Two more innovative companies have reported earnings results after the bell Thursday, daily-deals provider Groupon (GRPN - Analyst Report) and job-oriented social media firm LinkedIn (LNKD - Analyst Report) both beat revenue estimates for their September quarters, along with beating earnings estimates. However, both companies left after-market traders wanting immediately after their reports on less-than-stellar Q4 guidance.

Groupon posted a loss of 1 cent per share, beating the Zacks consensus estimate of -4 cents, and revenues spiked nicely to $757 million compared to the $742 expected. LinkedIn also posted earings of 10 cents per share (adjusted, including stock-based compensation costs) on $568 million in sales, topping the -5 cents and $562 million we were looking for. Both companies cited admirable year-over-year growth in the mid-double-digits, and attributed much of their positive outlook to its recent acquisitions: Ticket Monster for Groupon (which sent its Rest of the World segment through the roof with triple-digit growth from a year ago) and Bizo (which should play a big role in LinkedIn's B2B business in the coming quarters).

But we saw Groupon shares dip upon the first read-through of its earnings numbers, and that may have to do with its guidance for the December quarter a tad lower than analysts may have been expecting: the Zacks consensus is looking for $921 million in sales for the company's Q4, and guidance was for a range of $875 - 925 million. Groupon has pushed back into positive territory of late in the after-market; we shall see at tomorrow's opening bell if the company can keep some stock price momentum following regular Thursday's 3.45% gains.

Groupon could really use the boost -- before the earnings announcement, the company had been trading down nearly 50% year to date. But with growth billings up 39% and total units up 92% year over year, perhaps we're finally seeing Groupon push toward profitability.

LinkedIn's Q4 guidance was far worse than investors were looking for: a range of $600 - 605 million for the December quarter is well short of the $621 million in the Zacks consensus. Perhaps the company is a bit unsure when meaningful sales will be generated by its Sales Navigator stand-alone solution for sales reps and clients, as well as the previously mentioned Bizo.

Surprisingly, though, LinkedIn isn't paying the price for weaker growth projections the way Twitter (TWTR - Analyst Report) did earlier this week. Its shares are up roughly 2.5% in late trading, following modest gains early Thursday and 3.5% gains over the past five days.

Both Groupon and LinkedIn are down since this time a year ago, but clearly there is much money riding on these 21st century firms figuring out how to best monetize their various services. Groupon is currently a Zacks Rank #3 and LinkedIn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).