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Sohu.com (SOHU): Forbes expert sees online gains in China

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Sohu.com (NASDAQ: SOHU), an Internet media provider in China, is a recent featured addition to the aggressive growth portfolio of Vahan Janjigian.

The leading quantitative analyst and editor of The Forbes Growth Report explains, "Long-term growth is also promising as Internet usage expands in China." Here is the advisor's review.

"Sohu offers media content from more than 1,600 partners through 35 interest-specific channels, which cover news, business, sports, and entertainment. The website also offers tools such as free email accounts, web logs (blogs), message boards, and picture galleries.

"SOHU also runs Sogou.com, a proprietary Internet search engine; Chinaren.com, the largest online youth community in China boasting more than 80 million users; 17173.com, which provides information about online video games and has alliances with thousands of Internet cafes; and Focus.cn, a real estate website.

"China's growth and rapid penetration of Internet usage among its population are reflected in SOHU's financial results. Total revenues jumped 40.7% in 2007 to $188.9 million led by a five-fold increase in online
game revenues and a 41.9% rise in brand advertising.

"SOHU is benefiting from the growing popularity of its role-playing games known as MMORPGs, its sponsorship of the 2008 Olympic Games, and China's strong online advertising market.

"SOHU capped off the year with a 90.2% year-over-year surge in revenues for Q4. Pro forma net income more than doubled to $17 million or 43 cents per share. The stock more than doubled in price in 2007.

"Despite promising prospects, competition remains fierce. Baidu.com,Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, and a host of new entrants are looking to exploit China's rapid economic growth. Furthermore, SOHU must operate under
China's sometimes capricious laws and regulations.

"Tighter government controls on the flow of information and greater government involvement in business transactions could impede SOHU's ability to grow. Nonetheless, SOHU's prospects indicate the stock
deserves a rich valuation.

"According to the China Internet Information Center, the number of Internet users in the country grew 53% in 2007 to 210 million. Yet this is just 16% of China's overall population, suggesting there is still plenty of opportunity for growth."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

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Last updated: November 27, 2009: 04:07 AM

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