Kara Swisher

Recent Posts by Kara Swisher

Despite All the Sturm und Drang, Yahoo Will Likely Beat This Quarter (It’s the Next Step That’s a Doozy)

Oy.

That’s what I was thinking over and over in my head as I read through the many pretty decent questions that Yahoo’s activist investor Third Point asked on its Value Yahoo Web site yesterday.

Because there were so many — they are all embedded below — and mostly because they all need to be answered by Yahoo in some fashion over the next few months.

In addition, they are each time-consuming and all over the map, from figuring out its troubled advertising search partnership with Microsoft to the talks around selling off parts of its Asian assets to Yahoo’s patent lawsuit against Facebook to how it’s going to deal with Third Point’s possible proxy challenge to whether more layoffs beyond its recent 2,000 firings will be needed.

Like I said: Oy.

But for later today, when Yahoo reports its first-quarter earnings after the markets close, it will all be about the numbers and whether the long-troubled company has regained any of its momentum.

According to multiple sources, Yahoo will report earnings that will be decent enough and in line with Wall Street expectations — if not slightly better. What analysts hope is that declines in search will lessen and display growth will see improvement.

Currently, investors expect net revenue of $1.06 billion with earnings of 17 cents a share.

But what everyone will really be looking for is what’s next from new CEO Scott Thompson, who has yet to articulate a cogent strategy beyond the broad strokes of a restructuring and, of course, layoffs.

“Following the round of layoffs and the reorg, we believe investors are focused on Scott Thompson’s strategy for the business,” noted J.P Morgan’s Doug Anmuth in his pre-earnings note, expressing a common sentiment. “We know he’s focused on the core business, improved data and targeting functionality and fee-based revenue, but we’ve heard only limited details thus far.”

Indeed. So, perhaps tomorrow, Thompson will start to fill in the blanks.

Until then, here are some of those open questions from Third Point for Yahoo to consider:

QUESTIONS FOR YAHOO!’S MANAGEMENT AND BOARD

1. How does Yahoo!’s proposed operating plan differ substantively from those of the last 3 CEOs?

2. What are management’s financial targets for 2012?

3. Should investors expect to realize the cost savings from the announced headcount reductions in Yahoo!’s operating profits, or will the savings be “reinvested” in Yahoo!’s latest operating plan?

4. Does the previously announced headcount reduction represent the full extent of cost reductions investors should expect?

5. What is management’s plan to address the display ad business?

6. Please provide examples of the data driven product initiatives Mr. Thompson announced were coming “sooner rather than later.”

7. What is the status of the sales force turnaround begun in mid-2011? Will recent sales leadership changes re-set sales productivity expectations?

8. What is the status of these key initiatives announced last year:
APT 2.0/APT and RMX convergence
Project Rewire
User log-in traction

9. What is the latest assessment of the Microsoft search agreement’s progress? How has the revenue per search (RPS) delivered by Microsoft fared versus pre-partnership levels and industry peers?

10. What happened to the cost savings that the Microsoft search agreement was expected to provide?

11. Investor Communications: What is Yahoo!’s view on and outlook for the Asian stakes, particularly Alibaba? What kind of window (timeframe) is Yahoo!’s latest management team and Board asking for from investors with respect to the most recent operational turnaround strategy?

12. Facebook Lawsuit: Please provide the rationale and expectations behind the lawsuit. Did the Board authorize it? Has the Board considered alternative paths to unlocking the value of Yahoo!’s patent portfolio?

13. Asian Stakes: After over a year of talks, what is the status of the monetization of Yahoo! Japan? What hurdles remain?

14. What is the status of the Alibaba Group discussions? How is management approaching fair value of this asset? What is management’s view of the Alibaba Group value?

15. To the extent a rationalization of one or more Asian stakes is realized, what is Yahoo!’s plan for the proceeds? Will Yahoo!’s leadership commit to a return of substantially all cash proceeds to investors?

16. To the extent a rationalization of one or more Asian stakes is realized what is Yahoo!’s approach to assets contributed to Yahoo! as part of a tax efficient transaction? Does Yahoo!’s leadership believe it can integrate acquisitions or contributed assets? If so, why? Does Yahoo!’s leadership support transactions that would be dilutive to the multiple of Yahoo!’s core business?

17. Please explain why Daniel S. Loeb, as a representative of Yahoo!’s largest outside investor, would not be a good steward of investor interests and a valuable addition to the Board.

18. When will the 2012 shareholder meeting be held?

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There was a worry before I started this that I was going to burn every bridge I had. But I realize now that there are some bridges that are worth burning.

— Valleywag editor Sam Biddle