Will Upgrades Lift Twitter, LinkedIn Shares?

Social media stocks LinkedIn and Twitter have been suffering since posting disappointing quarterly results last week, but the two got upgrades on Monday. Stifel upgraded Twitter from sell to hold but cut its price target from 76 to 65. Twitter is currently trading around 38, dragged down by an 18% plunge last Tuesday. Stifel noted that Google may have interest in acquiring Twitter, but it would be unlikely that the purchase price would be at a premium to current share levels. LinkedIn received comments that were a little more positive, with Argus upgrading the professional network from hold to buy with a price target of 280. Shares sank 19% to 205 on Friday after LinkedIn's Q2 guidance came in well short of views late Thursday. Argus said that while LinkedIn may have a few more bumpy quarters ahead, the problems are "transitory" and LinkedIn's business model can overcome them. Facebook was lauded after its mixed quarterly results on April 22, with one lauding the social network's "monetization opportunity." Facebook shares are building a flat base with an 86.17 buy point.