Meta Stock On Winning Streak With Earnings Due. This Number Takes 'Center Stage.'

Core Insights - Meta Platforms (META) stock has experienced a rise, marking its seventh consecutive positive trading day, with high expectations for its upcoming third-quarter earnings report [1][2] - Analysts project Meta will report sales of $49.5 billion for the September-ended quarter, reflecting a 22% year-over-year growth, which is the highest growth target for the company this year [2][5] - Earnings per share are expected to increase by 11% to $6.72, with nearly all revenue derived from digital ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram [2][5] Financial Performance - Meta's Q2 and Q1 results earlier this year exceeded analyst expectations, achieving sales growth of 22% and 16% respectively, compared to forecasts of 14% and 13% [2][5] - Analysts forecast capital expenditures (capex) to reach $96.97 billion in 2026, a 41% increase from 2025 estimates, with significant investments in AI and data centers [5][6] Market Position and Competition - Meta's stock is up 28% year-to-date but remains below its early August highs, impacted by competition from OpenAI's Sora app, which has gained rapid popularity [7][10] - Analysts suggest that Sora could ultimately benefit Meta by enhancing video creation capabilities, similar to how TikTok and Instagram have influenced content creation [9][10] Stock Performance - Meta stock has recently shown positive trading momentum, breaking a negative trend line and forming a double-bottom base with a buy point at 790.80 [11]