Cantor Fitzgerald Hikes Price Target on Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) to $860, Maintains Overweight Rating

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms, Inc. is recognized as one of the most profitable stocks on NASDAQ, with a recent price target increase by Cantor Fitzgerald to $860 from $750, maintaining an Overweight rating [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company's fourth-quarter earnings exceeded Wall Street expectations, with revenue reported at $59.89 billion, surpassing forecasts of $58.59 billion, and EPS at $8.88 compared to the consensus of $8.23 per share [2]. - For the first quarter of FY26, Meta anticipates sales between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, exceeding estimates of $51.41 billion [3]. Expense and Capital Expenditure Outlook - Full-year expenses for Meta are projected to range from $162 billion to $169 billion, with capital expenditure expected between $115 billion and $135 billion, which is above analyst forecasts of $110.7 billion and nearly double the previous year's spending [3][4]. Analyst Sentiment - Cantor Fitzgerald highlighted the strong quarterly results and positive sales forecast, indicating that despite potential margin and free cash flow pressures from increased capital expenditure, operating income is expected to grow, driven by AI momentum [4]. - Based on the consensus of 44 analysts, Meta is rated as a Strong Buy, with a one-year average share price target of $861.87, indicating a potential upside of 20% as of January 30 [5]. Company Overview - Meta Platforms, Inc. is one of the largest technology companies globally, operating major social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Threads [5].