LinkedIn’s Q3 Earnings Marginally Surpass Expectations: Revenue Surges 23 Percent

LinkedIn recently released a concise [earnings report](https://investors.linkedin.com/events-and-news/corporate-press-releases/press-release-details/2016/LinkedIn-Announces-Third-Quarter-2016-Results/default.aspx) that illustrates strong performance for the third quarter amidst an ongoing $26.2 billion acquisition process by Microsoft. With this probable restructuring in the horizon, the company refrained from providing guidance for the fourth quarter, which may be jointly managed by the Microsoft team later.

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional social network, got down to the brass tacks about its Q3 earnings, revealing strong numbers all round. The company reported revenues of $960 million, narrowly beating the forecasted $959 million, marking an impressive 23 percent increase from the same period last year. Earnings per share rose noticeably from $0.78 to $1.18 over the course of one year. Not to mention, LinkedIn welcomed an increased stream of members, witnessing an 18 percent increase to touch the 467-million mark.

Digging deeper into LinkedIn’s income sources, the **Talent Solutions** division posted a commendable 24 percent year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching $623 million. Under this umbrella, hiring created a significant income of $556 million, representing a 21 percent annual gain. The Learning & Development segment, on the other hand, contributed a decent $67 million to the revenue pie.

In contrast, the **Marketing Solutions** division grew at an even brisker pace of 26 percent, bagging $175 million. The catalyst behind this growth was largely credited to sponsored content, which, as it stands, is verging on contributing two-thirds of total Marketing Solutions revenue.

Lastly, **Premium Subscriptions**, the third major source of LinkedIn’s revenue, hiked 17 percent year-over-year to reach $162 million. Information revealed that LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator remained the fastest growing component in this category, spreading its influence across both field and online channels.

To wrap up, LinkedIn’s advertising revenue showcased robust growth, increasing 26 percent to $175 million.

Highlighting strategic developments, the company also rolled out [LinkedIn Learning](http://techbooky.com/linkedin-launches-online-learning-site/), an online learning gateway directed towards individuals and organisations wishing to facilitate staff training in September. This potential revenue stream is anticipated to be another key feature in future earnings reports, holding substantial promise for the company’s continued fiscal success.