Skip to main content

LinkedIn head office in Mountain View, Calif.Paul Sakuma/The Associated Press

Professional networking company LinkedIn Corp. posted a third-quarter net loss but raised its full-year outlook after it posted a 126 per cent rise in revenue.

LinkedIn, which went public in May, said on Wednesday that it expects to report adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the year in a range of $83-million (U.S.) to $85-million and revenue of $508-million to $512-million.

It had previously targeted a full-year adjusted EBITDA profit of $65-million and $70-million and revenue of $475-million to $485-million.

The company – started in the living room of ex-PayPal executive Reid Hoffman in 2002 and officially launched in May, 2003 – makes money by selling premium subscriptions to its members and by helping companies with hiring and marketing.

Its services are used by professionals seeking jobs or contacts and companies hoping to fill vacancies.

LinkedIn's third-quarter revenue was $139.5-million, above Wall Street expectations of $127.6-million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Net loss was $1.6-million, or 2 cents per share, compared with $4-million a year earlier. Wall Street had expected a loss of 4 cents.

LinkedIn also announced a sale of up to $500-million of common stock, of which the company planned to sell $100-million and stockholders, the rest.

LinkedIn's performance is closely watched as a sign of how other Internet companies will do.

Online coupon distributor Groupon is due to start trading on Friday while social gaming company Zynga and social network Facebook are considering tapping markets.

Interact with The Globe