YNOT – FriendFinder Networks Inc.’s stock closed at $2.33 per share on Friday with a moderate “buy” recommendation, capping the eighth consecutive day of per-share trading above the $1 minimum NASDAQ requires to maintain a listing.
In January, the stock exchange warned the company it could face delisting unless FriendFinder brought its share price up above the minimum — and maintained the above-minimum price for 10 consecutive days — before July 9. FFN stock had traded at below $1 per share for the previous 30 days.
FFN also must maintain a total market value of at least $15 million in order to maintain its listing. On Friday, the company’s market value stood at $72.7 million.
In a statement issued two days earlier, FriendFinder indicated the company’s outlook is on the rise due to its entrenchment in a global online dating services market estimated to surmount $2.5 billion in value by 2015.
FFN based its casual prediction on a research report from Marketdata Enterprises, a Tampa, Fla., market research publisher, which has tracked the dating service market since 1998.
“The Marketdata study confirms what we have known for some time — online dating presents a tremendous opportunity for FriendFinder Networks,” said FFN President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Bell. “Already considered one of the most significant participants in online dating with properties that include FriendFinder.com, PerfectMatch.com, AsiaFriendFinder.com, SeniorFriendFinder.com, AdultFriendFinder.com, Amigos.com and BigChurch.com, FriendFinder Networks operates more than 40,000 sites, catering to over 528 million registrants. This robust platform provides us with tremendous coverage and exposure to a strong and growing market.
“While all of our sites benefit from a shared technological and operational platform, our focused approach on multiple demographics provides users with an intimate experience focused on the interests, beliefs, and values that are most important to them,” he continued. “This individualistic approach has allowed FriendFinder Networks to continue to penetrate different areas of the market and establish ourselves as the leader in social networking and dating websites.”
According to the study, dating website growth is expected to occur at 7.2 percent annually, with key drivers that include geographic and mobile application expansion.
“FriendFinder Networks is well positioned to address the specific areas driving growth,” Bell said. “For example, AsiaFriendFinder.com is the largest online dating personals site targeted towards Asians, with over 34,000,000 members since inception, while Amigos.com is averaging over 75,000 new members each month as users from Brazil and other Latin American countries embrace online dating resources. Targeted sites based on geography and interests are key drivers that will help propel FriendFinder Networks to further industry leadership.
“In addition, the explosion of smartphone technology has made mobile applications a key component of online dating,” he added. “The All FriendFinder App, available on iPhone, Android and other smartphones, offers users of any of our sites a way to keep in touch on the go and manage their dating life from the palm of their hand.”
FriendFinder’s initial public offering opened in May at $10 per share, generating $50 million. Within a week, shares lost nearly half their market value and never recovered. Within 24 hours after FriendFinder Networks released its second quarter earnings statement in mid-August, shares plunged 70 cents to $3.30 before rallying to close at $3.37 — a daily loss of 63 cents, or 15.75 percent. Analysts blamed the second tumble on what several called “disappointing” earnings during the company’s first quarter on the NASDAQ.
FriendFinder, also the parent company of adult industry icon Penthouse, is one of only a handful of adult entertainment companies traded publicly.
