ZACKS·2026-01-30 16:01Core Insights - Concerns about returns in the AI sector are resurfacing, with Big Tech earnings indicating that companies must show results quickly after significant investments in AI or face market penalties [1] Group 1: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms (META) experienced a stock increase of 10.4% on January 29, 2026, with a revenue growth of 24% in the December quarter, driven by AI-enhanced online advertising [2] - The company provided a first-quarter revenue forecast of $53.5 billion to $56.5 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $51.41 billion [3] - Meta's capital expenditures related to AI are projected to be between $115 billion and $135 billion for 2026, exceeding analyst expectations of $110.7 billion and nearly doubling the 2025 figure of $72.2 billion [4] Group 2: Microsoft - Microsoft (MSFT) saw a stock decline of about 10% on January 29, 2026, despite reporting better-than-expected earnings and sales, as investors were concerned about slowing momentum and rising risks [6] - Azure cloud revenue grew by 39% in the fiscal second quarter, slightly above forecasts, but below the 40% growth seen in the previous quarter [6] - A significant concern for Microsoft is that OpenAI accounts for 45% of its remaining performance obligations, raising fears about future revenue stability [8] Group 3: Tesla - Tesla's stock fell by 3.2% on January 29, 2026, despite beating quarterly profit and revenue expectations, as investors reacted to the scale of future spending [9] - The company announced plans to more than double its capital expenditures to over $20 billion, focusing on AI, humanoid robots, and fully autonomous vehicles [9] Group 4: Competitive Landscape - The AI race is intensifying, with OpenAI issuing an internal "code red" following strong early reviews of Google's Gemini 3, while Anthropic's Claude Code has reached an annualized revenue run rate exceeding $1 billion [12] - AI ETFs such as AIQ, BOTZ, and ARKQ are considered long-term investment opportunities despite short-term volatility [11] Group 5: ETFs Performance - ETFs heavily invested in Meta, like Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX), gained approximately 2.8% each [13] - Conversely, ETFs focused on Microsoft, such as Roundhill MSFT WeeklyPay ETF (MSFW) and iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW), experienced declines of 12.2% and 1.4%, respectively [13]