Why Bazaarvoice, Inc. Shares Bombed

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Bazaarvoice, plunged more than 14% during Friday's intraday trading after a U.S. court ruled the social commerce solution provider violated U.S. antitrust law with its 2012 acquisition of rival PowerReviews.

So what: Investors have been anxiously awaiting the results of this particular trial, which ended last quarter after a lengthy investigation that resulted in the abrupt resignation of Bazaarvoice co-founder and then-CEO Brett Hurt.

Federal Judge William Orrick stated in his ruling, "While Bazaarvoice indisputably operates in a dynamic and evolving field, it did not present evidence that the evolving nature of the market itself precludes the merger's likely anticompetitive effects."

You might also recall shares of Bazaarvoice also plunged in November after the company not only lowered its full-year sales guidance, but also announced then-President Gene Austin would step in as CEO as of Jan. 31, 2014. At the time, analysts expressed optimism regarding Austin's experience and ability to improve churn and sales execution.

Now what: Austin weighed in, saying "We are disappointed in the outcome of the litigation. We believe that the merger with PowerReviews has been beneficial to customers, as did the more than 100 customers who testified that they did not believe that the acquisition affected them adversely in any way." Nonetheless, Bazaarvoice has stated it "will not make a decision regarding an appeal until after the Court concludes the remedy phase of the litigation."

As a result, until its legal matters are fully resolved, I certainly can't blame investors for steering clear of Bazaarvoice stock.