Core Insights - Meta Platforms has received an updated outlook from Evercore ISI, with analyst Mark Mahaney reaffirming an 'Outperform' rating and highlighting a strengthening core business along with expanding long-term monetization opportunities [1][2] - Mahaney assigned a price target of $875, indicating a potential rally of nearly 37% from the last closing price of $640 [1] Business Segments - Meta's foundational segments, including advertising, engagement, and emerging platform initiatives, are showing renewed momentum that supports durable revenue and margin expansion [2][3] - WhatsApp is identified as one of Meta's most underappreciated business units, with projections suggesting it could generate around $40 billion in annual revenue by 2030, representing roughly 10% of Meta's total business at that time [4][5] Financial Projections - Mahaney's model anticipates about $20 billion in operating income and an estimated $7.15 in EPS attributable to WhatsApp alone, indicating significant long-term contribution [5] - Updated forecasts place Meta's 2027 revenue and earnings per share moderately above current Wall Street expectations [5] Growth Drivers - WhatsApp's growth path includes expanded business messaging, monetization of WhatsApp Updates, and rising traction for click-to-message advertising, which are expected to become increasingly additive over the next several years [6] Stock Performance - Meta shares experienced volatility, falling sharply after the third-quarter earnings release but have since recovered from what was described as deep-value levels [7] - The next major catalyst for the stock is likely to depend on Meta's progress in advanced AI and "Super Intelligence" initiatives, with WhatsApp's accelerating monetization serving as a powerful amplification catalyst [8] Investor Sentiment - Wall Street sentiment is bullish on META stock, with a 'Strong Buy' rating from 42 analysts tracked by TipRanks, supported by 35 'Buys', six 'Holds', and one 'Sell' [10] - The average 12-month price target stands at $838.14, implying a potential upside of 30.78% from Meta's closing price [10] - Forecasts vary, with the most optimistic analyst setting a price target of $1,117, while the lowest estimate is $655.15 per share [11]