'This too shall pass': Facebook is surging as Wall Street changes its tune amid the Cambridge Analytica data scandal

Markets Insider

• Facebook is finally begin ing to show green after losing billions amid an ongoing data scandal.
• The stock has received a number of buy ratings as Wall Street says "this too shall pass."
• You can track Facebook's stock price in real-time here>>

Shares of Facebook gained more than 4%, breaching $160, on Thursday as Wall Street eyes a turnaround for the embattled social media stock amid the ongoing Cambridge Analytica data scandal.

Facebook has received a number of new buy ratings from Wall Street analysts this week, who now have an average price target of $220 - 38% above where shares were trading Thursday.

Before today, the stock had lost as much as 20% since news of the company's practices with data brokers like Cambridge Analytica first broke. Now, however, Wall Street sees a potential buying opportunity.

"We believe the sell-off is overdone and are reiterating our Buy/$225 price target for five key reasons," SunTrust analyst Youssef Squali said in a note to clients Thursday. Here are his reasons, per the note:

1. "Digital advertisers we spoke to are not leaving FB, considering how effective the platform is relative to other channels."
2. "We see no indication that users are fleeing FB en masse."
3. "Our review of Uber, Yahoo, and Equifax missteps/subsequent recovery gives us confidence that this too shall pass."
4. "Regulatory action/fines, if any, are likely limited as mgt is taking bold measures to self regulate."
5. "Compelling valuation."

Reporting from Business Insider's Tanya Dua confirms SunTrust's thesis that advertisers are sticking with the embattled social network, despite the fiasco. Roughly a dozen prominent ad media buyers told Business Insider that none of their clients are planning to cut spending on Facebook in light of the mishap.

Other price targets are as high as $260, according to analysts polled by Bloomberg, despite remaining questions around potential regulation and testimonies from Facebook executives in front of both US and UK lawmakers.

Shares of Facebook are down 12% since the start of the year.