Facebook Gets Its First Downgrade Since Cambridge Analytica

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of social media giant Facebook Inc. fell Wednesday after the stock got its first downgrade since January.

Research firm OTR Global cut its rating to mixed versus positive amid concern that year-over-year growth in advertisement spending moderated in the first quarter of 2018. The last downgrade of the stock prior to OTR was made by Stifel Nicolaus & Co's Scott Devitt in January, before the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica.

The company's first-quarter ad spending will likely rise 19 to 24 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, versus a gain of as much as 30 percent in the fourth quarter, OTR said. Facebook lost 10 percent last month amid concern over the way the company handled its users' personal data.

OTR is not beholden to traditional industry coverage. The research team uses information gathered through methods including interviews with industry experts, client events and company filing reviews, according to the firm's website.

Earlier on Wednesday Goldman Sachs' analyst Heather Bellini said the social media giant will likely report another solid quarter after checks with advertising partners were strong. The company is due to report earnings on April 25.

Facebook shares fell as much as 1.7 percent on Wednesday, heading for the first loss in four days. The stock has added 3.9 percent this month, narrowing its decline since mid-March to 10 percent. Options traders have taken notice of the stock rebound: the cost of protecting against declines in Facebook shares are at the lowest level since February, before the Cambridge Analytica scandal roiled the stock in March.

To contact the reporter on this story: Elena Popina in New York at epopina@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Courtney Dentch at cdentch1@bloomberg.net, Morwenna Coniam

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