Despite its down-down share price keeping the tech websites' eyes bright with crocodile tears, Wedbush Securities' Michael Pachter has stepped up in support of Zynga.

According to VentureBeat, he's issued a report with a predicted share price target of $12.50 within a year.

Zynga shares floated on 16 December at $10.

Too big not to grow

His reasoning is that the company has more monthly active users than the next 12 largest social game developers combined, and has potential to increase its total audience as well as per user revenue by varying the type of games it makes, pushing more innovative types of advertising and investigating branded virtual goods and sponsorships.

In terms of growth, Pachter said he expects Zynga's earnings to rise 93 percent in 2012 and 25 percent in 2013.

Mobile call up

Another angle is Zynga's potential to push on mobile.

According to the company, it has 13 million users on iOS, Android and mobile web, and they account for about 7 percent of revenue.

Pachter reckons this could be up to 10 percent of sales by 2013: or around $153 million.

[source: VentureBeat]