With 2014 just starting, investors may be thinking about which stocks they want in their portfolios throughout the year. In this segment, Two Fools Debate, Fool editor Jamal Carnette and contributor Sam Mattera discuss whether investors should own LinkedIn (LNKD.DL) in 2014.
Sam is concerned about LinkedIn's valuation. He notes the firm's absurdly high price-to-earnings ratio (near 1,000) and forward P/E near 100. Although he believes LinkedIn is an interesting business, he thinks investors should wait for LinkedIn to grow into its valuation before making an investment. Sam also notes the momentum in other social-media names, including Twitter (TWTR) and Facebook (META -10.56%), and wonders if the space could lose its luster in 2014.
In contrast, Jamal thinks LinkedIn remains an attractive investment. While he acknowledges LinkedIn's high valuation, he notes that the company is growing rapidly, continuing to add users and grow revenue at a rapid pace. Jamal also believes that LinkedIn has become an integral part of the Internet -- a site that nearly every professional has to use in some capacity.
