Momentum Deserts Yahoo!

Still, CEO Terry Semel remains on the hot seat following last year's nearly 40% plunge, which came amid repeated financial shortfalls and various other setbacks, many to hard-charging rival Google.

During 2006, the company also saw a steady exodus of top executives from its ranks. And in the fourth quarter, the company announced a dramatic restructuring of its top ranks and a reorganization into three new business units.

Adding to the pressure on Yahoo!'s stock is the premium value it continues to fetch in spite of the company's competitive problems against Google. Yahoo! shares trade at 44 times earnings estimates, a rich multiple indeed for a company whose latest quarter showed single-digit revenue growth across the board.

During the company's conference call for investors, Yahoo! also announced that it had extended its partnership with eBay(EBAY Quote) to include a payment feature incorporating the auction giant's PayPal payment service.

Yahoo! also said that it began introducing its new ad-ranking system overseas, with a rollout starting Tuesday in Japan.

When asked about rival Google's recent acquisition of ad technology firm DoubleClick, Yahoo! Semel said that it lent credence to Yahoo!'s approach. The move is intended to make Google a player in the display ad market where Yahoo! is dominant.

"It validates Yahoo!'s strategy for the past few years. We have always thought [display advertising] was a very important part of advertising," Semel said. "We are happy to see others coming to that table."