The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.36%) had fallen more than 24 points as of 11:35 a.m. EDT. Among active tech stocks, Glu Mobile (GLUU +0.00%) led the way higher, while GoPro (GPRO 3.01%) continued to rally after entering the market on Thursday. Apple (AAPL +0.15%) also rose slightly early in the session.
Glu Mobile rises after upgrade
Glu Mobile rose more than 6.5% early in the session after Benchmark raised its rating on the stock from hold to buy. Benchmark cited positive trends in the mobile-gaming space and some success specific to Glu Mobile's products. The analyst believes shares could be worth as much as $5.60 -- a premium of more than 15% from current levels.
Glu Mobile is a developer and publisher of mobile games. Its game portfolio includes more than a dozen titles across iPad, iPhone, and Android devices. It doesn't have anything as well-known as Candy Crush Saga or Angry Birds, but the company is a small cap with a valuation just short of $400 million.
One trend that could benefit Glu Mobile in the near term is the growing expansion of Internet-connected, video game-capable set-top boxes. The Amazon.com Fire TV, released in April, lets users play mobile games on their TV. Later this fall, TVs and set-top boxes powered by Android TV will hit the market; all will be capable of playing Android games.
GoPro continues its post-IPO surge
GoPro was up 28% in early trading. Factoring in today's move, GoPro is not too far from doubling its IPO offering price of $24 per share.
There wasn't any news specific to GoPro's rally on Friday, but investors obviously continued to be intrigued by the prospect of owning shares of the camera company. Unlike other recent IPOs, GoPro is actually profitable and sells a tangible product -- its digital cameras have seen rapid growth in recent years. About three-quarters of the 8.5 million cameras it has sold in its history were sold in the last two years.
Still, at current levels, investors may be skeptical. Although GoPro has seen rapid earnings growth on a year-over-year basis, there are some signs that this trend is beginning to falter. Last quarter, GoPro's revenue actually contracted compared to the first quarter of 2013. GoPro blamed its supply chain, but the company must continue its growth to justify its valuation.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Wal-Mart lowers the price of Apple's iPhone
Apple shares rose a bit more than 0.6% early in Friday's session. This came after Wal-Mart slashed the price of the iPhone 5S from $199 to $99 on contract, and cut the price of the iPhone 5C from $99 to $29.
This could be a ploy on Wal-Mart's part aimed at taking share of the smartphone market from other retailers -- consumers who come in to purchase Apple's iPhone may be more likely to buy other, higher-margin products, including accessories. Or it could be a sign that Apple's hotly anticipated iPhone 6 is nearing its debut. If past years are any indication, Apple will launch the iPhone 6 in September.
If the widespread reports of a larger screen are true, Apple's iPhone 6 could be the best-selling iPhone in the company's history.
