Analysts Divergent on Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ:ZNGA)

Over the course of the last week several analysts expressed different opinions on Zynga, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZNGA) stock and gave the company differing price targets. Amid all the opinions, Zynga stock rose 6.6% on above average share volume yesterday.

The company’s share price slipped just over 9% late last week on news of more executives leaving the company recently, as well as words of caution coming from Sterne Agee analysts. ZNGA received different ratings over the last few of days, covering both ends of the spectrum. UBS analysts gave ZNGA a Buy rating, quoting the company’s commitment to meet its 2014 guidance and the ongoing effort to integrate its new acquisition – NaturalMotion of Clumsy Ninja fame, intended to give ZNGA a leg up in the mobile race. UBS gave Zynga a price target of $6 in conjunction with their Buy rating.

On the other hand, TheStreet Ratings rated ZNGA as a Sell, explaining this with weaknesses including lacking net income growth and poor operating cash flows. TheStreet analysts cited the company’s Q1 performance on a year-over-year basis, with Zynga having dropped from net profit of $4 million in 2013 to net loss of $61 million recorded in just the first three months of 2014.

Michael Pachter, an analyst particularly popular with his opinions and ratings on companies involved in the gaming industry, gave ZNGA a Buy rating too, praising CEO Mattrick’s efforts to turn the company around by doing the necessary changes in the company’s team.

It’s no secret Zynga has not fared too well since its IPO. The stock, which originally launched into public trading at $10 per share, has lost over 25% since the beginning of April. ZNGA reported 123 million monthly average users in late March, a significant drop from around 250 million in Q1 of 2013.

ZNGA stock is currently trading 1.5% down in the early session.