Sentiment Ranking Update
We are updating our sentiment ranking index on 25 stocks in our Internet coverage universe (as of 4/4/17). We have aggregated six different indicators we think are relevant to gauge sentiment and have generated an overall “sentiment” score for each company. This sentiment analysis is intended to be informative and should not be used to form an investment opinion; for example our model does not factor in valuation or management quality. Of our company coverage universe, we have excluded four game publisher companies as well as two recent IPO’s from this analysis as data may not be comparable.
Table 6: 1Q16 change in sentiment ranking
Ticker Rank Pre dQ A Score PredQ A
1 43 4 +4 -1 4 +2
3 -1 8 -1 4 +5 8 +4 5 2 9 “1 GOOGL 6 NA 9 +1 7 1 9 +2 8 +9 11 43 9 +5 12 +2 10 +5 12 +2 11 4 13 -2 12 +4 13 1 13 +5 14 1 14 9 14 5 15 +6 14 43 16 +8 14 +5 17 7 16 4 18 5 16 3 19 NA 16 NA 20 9 16 4 21 +1 17 +1 22 -10 17 4 23 +2 19 1 24 -1 20 -2 25 5 21 5
Source: BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research, Bloomberg, as of 4/4/2017
Investor sentiment categories
We assembled data that measures investor sentiment across six categories. These metrics include latest short interest (as a % of float), change in short interest as a % of float over the last 90 days, current stock performance over the last 90 days, current average sell side ratings, forward year EPS estimate revisions over last 90 days, and expected FY17 revenue growth. While there are no perfect indicators of average investor sentiment, we believe these metrics provide a helpful framework of investor sentiment in our sector. In our analysis, Facebook, WIX, and LendingTree had the highest sentiment in 1Q, while Fitbit, Trip and Twitter had the lowest sentiment. Care.com had the most improved ranking, moving up 9 points to 8", while Quotient had the biggest decline moving down 10 spots in our ranking to 22™.
Methodology
Our methodology consisted of: 1) gathering financial data across six categories that we believe are relevant to measuring investor sentiment, 2) ranking companies on each attribute using a scale of 1 to 29, with 1 highest and 29 the lowest, and 3) ranking the companies based on the avg. score of the six metrics.
BankofAmerica <2”
8 Internet/e-Commerce | 06 April 2017 Merrill Lynch
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