'Buy the Pull Back,' Says Jefferies' Thill
Youtube·2025-10-30 20:08

Core Viewpoint - The market is reacting to Metta's increased capital expenditures and the changing competitive landscape, particularly with Google and TikTok gaining strength in AI and advertising [1][2][3][4]. Group 1: Metta's Position and Strategy - Metta has shifted back to a focus on investment after a period of harvesting previous investments, indicating a strategic pivot in response to market conditions [2][4]. - Advertisers initially viewed Metta as sheltered from competition, but as Google improved its AI capabilities and TikTok solidified its position, the competitive tailwinds for Metta have diminished [3][4]. - There is a concern about potential margin compression for Metta, but the company has demonstrated a capacity for returns on investments, similar to Microsoft [5][8]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Google has shown significant growth in AI-related revenue, with product revenue increasing over 200% year-over-year, indicating strong market performance [9]. - The search segment for Google has exceeded expectations, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing environment [10][11]. - Microsoft is facing supply constraints despite high demand, with a reported 39% growth in Azure, indicating a strong backlog and commitment to AI from customers [14][16]. Group 3: Market Trends and Investor Behavior - There is a noticeable shift in investor focus towards energy and infrastructure sectors, moving away from internet and software investments, which may impact companies like Metta [6][8]. - The market is currently narrow, with momentum favoring companies like Alphabet and Google, which are perceived as having better growth prospects [8][9]. - Investors are increasingly valuing backlog and bookings over immediate revenue, suggesting a potential misalignment in market perceptions [18].