Who's the Next Internet Takeover Target?

In case you hadn’t noticed, the Street Friday was playing a robust round of Internet stock speculation, bidding up shares of almost any company that might potentially be a target in the wake of Microsoft’s (MSFT) $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo (YHOO). A few of these actually make sense: at the heart of the Microsoft bid this is about a battle for ad dollars. So the renewed speculation over Valueclick (VCLK) seems logical. The rise in eBay today seems largely to reflect the fact that they would be one of the few remaining decent sized Internet companies left to buy if the Yahoo deal closes. (Unless someone is imagining that they will be combine forces with Yahoo as a way to fend off the MSFT bid.)

Here’s a look at how some other Internet stocks performed on Friday:

• ebay: Up $1.92, or 7.1%, to $28.81.
• ValueClick: Up $1.47, or 6.7%, to $23.30.
• CNET: Up 53 cents, or 6.7%, or $8.42.
• TheStreet.com (TSCM): Down 8 cents, or 0.7%, to $11.02.
• Monster.com (MNST): Up $1.97, or 7.1%, to $29.82.

One other note: Amazon.com (AMZN) dropped $3.07, or 4%, to $74.63, after a wild session on Thursday in which the stock plunged in the morning, and then rallied to gain $3.49.

So, have any guesses on who goes next?

Comments

[Smart Look:]

Well, LookSmart (LOOK) of course, MIVA, maybe and a strong contender LOCM, Local.com.

Bebo could fit the social networking needs of MSFT/YHOO.

2008 Feb 03 01:41 PM