Facebook’s Q1 results reassured Wall Street that the world’s largest social network was keeping up with consumers’ shift from PCs to smartphones. Today’s graphic looks at the share price performance for a variety of Web 2.0 companies (LinkedIn, Yelp, Pandora, Facebook, Zynga, Groupon, & Friendfinder). Besides LinkedIn and Yelp, the other companies’ share prices have struggled significantly since their IPOs.

Most U.S. airlines have returned to profitability after the 2008-09 downturn and are now looking to attract more interests from investors. Today’s graphic charts revenue, earnings and cumulative change in share price of five major U.S. Airlines since 2009. If you could imagine what this chart would look like in three years, what do you think will be the major difference(s)?

Back in the 1990s, Microsoft was the unchallenged king of computing and the release of a new Windows operating system would supercharge sales, generate excitement and generally boost its stock. Not anymore. As seen in the graphic below, Microsoft’s shares have fallen in the year following four of the last five Windows releases.

Apple missed Wall Street’s revenue forecast for the 3rd straight quarter as iPhone sales came in below expectations, fueling investors’ worries about the company’s slowing growth. Today’s graphic shows the share price chart (the stock is down around an additional 10% this morning), Q1 shipments and revenue growth by quarter. Do you think the negative sentiment surrounding Apple is warranted?

Shares in Apple dipped below $500 for the first time in almost one year after reports it is slashing orders for screens and other components from its Asian supplier as intensifying competition erodes demand for its latest iPhone. Today’s graphic includes a share price chart of the last year, iPhone sales trend, and the Q3 smartphone global market share.

Yesterday, Apple reported a second straight quarter of disappointing results as iPad sales fell short of analysts’ targets. The company also forecast revenue and margins below Wall Street forecasts. Today’s graphic compares Apple & Samsung’s quarterly net income as well as share price. Although Samsung has posted consistently lower net income, the two companies seem to be trending in opposite directions. Do you think the introduction of the new iPhone and iPads will propel Apple to a better quarter?

Microsoft’s latest operating system will be launched on Friday. Featuring a new interface that targets the younger set, Windows 8 also offers touch-screen functionality for tablet computers while remaining compatible with traditional desktop PC software. Today’s graphic shows a timeline of Microsoft’s major operating system releases, current market share and share price.

Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has left the company he started in 1995, appeasing shareholders who had blasted the Internet pioneer for pursuing an ineffective personal vision and impeding investment deals that could have transformed the struggling company. Today’s graphic looks at the roller coaster ride taken by the Yahoo share price throughout Yang’s time at the company. Do you think Yahoo will be able to rebound under new leadership?

Since Steve Jobs passed away on Wednesday, we’ve featured graphics on the impact he had on Apple as well as the disease that ultimately lead to his death. Today’s graphic is a timeline of major product releases plotted on a graph of the Apple share price since the company’s IPO.

Click to enlarge

Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz was fired yesterday, ending a tenure marked by stagnation and a rift with Chinese partner Alibaba. Shares in Yahoo jumped 6% in after hours trading and have settle to up around 4% this afternoon. The graphic below tracks the Yahoo share price under the last 4 CEOs.

Check out the Breakingviews video below commenting on the firing: