Valuation Call Vexes ValueClick

Shares of ValueClick(VCLK Quote) slipped Wednesday after one analyst suggested that the chance of a buyout had faded.

ValueClick's stock has climbed almost 50% since the start of the year after a wave of takeovers hit the online ad space. The rich 85% premium paid for rival aQuantive(AQNT Quote) by Microsoft(MSFT Quote) last week further emboldened investors to bid up ValueClick.

But the chances of a buyout are dampened since major Internet players such as Google(GOOG Quote), Yahoo!(YHOO Quote) and Microsoft -- as well as two ad agencies -- have already made acquisitions in the space, Credit Suisse analyst Heath Terry wrote in a research note on Wednesday.

"ValueClick has gone beyond our estimated standalone valuation and we are not willing to rest our investment case for further upside on a potential takeout," Terry wrote, downgrading the stock to neutral from outperform. Credit Suisse had placed a $32 price target on the stock.

Also beginning to weigh on the company was its disclosure in a regulatory filing on Friday that the Federal Trade Commission is investigating some of its business practices.

Shares of ValueClick were recently off 91 cents, or 2.6%, to $34.09.