About this content About Sean Mason Sean Mason is a Senior Journalist at Proactive, having researched and written about Canadian and US equities for 20 years. Sean graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA in history and economics and has also passed the Canadian Securities Course. He previously worked at Investors Digest of Canada, Stockhouse, and SmallCapPower.com. Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and action ...

Core Insights - Meta Platforms Inc is accelerating AI-driven ad demand across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, with expectations of double-digit revenue growth into year-end [1] Revenue and Earnings Projections - Bank of America Securities analyst Justin Post forecasts third-quarter 2025 revenue of $50 billion and EPS of $7.30, exceeding the Street's estimates of $49.5 billion and $6.69 [2] - For the fourth quarter, Post projects revenue of $58.8 billion and EPS of $8.90, surpassing consensus estimates of $57.3 billion and $8.12, with a likely company forecast of $55.5–$59 billion reflecting up to 22% year-over-year growth [4] Advertising Revenue Growth - Meta's ad revenue is expected to rise 23% year-over-year, outpacing Alphabet's 13% growth, while maintaining an operating margin near 42% [3] AI Infrastructure and Long-term Growth - The company is investing in AI infrastructure, including automated ad platforms, custom silicon, and data center investments, which are seen as key long-term growth drivers [5] - New initiatives like Meta Business AI could unlock additional ad demand from smaller businesses by 2026 [5] Expense and Capital Expenditure Guidance - Analyst anticipates Meta may tighten its 2025 expense guidance to $115–$117 billion and raise the lower end of its capex range to $68–$72 billion to support expanding AI infrastructure [4] Stock Valuation - Despite heavy spending, the stock is considered attractively valued at 23 times 2026 EPS [6]

Group 1 - Meta Platforms' CEO Mark Zuckerberg is required to testify in a trial regarding the negative impacts of social media on younger users [1][2] - The trial is described as the "first bellwether trial" and is scheduled for January, with other CEOs from Snap and Instagram also ordered to testify [2] - The judge emphasized that the testimonies of the CEOs are crucial, as their knowledge of potential harms and inaction could indicate negligence [2][3] Group 2 - The judge's ruling highlights allegations that social media companies did not adequately warn users about features designed to be addictive and promote compulsive behaviors among minors [3]

Core Insights - The article discusses unconventional career paths into Big Tech, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and strategic positioning in job applications. Group 1: Career Path and Education - The individual transitioned from a biology degree to project management roles in tech, highlighting that a traditional tech background is not always necessary for success in Big Tech [2][5]. - Certifications in project management, such as CAPM and CSM, were pursued to build a foundation in project management, demonstrating the value of relevant skills over traditional degrees [6]. Group 2: Job Application Strategies - The advice to keep job titles as they appear in HR systems was challenged, as adapting titles to better reflect actual responsibilities can enhance résumé effectiveness [12][14]. - Removing graduation years from résumés can help avoid age bias, allowing the focus to remain on current skills [15]. - Direct outreach to individuals within companies, rather than solely applying through official job portals, has proven to yield better results in securing interviews [16][18]. - Applying for jobs even when not meeting all qualifications can lead to opportunities, as many candidates still receive interviews despite not checking every box [19][20]. Group 3: Online Presence and Authenticity - The notion of maintaining a strictly formal online presence was reconsidered, with authenticity being recognized as a valuable asset in professional networking [21][22].

Core Viewpoint - Meta's stock is not a concern due to its strong operating performance, financial health, and leadership in digital advertising, supported by its transformation into an AI-driven advertising powerhouse [1] Financial Performance - Meta's market capitalization is $1.9 trillion, with revenues growing 19% from $143 billion to $170 billion over the last 12 months, averaging a growth rate of 13% over the past three years [7][10] - Quarterly revenues increased by 16.1% to $42 billion in the most recent quarter, up from $36 billion a year earlier [10] - Operating income over the last 12 months was $73 billion, resulting in an operating margin of 42.9% and a cash flow margin of 56.4%, generating nearly $96 billion in operating cash flow [11] - Net income reported was nearly $67 billion, indicating a net margin of approximately 39.1% [11] Financial Stability - Meta's debt stood at $50 billion, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.7%, while cash (including equivalents) constitutes $70 billion out of $280 billion in total assets, resulting in a cash-to-assets ratio of 25.1% [12] Stock Performance - Meta's stock dropped 76.7% from a peak of $382.18 on September 7, 2021, to $88.91 on November 3, 2022, compared to a peak-to-trough decrease of 25.4% for the S&P 500 [13] - The stock fully recovered to its pre-crisis peak by January 19, 2024, and rose to a high of $790.00 on August 12, 2025, currently trading at $732.17 [14] Resilience - Meta experienced a decline slightly better than the S&P 500 during various economic downturns, assessed based on the extent of the stock's decline and the speed of its recovery [9]

