RT BSCN (@BSCNews)Are you involved in the next crypto meta? Now's your chance to be - Get involved on @polymarket, the industry's #1 predictions platform...https://t.co/rDjnpYnlty ...

Mark Zuckerberg has changed the road map to the metaverse, not the destination, @DaveLeeBBG says (via @opinion) https://t.co/iALYb6WJJm ...

Meta cuts to metaverse ‘black hole’ could free up billions for AI and lift shares by 20%: analysts https://t.co/p4P3DkBZc8 ...

Key Points Investors are concerned about Meta Platforms’ increased spending on data centers, AI, and Reality Labs. Meta’s long-term bets may take time to pay off. The Family of Apps business is a cash cow that can foot the bill for Meta’s risk-taking. 10 stocks we like better than Meta Platforms › Since Bank of America's Michael Hartnett coined the term "Magnificent Seven" in 2023, Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), and Tesla have all produced monster retur ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta is shifting its focus from metaverse projects to AI-powered glasses and wearable technology, indicating a strategic pivot in resource allocation [1][2][5]. Group 1: Strategic Shift - Meta plans to reduce investment in its metaverse division, Reality Labs, by reallocating resources towards AI glasses and wearables due to positive momentum in that area [2][5]. - Reports suggest that Meta could cut as much as 30% from its metaverse group as part of its 2026 budget planning, potentially leading to layoffs as early as January [5]. Group 2: Financial Impact - Investors reacted positively to the news, with Meta's shares increasing by 4%, reflecting relief over the company's decision to scale back on its costly metaverse initiatives, which have incurred losses exceeding $60 billion [5]. - The company has committed up to $65 billion in capital expenditures for the year, while the broader tech industry is expected to invest around $400 billion in AI by 2025 [10]. Group 3: Market Position - Meta has encountered difficulties in promoting its immersive metaverse vision beyond the gaming community, but has seen early success with its smart glasses, prompting the resource shift [8]. - Competitors like Google, Apple, and Snap have struggled to convert their initial products into commercially viable offerings, highlighting Meta's potential advantage in the wearable tech segment [8].

Market Overview - Major U.S. indices closed mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.07% to 47,850.94, the S&P 500 up 0.1% to 6,857.12, and the Nasdaq up 0.2% to 23,505.13 [1] SoFi Technologies Inc. - SoFi Technologies' stock rose by 1.82% to close at $29.60, with an intraday high of $29.70 and a low of $28.48, but fell nearly 6% in after-hours trading to $27.83 [1] - The company announced a $1.5 billion common stock offering, with underwriters having a 30-day option to purchase up to 15% more shares, aimed at strengthening its capital position and supporting growth initiatives [2] Oklo - Oklo's stock surged by 15.59% to close at $111.65, reaching an intraday high of $114.29, but declined over 6% in after-hours trading to $104.70 [3][4] - The stock's rise was influenced by comments from Nvidia's CEO regarding the importance of nuclear power for AI data centers [4] Meta Platforms Inc. - Meta Platforms' stock increased by 3.43% to close at $661.53, with an intraday high of $676.10 and a low of $660.05 [5] - The company is reportedly preparing to cut metaverse spending by up to 30% in 2026, with potential layoffs as early as January, as it shifts resources toward AI [6] Ulta Beauty - Ulta Beauty's stock fell by 1.94% to close at $533.95 but rose 5.9% in after-hours trading to $565.51 [7] - The company reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter results, with earnings of $5.14 per share and revenue of $2.86 billion, net sales grew 12.9%, and comparable sales were up 6.3% [8] BigBear.ai - BigBear.ai's stock climbed by 15.27% to close at $7.02, with an intraday high of $7.18, but fell 1% in extended trading to $6.95 [8] - The rise was attributed to the company's support for the Washington Commanders' charity initiative, with custom cleats being auctioned to benefit various nonprofits [9]

Shares of Meta Platforms surged Thursday following a report that the company is looking to significantly cut spending on its "metaverse" projects next year. https://t.co/XFmlss1pps ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms' stock experienced a significant increase, adding $69 billion to its market cap, now totaling $1.68 trillion, with a year-to-date rise of 13% [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock rose by as much as 4% following news of budget cuts in the metaverse division [1][2] - The market's positive response indicates investor confidence in the company's shift towards AI over metaverse investments [5] Group 2: Strategic Shift - Meta plans to reduce its metaverse budget by 30%, reflecting a strategic pivot away from metaverse investments [2] - The company has increasingly focused on AI, moving away from its initial emphasis on metaverse technology since its rebranding in October 2021 [3] Group 3: Financial Impact - The Reality Labs Division has incurred losses of $70 billion since 2021, indicating a lack of return on investment in the metaverse [4] - The absence of any mention of the metaverse in the most recent earnings call further underscores the company's shift in focus [4]

Core Insights - Meta Platforms (META) shares increased by 4% following reports of significant budget cuts planned for its metaverse projects in the upcoming year [1][2] - CEO Mark Zuckerberg has instructed executives to find at least 10% in budget cuts across the company, with potential cuts reaching up to 30% in the metaverse departments [1][5] Financial Performance - The stock has gained 14% since the beginning of the year, although it has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 index [2] Strategic Shifts - Meta and other major tech companies have been implementing cost-cutting measures as they redirect funds towards artificial intelligence infrastructure [3] - There is growing pressure from investors and analysts for Meta to reduce its spending on the metaverse due to insufficient progress in sales and consumer interest [4][6] Operational Changes - Executives have been asked to reduce metaverse spending due to a lack of competition in the tech sector, with the virtual reality segment expected to be the most affected [5] - Potential layoffs in the metaverse departments could occur as early as January, although these decisions are not yet finalized [5] Regulatory Considerations - The European Commission is evaluating whether Meta's new policy could violate competition laws by limiting AI companies' access to users on WhatsApp, potentially favoring Meta's own AI chatbot [8]

Core Insights - Meta Platforms Inc. is expected to significantly reduce resources allocated to the metaverse, which was previously framed as the company's future direction [1][6] - Proposed budget cuts for the metaverse group could reach up to 30% next year, potentially leading to layoffs as early as January [2][4] - The metaverse group's budget cuts are part of the company's annual planning for 2026, with a standard request for 10% cuts across all divisions [3] Financial Performance - The metaverse group, part of Reality Labs, has incurred losses exceeding $70 billion since 2021 [7] - Investors have expressed concerns regarding the metaverse initiative, viewing it as a resource drain [5][8] Strategic Shift - Meta's focus is shifting away from the metaverse towards developing AI technologies and hardware products, such as AI chatbots and smart display glasses [7][8] - Analysts have suggested that Meta should consider discontinuing its metaverse projects, like Horizon Worlds, to concentrate on more profitable ventures [8]