Twitter is scheduled to report fourth-quarter earnings before the market opens on Thursday.
Analysts expect Twitter to report earnings of 12 cents a share, excluding certain expenses, down from 16 cents a share a year ago. They also expect Twitter to report revenue of $739.97 million, up from $710.5 million a year ago. By and large, analysts expect Twitter to come in at or above the high end of guidance and consensus.
Wedbush Securities analysts Michael Patcher expects growth of 1.5% in the U.S. and 0.8% internationally “The service is still too complicated to attract the average Internet user, despite multiple changes,” he wrote in a research note.
Analysts will be looking for updates on how Twitter’s live video streaming strategy is faring, coming off the presidential debates and NFL games. Periscope CEO Kayvon Beykpour is now in charge of all live video initiatives, according to Recode. "While Twitter’s move into live streaming events is one way the platform can introduce new users to its features, we think that conversion of existing users remains minimal and the service is still too complicated to attract the average Internet user, despite multiple changes," Pachter says.
As the company's user and revenue growth stagnated and public backlash increased, Twitter has in recent months begun to address complaints, particularly after Walt Disney Co. decided not to pursue a bid for Twitter, partly out of concern about bullying on the service.
CEO Jack Dorsey’s top priority has been to stem the growing tide of abuse and harassment on Twitter. In recent weeks, Twitter has begun to bring out fixes such as making it more difficult for those who have been suspended from Twitter to create new accounts.