Chris Nerney

For more than a year, Internet security software market leader VeriSign has been looking for a way to leverage its hefty market capitalization and cash surplus into a deal that would transform it into an e-commerce infrastructure giant. The company finally pulled the trigger on Tuesday when it announced an agreement to buy domain registrar […]

The way Internet IPOs have been skyrocketing lately, youd think the launching pad would be crowded this week with companies aiming for yet another triple-digit debut. Instead, there are only a handful of Net offerings on tap, including two from start-ups with very different business plans that nonethless are trying to accomplish the same thing […]

Network Solutions Inc. reminds me of Bill Clinton, minus the interns. For as long as I can remember, people have been proclaiming the Internet domain registrar’s doom. Lawsuits, complaints of shoddy customer service, and now wide-open competition – all were supposed to be undoing of the company granted a government-sanctioned monopoly several years ago. Well, […]

On Wednesday we looked at Internet IPOs from the first two months of the year, noting that eight of the 32 companies going public in January and February posted first-day gains of 200 percent or more. But where are they now? Let’s look at the brief aftermarket performance of six of our top eight through […]

The Internet IPO floodgates opened in February, with 27 Net companies going public after a quiet January. The low number (five) of Internet IPOs in January was no surprise; it’s traditionally a slower month for new offerings. But February was far busier than the same month a year ago, when only 11 Internet tickers debuted. […]

Initial market reaction to Tuesday’s news that America Online Inc. (AOL) and Time Warner will allow other ISPs to use their cable lines indicates investors are unsure if the decision will benefit the two companies once they merge. AOL shares edged up in pre-opening trading to 61 15/16 from Monday’s closing price of 60 9/16, […]

If you were an i2 Technologies shareholder on Friday, it must have been like being in the passenger seat during a carjacking. One minute everything’s going fine, and the next you’re praying there’s not a crash. The supply-chain software vendor entered Friday on a tremendous roll, its stock having nearly doubled from the Jan. 31 […]

After a frenetic fall run-up that culminated in a New Year’s opening-day blowout, Internet Capital Group’s (ICGE) stock has been stumbling like a drunken reveler groping for solid footing. However, in the wake of Thursday’s earning report, it appears the Internet venture capital fund could stagger into spring. And for good reason. Not only did […]

It’s been a shaky week for Internet stocks, with more sectors losing ground than gaining, according to numbers from internet.com’s Internet StockTracker e-mail newsletter due out Friday. However, despite nagging fears of interest rate hikes and bursting bubbles, Internet stocks as a whole have been up so far this year, with internet.com’s Internet Stock Index […]

Though possibly short-lived, Wednesday’s rally by America Online Inc.’s (AOL) recently sagging stock should boost the morale of shareholders worried about negative market reaction to the company’s merger with media giant Time Warner. Shares of AOL and Time Warner have fallen sharply since the deal was announced on Jan. 10 as investors grappled with valuation […]

Ever since the merger last May of Internet search portal Excite and cable access provider @Home, the combined company has been criticized for lacking strategic direction. Now it’s clear exactly where Excite@Home (ATHM) is headed: the IPO launch pad. Again. On Tuesday the company announced a joint venture with Dow Jones to launch a Web […]

There are dozens of consulting firms offering to help clients integrate Internet technology and e-commerce systems into their existing networks. USWeb/CKS (USWB), Scient (SCNT), Viant (VIAN), US Interactive (USIT) – these are just some of the many Web consulting and design players battling for corporate customers. Another one is Inforte, a Chicago-based firm that has […]