Meta Platforms and Microsoft are both ramping up artificial intelligence (AI) spending, but the stocks are moving in opposite directions.If you think the stock market could fall in 2026, it might seem counterintuitive to load up on growth stocks. Investors tend to gravitate toward income and value stocks during times of uncertainty because these companies are priced more for their existing earnings than their potential earnings.But if you are a long-term investor who plans to hold stocks for three years, fi ...

Meta Platforms ( META ) is the gift that keeps on giving. The market offered investors a strong buying opportunity after the third quarter when it grew fearful of the company’s aggressive investments in data centers. The fourth quarter completely validated these investments, however, asJulian Lin is a financial analyst. He finds undervalued companies with secular growth that appreciate over time. His approach is to look for companies with strong balance sheets and management teams in sectors with long growt ...

Meta Platforms ( META ) is the gift that keeps on giving. The market offered investors a strong buying opportunity after the third quarter when it grew fearful of the company’s aggressive investments in data centers. The fourth quarter completely validated these investments, however, asJulian Lin is a financial analyst. He finds undervalued companies with secular growth that appreciate over time. His approach is to look for companies with strong balance sheets and management teams in sectors with long growt ...

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) stock surged after the company said ad sales are picking up fast and profits will keep growing, giving Wall Street fresh confidence that its AI push is paying off. The big question now is whether that momentum can hold as Meta ramps up spending on data centers, chips, and new tech to fuel its next wave of growth.JP Morgan analysts maintained their Overweight rating on Meta with a December 2026 price forecast of $825, according to a research note released Sunday by lead anal ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms Inc. is experiencing a surge in stock price due to increasing ad sales and anticipated profit growth, indicating that its AI initiatives are yielding positive results. The sustainability of this momentum is questioned as the company increases investments in data centers, chips, and new technologies for future growth [1] Revenue Outlook - JP Morgan analysts maintain an Overweight rating on Meta, projecting a price target of $825 by December 2026 [2] - The first-quarter revenue acceleration is significant, with analysts noting that Meta has substantial potential for AI-driven ad growth through new products and enhanced computing capacity [3] - Projected revenue growth is 25.5% in 2026, with a deceleration expected throughout the year, followed by 17% growth in 2027. Investor discussions suggest 2026 growth could range from 25% to 30%, with some believing the anticipated deceleration may be conservative [4] Infrastructure Investments - Meta's GAAP expenses are projected to be between $162 billion and $169 billion in 2026, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 38% to 44%. Capital expenditures are expected to be between $115 billion and $135 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of 65% to 94% [4] - The company's net property, plant, and equipment grew by 45% year-over-year in 2025, primarily driven by servers and network assets valued at $98 billion. Capital expenditures are projected at $133 billion in 2026 and $168 billion in 2027, leading to free cash flow estimates of $5 billion in 2026 and $6 billion in 2027 [5] Reality Labs and Losses - JP Morgan anticipates that losses from Meta's Reality Labs will peak in 2026 at approximately $19.7 billion, with 70% of operating expenses allocated to wearables and 30% to VR and Horizon projects [6] - Non-cancelable contractual commitments surged to $131 billion by the end of 2025, up from $33 billion at the end of 2024, mainly due to third-party cloud capacity agreements and infrastructure investments [6] Future Focus - Investor attention is expected to shift towards Meta's ability to sustain revenue growth beyond the first quarter, the emergence of new monetization strategies, and the progress of its large-language-model initiatives [7]

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On Jan. 28, 2026, Meta Platforms, Inc. ( META ) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings - and the numbers were impressive. For the quarter , revenue came in at $59.89 billion, which outpaced estimates byRick is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author with over 20 years of experience trading stocks and options. The most authoritative publications, including Good Morning America, Washington Post, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Business Insider, NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC News, cover his work. His passion is bu ...

On Jan. 28, 2026, Meta Platforms, Inc. ( META ) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings - and the numbers were impressive. For the quarter , revenue came in at $59.89 billion, which outpaced estimates byRick is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author with over 20 years of experience trading stocks and options. The most authoritative publications, including Good Morning America, Washington Post, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Business Insider, NBC, FOX, CBS, and ABC News, cover his work. His passion is bu ...

Meta Platforms' foray into hardware with AI glasses could potentially be another major growth avenue. However, Reality Labs continues to remain a drag on the company's finances. The segment posted an operating loss of over $6 billion in Q4. The segment also lost $19.1 billion last year, while cumulative losses since 2020 have topped $80 billion.Instagram Reels, which was launched to take on TikTok, continues to show strong traction as well. Meta said that, in Q4, total watch time on the platform rose 30% ye ...

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) beat Wall Street estimates when it recently reported revenue of $59.9 billion and diluted earnings per share of $8.88 for Q4 2025 (ended Dec. 31). Shares of the social media and digital ad leader are up 9% this year (as of Jan. 29). And they have climbed 372% in the past 36 months. Here's one prediction for Meta Platforms in 2026. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advi ...