Facebook Earnings Breakdown: After a Blowout Quarter, Could The momentum Continue?

Facebook FB reported its first quarter results on Wednesday. The popular provider of various social media platforms earned $0.34 per share, beating the consensus estimate by ten cents. Revenue of $2.5 billion came ahead of analyst expectations by $160 million. Net income for the quarter surged to $642 million from $219 million in the same quarter last year. Earnings breakdown Total revenue from advertising rose 82 percent year over year to $2.27 billion. Of this figure, approximately 59 percent was derived from mobile advertising. In the same quarter a year ago, mobile advertising revenue represented only 30 percent of total advertising revenue. North America accounted for 47 percent of Facebook's revenue with the average revenue per user (ARPU) rising to $5.85 from $2.35 a year ago. North American ARPU remains significantly above Europe at $2.44 (up from $0.84), Asia at $0.93 (up from $0.20) and elsewhere at $0.70 (up from $0.20.) Daily active users (DAUs) totaled 802 million in the quarter, an increase of 21 percent year over year while monthly active users (MAUs) were 1.28 billion, an increase of 15 percent year over year. Mobile MAUs totaled 1.10 billion, an increase of 34 percent year over year. Facebook announced that its Chief Financial Offier David Ebersman will leave the company on June 1 to return to his previous career in the healthcare industry. He will be replaced with David Wehner, Facebook's Vice President of Finance and former Zynga executive. During Facebook's conference call, management cautioned investors not to expect any material revenue contribution from Instagram, video advertising or an advertising network. With Facebook reporting another positive quarter that could satisfy even the most bullish forecast, the question investors need to ask is will the company's momentum continue going forward. Citi: Facebook delivered Mark May, analyst at Citigroup believes that Facebook's quarterly results merely reaffirms an already existing positive thesis. The results were so positive that May believes it was good enough to meet even the most bullish forecasts. Facebook's momentum continued in the quarter with year over year growth in advertising revenue of 82 percent. In the previous quarter Facebook's growth in advertising revenue rose 76 percent and 66 percent in the preceding quarter. In addition to the strong advertising growth, Facebook was able to show improvements in its MAU growth, mobile monetiziation and user engagement. “All that said, we view the results as re-affirming our positive thesis,” May wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. May believes that factors driving short term growth (such as introduction of video advertising) are also sustainable in the long run and will contribute to further growth and gains, and potential upside. Despite May's positive view, his price target of $85 and Buy rating remains unchanged. Deutsche Bank: Solid across the board Ross Sandler, research analyst at Deutsche Bank believes that Facebook continues to deliver on all fronts. “1Q was solid across the board and management's tone continues to be upbeat,” Sandler wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. Sandler noted that advertising revenue remains “the standout” with advertising revenue surging 88 percent year over year in North America. Engagement continues to improve across all regions and 105 million app installs in the quarter implies healthy growth in other areas and execution on a diversification strategy. Sandler cautions investors that Facebook's momentum has to end at some time soon. Facebook is operating in a difficult environment with such a large bullish sentiment, a mathematical deceleration coming in future quarters and an overall bearish climate in the market surrounding Internet and “momentum” stocks. “Facebook performance has been nothing short of remarkable for the past year, but is heading into a stage of meaningful growth deceleration and limited upside to consensus,” Sandler cautioned in his note. Nevertheless, Sandler reiterated a Buy rating with a price target raised to $85 from a previous $76. Macquarie: Expect some disappointment Ben Schacther, analyst at Macquarie was impressed with Facebook's earnings results but cautioned investors that there could be potential bumps in the road. Schacther noted that Facebook's announcement that operating expenditures will ramp significantly in 2014 in addition to Instagram, video advertising and an advertising not contributing significantly will make some investors disappointed. “The bottom line is that while we continue to like Facebook for the long term, the current businesses (as we know them) are somewhat fairly valued at current levels,” Schacther wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. Schacther further explained that monetization initiatives and new ventures such as the potential for Graph Search will drive the stock higher, it may take some time to do so. Finally, Schacther is counting on Facebook from announcing a “meaningful surprise” out of Facebook's developer conference next week. Otherwise, Schacther believes that shares could be range bound in the near-term. Shares are reiterated Outperform rated with a price target unchanged at $73. Elsewhere on the Street Heather Belilini of Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating and an unchanged price target of $78. Doug Anmuth of JPMorgan reiterated an Overweight rating and an unchanged price target of $80. Brian Wieser of Pivotal Research Group reiterated a Buy rating with a price target raised to $74 from a previous $72. Mark Mahaney of RBC Capital Markets reiterated an Outperform rating with a price target raised to $86 from a previous $76. Robert Peck of Suntrust Robinson Humphrey reiterated a Buy rating with a price target raised to $72 from a previous $70.