Core Viewpoints - CoreWeave remains firm on its $9 billion acquisition offer for Core Scientific despite opposition from major shareholders, asserting that the current bid is reasonable [1] - The CEO of CoreWeave stated that they will not increase the offer and are open to other companies entering the bidding [1] Company Developments - CoreWeave is expanding its cloud service capacity through multiple acquisitions, including the $9 billion deal for Core Scientific and smaller acquisitions in fields like reinforcement learning and industrial AI [1] - The company has recently entered into a $14.2 billion partnership with Meta Platforms and reported that Microsoft contributed over 70% of its sales in Q2 [2] - CoreWeave's stock has surged over 200% since its IPO in March, driven by the increasing demand for computing power from major tech companies competing to develop advanced AI models [2] Financial Agreements - CoreWeave has secured a $6.3 billion agreement with Nvidia, allowing Nvidia to purchase excess computing power not utilized by CoreWeave's clients, which strengthens CoreWeave's financial position [3] - Despite many AI companies, including CoreWeave, operating at a loss, significant investments from tech giants in data centers and advanced AI chips continue, raising concerns about a potential "trillion-dollar AI bubble" [3]

Facebook’s block on political advertising in Europe leaves elections at the mercy of Big Tech’s algorithms https://t.co/TjMJNtZmv9 ...

Political Landscape - The U.S. is undergoing a "rightward shift" politically, reversing trends from the post-Cold War era, with significant ideological debates emerging domestically[3] - The upcoming midterm elections in November 2026 pose a risk for Trump, especially if economic downturns or conflicts arise before then[4] Economic Outlook - Inflation is currently manageable, with the Federal Reserve expected to lower interest rates two more times in 2025, following a recent cut[8] - The U.S. economy shows resilience, with corporate investments increasing as tariff uncertainties diminish, potentially supporting GDP growth over the next three years[9] Trade Relations - The U.S. has reached tariff framework agreements with most countries, with China being a notable exception; a key negotiation window is the APEC summit on October 1, 2025[7] - Recent U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies have escalated trade tensions, with China retaliating by halting soybean purchases from the U.S.[5] Investment Strategies - Investors are advised to diversify portfolios, favoring broad-based ETFs to mitigate risks associated with individual stocks[10] - The recommended asset allocation is 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds, with specific ETFs suggested for exposure to various sectors[10] Sector Analysis - The S&P 500's static P/E ratio is 28, above the historical average of 18, but excluding the M7 tech stocks reveals a more reasonable P/E of 19 for the remaining companies[11] - Financial and healthcare sectors are highlighted as undervalued, with P/E ratios of approximately 17 and 16, respectively, presenting investment opportunities[12] Emerging Trends - The AI sector is poised for significant growth, with major players like OpenAI and Google leading the charge; OpenAI's valuation has surged from under $100 billion to over $500 billion in two years[16] - The demand for gold is expected to rise due to geopolitical tensions, with recommendations for a 10%-20% allocation in investment portfolios[13]

Core Insights - Meta has experienced explosive user growth with the launch of its short video feature "Vibes," increasing daily active users from 775,000 to 2.7 million within four weeks, with daily downloads reaching 300,000 [2][3][5] Group 1: Launch of Vibes Platform - On September 25, Meta integrated the AI video creation platform "Vibes" into the Meta AI application, allowing users to create, discover, and share short video content [5][7] - The user experience on Vibes is enhanced through personalized recommendations as users spend more time browsing the content [7] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - While Meta AI's user base surged, competitors like ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity faced user declines, with daily active users dropping by 3.51%, 7.35%, and 2.29% respectively, while Meta AI grew by 15.58% [5][9] - The recent strategies of competitors, particularly OpenAI's Sora, which adopted an "invitation-only" approach, may have inadvertently driven users to explore alternatives like Meta AI [9][10]

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the best big tech stocks to invest in now. On October 1, Meta Platforms announced a partnership with chip technology provider Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM) to power the systems driving personalization across its applications. This is part of a broader trend of companies upgrading the chip technology underpinning their services. Meta will use Arm-based data center platforms to power its AI ranking and recommendation systems, which are crucial for discovery and person ...