Ask com
Oakland, California, United States
Industry: Internet/Search Engine
Region: US 🇺🇸
Year Founded: 1996
IPO Date: 01-07-1999
Market Cap: N/A
Number of Employees: N/A
Revenue: N/A
Net Income: N/A
Ask Jeeves Inc.
Ask.com IPO
Ask.com, formerly known as Ask Jeeves, is a question-answering-focused search engine that was founded in 1996. The company went public on July 1, 1999, with an initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol “ASKJ.” The IPO provided Ask.com with the necessary capital to expand its operations and further develop its search technology.
Ask.com IPO Prospectus
A prospectus is a formal document required by and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that provides details about an investment offering to the public. You can find Ask.com’s Prospectus here.
Company Overview & History
Ask.com is a renowned search engine that utilizes innovative technology to provide users with answers to their questions. The company was initially created as Ask Jeeves, with a unique feature that allowed users to type questions in a natural language format. This feature distinguished Ask.com from other search engines, as it aimed to provide direct answers rather than a list of relevant web pages.
Over the years, Ask.com has evolved and adapted to changing user demands and advancements in search technology. The company has expanded its range of services beyond question-answering to include general web search, image search, and other search-related features. Ask.com has also undergone several rebranding initiatives to stay competitive in the evolving search engine market.
Financial Performance
| Year | Revenue($B) | Net Income($B) | EBITDA($B) | Operational Cash Flow($B) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0.48 | -0.04 | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| 2019 | 0.49 | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 2018 | 0.49 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 2017 | 0.50 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 2016 | 0.51 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 2015 | 0.55 | 0.03 | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| 2014 | 0.58 | 0.02 | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| 2013 | 0.58 | 0.02 | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| 2012 | 0.58 | 0.02 | 0.09 | 0.09 |
Business Model
Ask.com generates revenue primarily through advertising. The search engine displays targeted ads based on user queries and search results. Advertisers can bid on keywords and pay per click or through other advertising models to have their ads displayed on Ask.com’s search results pages. Additionally, Ask.com offers sponsored search results, where advertisers can pay for higher visibility within the search listings.
Market Cap Over the Years
| Year | Market Cap($B) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 6.3 |
| 2021 | 5.8 |
| 2020 | 1.3 |
| 2019 | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 1.4 |
| 2017 | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 1.4 |
| 2015 | 1.5 |
| 2014 | 1.4 |
| 2013 | 1.3 |
| 2012 | 1.2 |
| 2011 | 1.1 |
| 2010 | 1.0 |
| 2009 | 0.9 |
| 2008 | 0.8 |
| 2007 | 0.7 |
| 2006 | 0.6 |
| 2005 | 0.5 |
| 2004 | 0.4 |
| 2003 | 0.3 |
| 2002 | 0.2 |
| 2001 | 0.1 |
| 2000 | 0.1 |
| 1999 | 0.1 |
| 1998 | 0.1 |
Risk Factors
Like any company operating in the search engine industry, Ask.com faces various risk factors that could impact its business. Some of the key risk factors include intense competition from larger search engine companies, rapidly changing user preferences and search behavior, dependence on advertising revenue, and potential regulatory challenges related to user privacy and data protection. Ask.com must continually innovate and adapt to address these risks and maintain its position in the market.
Market Opportunity
The search engine market presents significant opportunities for growth and expansion. With the increasing reliance on the internet for information retrieval, online advertising, and e-commerce, the demand for efficient and accurate search engines continues to rise. Ask.com aims to capitalize on this market opportunity by providing users with a unique question-answering search experience and developing advanced technologies to enhance search results relevance and user satisfaction.
Competitors
- Google vBing
- Yahoo
- DuckDuckGo
- Baidu
- Yandex
- Naver
- Qwant
Key/Fun Company Facts
- Ask.com was initially named Ask Jeeves, inspired by the fictional valet character Jeeves created by P.G. Wodehouse.
- The Ask Jeeves character was featured prominently in the early branding and marketing efforts of the company, embodying the concept of a helpful butler-like search assistant.
- In 2006, Ask.com launched a major rebranding campaign and retired the Jeeves character to focus on a more streamlined and modern brand image.
- Ask.com has made significant advancements in natural language processing and semantic search technologies to better understand and answer user questions accurately.
- The company has a rich history of product innovation, including the introduction of unique features such as the “Binoculars” preview feature, which allows users to view website snapshots without leaving the search results page.