By TREFIS
Despite the U.S. unemployment index actually slipping by 0.4% in November, Monster’s (NYSE:MWW) stock has stayed at August 2011 levels of around $7.50-$8.00, representing roughly a $1 billion market cap. This erosion of roughly $2 billion in market cap over 2011 is brewing interest in the company’s potential buyout again, considering that the stock is cheap as of now. One of the potential contenders could be arch rivals LinkedIn(NYSE:LNKD), who could be seeing some synergies with Monster.
(Dow Jones) Collins Stewart recommends buying LinkedIn (LNKD) as it starts coverage of the professional networking site, saying it's "the only company providing passive recruiting at scale." It adds LNKD has plenty of room to grow as it has less than 1% of the $85B talent-acquisition market and has shown ability to raise prices without affecting volume. The investment bank admits, though, that LNKD's valuation at 62 times projected 2013 earnings leaves "little room for error." Collins Stewart sets an $86 price target, short of the north-of-$100 values the company saw in its post-IPO surge. LNKD closed Wednesday at $61.73 and is inactive premarket.
