Etsy, an online marketplace for craft creators and sellers, is now worth $300 million, TechCrunch reports. It's the latest in a series of fundings of platforms built from Web technologies.
Color me unsurprised. Platforms have several advantages. The biggest? Profits. Customers tend not to abandon platforms that help them make money. In Etsy's case, top-selling craftspeople are like the power sellers who keep relevant eBay's
What should encourage you as an investor is that there are numerous investment-worthy platforms whose stocks trade on the public markets, many of which are growing at a brisk pace. Here's a closer look at three of my favorites.
Amazon.com
Google
salesforce.com
Though I like all three of these stocks, I've recommended both Google and salesforce.com to our Motley Fool Rule Breakers subscribers. I'm inclined to take either one over Amazon.
Choosing between Google and salesforce.com is more difficult, but I'll take The Big G. Why? Valuation. Much as I continue to believe in salesforce as a multibagger, it's simply unreasonable to value a fast grower such as Google at less than 15 times next year's earnings -- especially when Wall Street has a history of underestimating Google's earnings power.
Now it's your turn to weigh in. Should Google make our list of 11 o'clock stocks? Let the debate begin in the comments box below, and when you're done, click here to get today's 11 o'clock portfolio pick.