Research by Gerard Hoberg and Nagpurnanand Prabhala After once competing almost exclusively with other computer makers, Apple has had to battle a more diverse group of rivals since launching its extensive line of music players, phones and tablets.

Facebook's recently disclosed price range for its initial public offering anticipated in mid-May indicates the company’s value as just under $100 billion. This development indicates the Internet giant now is well positioned to grow, said Gerard Hoberg, associate professor of finance for the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 4, 2012, 7:30 a.m. Facebook IPO Estimates are pegging Facebook’s current valuation at $100 billion with its initial public offering coming up this spring. The social media giant will no doubt have the year’s most talked about IPO, but is it a good deal?

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Gerard Hoberg, associate professor of finance for the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, is available to discuss how the anticipated Facebook IPO will affect the company and discuss the factors that would make Facebook or any IPO a good investment vehicle. The IPO filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission would be followed by Facebook’s initial public offering in about three months.

Leigh Anenson, associate professor of business law, received her JD from the University of Akron School of Law. Her research involves rethinking the role of ancient equity in contemporary court practice in the United States.

Research by Gerard Hoberg and Gordon Phillips

Research by Gerard Hoberg UNDERPRICING IS COMMON IN INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS—TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO AVOID. BUT SOME FIRMS CONSISTENTLY SELL NEW STOCK ISSUES AT A MUCH GREATER DISCOUNT THAN OTHERS. IS THIS PHENOMENON DRIVEN BY PURELY COMPETITIVE FORCES, OR BY A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT IPO ISSUERS FROM PREDATORY UNDERWRITING PRACTICES?