It's hard to live up to the hype.
The pressure was on Yahoo!
Revenue inched just 9% higher -- or 14% higher excluding traffic acquisition costs -- but adjusted profitability and free cash flow fell slightly over last year's first-quarter showing. In the end, this doesn't appear to be a company that either needs Microsoft
In the end, last night's report and subsequent conference call aren't enough to push this deal to any kind of resolution.
That is the worst kind of stalemate, especially when both halves of the Microhoo equation are wearing their egos on their sleeves.
Yahoo! actually posted declines in both its international and affiliate network revenue, two key areas where the company was supposed to fill gaping holes in Microsoft's online strategy. That may lead Microsoft to reconsider whether Yahoo! is its best match, but Yahoo! may be doing a little thinking on its own, since it put up healthy advances in its domestic display-advertising stronghold.
If you've tired of the Microhoo moniker, join the club. This was supposed to be the earnings report that settled things once and for all. A bad quarter and Yahoo! would have fallen into Microsoft's outstretched arms. A good quarter and Yahoo! would have had every right to tell Microsoft to move along. Instead, we take another swan dive into mediocrity's slow-drying cement.
Get a room, Microhoo? Sure, but it's starting to look more like another waiting room instead.
News to go
If you wanted to see fence-swinging, your best bet was VMware
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If you're not into the Microhoo brand, maybe Glaxtris will win you over. GlaxoSmithKline
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Sen. Hillary Clinton won the Pennsylvania Democratic primary last night. If you're looking for coverage on the pivotal vote, complete with exit polls, colorful commentary, and intricate maps of red and blue states, you have most definitely clicked on the wrong website this morning.
Have a great day out there.