Analysts Await Zuckerberg Talk At Facebook Inc. Conference Wednesday

Facebook Inc.

analysts will listen intently Wednesday as Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg offers a performance update and potentially unveils new products. The 29-year-old Zuckerberg's appearance will mark the start of Facebook's eight-annual developers' conference in San Francisco. "We expect investors to react positively," said Piper Jaffray's Eugene Munster, who maintained an Overweight rating and $92 target. Brean Capital's Sarah Hindlian expects Facebook will "play a bit of catch-up" with Twitter Inc.

at its conference, perhaps announcing products similar to the advertising tools that Twitter has been rolling out recently. There's a "dearth of viable and measurable mobile adverting tools" comparable to Twitter's MoPub product aimed at helping manage advertising inventory, according to Hindlian. Also a primary topic: Facebook's Parse development platform for mobile apps. "The goal appears to be to embed Facebook within mobile applications and collect wider off-Facebook user data," Hindlian said. Updates on messenger initiatives, WhatsApp, and Instagram advertising, are likely at the conference, according to Hindlian, who maintained a Buy rating and $96 target on Facebook. Besides innovations and stand-alone products, JMP's Ronald V. Josey said he'll be listening for engagement trends and product updates with a focus on events and publisher partners. Josey maintained an Outperform rating and boosted his target 3 percent to $97, citing recent channel checks suggesting that Facebook continues to gain market share in advertising.