Meta Platforms(US:META) 247Wallstยท2025-11-06 14:30Core Insights - Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) has faced investor concerns following its third-quarter earnings report, primarily due to high capital spending on AI initiatives and allegations of revenue from fraudulent ads, resulting in a 15.4% decline in stock price since the report [2][4]. Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Meta reported a revenue of $51.2 billion, a 26% year-over-year increase, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $49.5 billion [9]. - The company's earnings per share (EPS) rose 20% to $7.25, exceeding the analysts' consensus estimate of $6.74 [9]. - Despite losses in its Reality Labs division, which reported a revenue of $470 million but an operational loss of $4.43 billion, Meta's overall performance remained strong [7][9]. Strategic Focus - CEO Mark Zuckerberg is shifting the company's focus towards AI as a key growth driver for 2025, integrating AI features across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp [8][10]. - The Threads platform is also gaining traction, with monthly active users increasing from 320 million in Q4 2024 to 350 million in Q1 2025, although it still trails behind competitors [11]. Future Outlook - Meta anticipates fourth-quarter 2025 revenue between $56 billion and $59 billion, driven by its advertising business and AI enhancements [12]. - The company has raised its 2025 capital expenditures estimate to a range of $70 billion to $72 billion, primarily for AI project development [17]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Analysts have varying price targets for Meta, with a high of $1,117.00, a median of $843.08, and a low of $560.00, while the consensus recommendation remains a buy [16]. - BofA Securities maintains a Buy rating with a price target of $900, while Cantor Fitzgerald has an Overweight rating with a target of $920, citing confidence in Meta's user base and AI integration potential [14][15].