'Meta is a table pounder here', says Wedbush's Dan Ives

Market Outlook & Investment Strategy - Tech stocks are expected to rise by 8% to 10% by year-end [1] - AI is viewed as a long-term revolution, currently in its early stages [10] - 2026 is expected to differentiate AI winners from losers, emphasizing the importance of stock picking [14][15] Meta (Facebook) Analysis - Meta is considered an outlier in AI spending, with investors seeking clarity on returns [2] - The company views Meta as a "table pounder" below $600, anticipating significant earnings growth from AI transformation [3] - Meta's AI spending is expected to yield multiples of returns by transforming the advertising model and monetizing 3 billion users [6] - Meta is building a new ecosystem with hardware and software monetization [7] Apple Analysis - Google winning the DOJ suit has paved the way for Apple to aggressively pursue an AI partnership with Google Gemini [11] - Apple's AI integration could add $75 to $100 per share in value [12] - iPhone 17 is expected to drive a surprise upgrade cycle [12] Microsoft Analysis - Microsoft is considered another "table pounder" under $500, with the enterprise sector being Redmond's domain [8] AI Investment & Execution - Simply mentioning "AI" frequently does not guarantee success; execution is crucial [14] - Companies that fail to execute on AI strategies could see stock declines of 30% to 40% [14]