Facebook revenue jumps 40% in fourth quarter NEW

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook’s advertising business grew at its fastest clip since before the company’s May initial public offering, helping the company’s revenue expand 40 per cent to US$1.585 billion (S$1.96 billion).
Facebook shares were down 2.5 per cent to US$30.45 in after-hours trading yesterday.

Facebook said its mobile business accounted for 23 per cent of total ad revenue, compared with 14 per cent in the third quarter.
But some investors may have been expecting more. “Mobile revenue was expected to be a little higher ... at 25 per cent of total ad revenue,” said analyst Aaron Kessler.
Facebook said net income in the fourth quarter was US$64 million, or 3 US cents a share, compared with US$302 million, or 14 US cents a share, in the year-ago period.
Excluding certain items, Facebook earned 17 US cents a share.
Facebook has ramped up its online advertising services in recent months, putting a greater emphasis on mobile ads and introducing capabilities that let marketers target its users based on their Web browsing history.
Advertising revenue in the fourth quarter grew 41 per cent to US$1.33 billion, with mobile ads representing 23 per cent of Facebook’s ad revenue.

Facebook’s overall fourth-quarter revenue was US$1.585 billion, versus US$1.131 billion in the year-ago period.