Piper Sandler Reiterates Overweight on META, Names It Top Large-Cap Pick

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms, Inc. is highlighted as a key AI stock for investors, with Piper Sandler maintaining an Overweight rating and a price target of $840.00, citing ad market tailwinds and undervalued fundamentals as driving factors [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Position - Meta shares have experienced mid-single-digit gains over the past year, despite a 10% compression in multiples [2] - The firm's ad buyer survey indicates accelerating market growth leading into 2026, which is favorable for Meta due to its dominant role in social media advertising [2] - Piper Sandler projects a 20% year-over-year growth for Meta in 2026 [2] Group 2: Operational Concerns and Investments - Analysts at Piper Sandler believe concerns regarding Meta's operating and capital expenditures nearing peak levels are overstated [3] - Meta is actively expanding its advertising capabilities and investing significantly in artificial intelligence and the metaverse [4]