market. Several companies with social media services have presence in the public market, such as Local.com LOCM, a site specializing in local businesses. Local.com's business is centered on coupons and events, and shares were up 7 percent after-hours Wednesday. Snap Interactive STVI, operator of several Facebook, iPhone and Myspace dating applications, and Super Media SPMD are two other locally-driven businesses traded on the public markets. Will Facebook, Linked In and Twitter become public companies? Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly resists an IPO, disinterested in public market trading until at least 2012. Goldman Sachs invested $450 million in the site, putting a valuation on Facebook at $50 billion, as announced on Dealbook on January 2, 2011. Linked In is considering launching an IPO later this year. Twitter, on the other hand, plans to maintain its independence away from the public market, according to an All Things Digital Interview with Twitter CEO Dick Costolo. In Friday pre-market trade, Local.com shares are at $4.50, Snap Interactive shares are at $2.52, and Super Media shares are at $9.42. Neither Benzinga nor its staff recommend that you buy, sell, or hold any security. We do not offer investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Benzinga recommends that you conduct your own due diligence and consult a certified financial professional for personalized advice about your financial situation.