Meta Platforms(US:META) The Motley Fool·2025-12-08 19:30Core Viewpoint - Wall Street is signaling Meta Platforms to reduce spending on Reality Labs, favoring investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and smart glasses, which has positively impacted Meta's stock price [1][13]. Financial Performance - Meta's Family of Apps generated $139.8 billion in revenue and $71.7 billion in operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, indicating strong profitability [10]. - Operating income from the Family of Apps has more than offset the losses from Reality Labs, which reported losses of $16.12 billion in 2023 [6][5]. - Meta's operating margins remain high at 43.3%, even after accounting for Reality Labs losses, showcasing the profitability of its core business [8][10]. Stock Performance - Since the beginning of 2023, Meta's stock price has surged by 450%, significantly outperforming the Nasdaq's 124.6% gain, reflecting investor confidence in the company's growth prospects [6]. - Despite the stock price increase, Meta is still considered the cheapest stock among the "Magnificent Seven" tech companies, indicating strong potential for value investors [7]. Strategic Shift - Meta's decision to cut back on metaverse spending in favor of AI initiatives is viewed positively, enhancing the investment thesis for long-term investors [13][14]. - The company is focusing on building data centers, refining search algorithms, and developing its Llama large language model to enhance its AI capabilities [14]. Market Context - The name change to Meta Platforms in October 2021 aimed to emphasize the company's expansion into virtual worlds, although it was followed by a significant stock price decline in 2022 [4][3]. - The Family of Apps, which includes Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, is seen as a cash cow for the company, with operating income significantly outweighing losses from Reality Labs [5][11].