Yahoo Executive Blames Focus on User Growth for Revenue Miss

The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! Inc. YHOO's senior vice president that oversees publisher products accepted part of the blame for the company's recent revenue miss. Related Link: Investors Digest Yahoo's Q4 Results, Potential Spinoff Or Sale The Wall Street Journal quoted Yahoo's Simon Khalaf as saying he is "party to blame" for Yahoo's fourth quarter revenue miss and as well as a $100 million target for Tumblr in 2015. The executive told reporters that the company is now focusing on boosting daily user growth and that "money will come later." Khalaf did however say that daily users to Tumblr and other properties he oversees have grown - but he declined to break out any numbers. He added that the properties will feature new ad products to help boost Tumblr's revenue but also declined to offer any specific revenue target. The Wall Street Journal also added that Khalaf has been working with other members of Yahoo's team to evaluate which categories the company won't be able to compete in, such as autos. "We decided this is not an area we are going to be competitive in," Khalaf said. "I want to win." Shares of Yahoo were trading higher by nearly 3 percent at $29.42 early Friday morning.