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Meta Platforms' AI-Push to Drive Top-Line Growth: More Upside Ahead?
ZACKS· 2025-12-26 17:41
Core Insights - Meta Platforms (META) is leveraging AI to enhance content recommendations and ad ranking, which is expected to increase user engagement across its platforms [1][10] - The company's AI-powered ad tools have surpassed a $60 billion annual run rate, with a 10% year-over-year increase in average ad prices in Q3 2025, driven by improved advertiser demand [2][10] - META anticipates fourth-quarter 2025 revenues between $56 billion and $59 billion, reflecting a 20.7% growth compared to the previous year [4] AI and Advertising - META's next-generation AI tools, Vibes, are gaining traction, with over one billion users currently utilizing Meta AI to enhance their experience [1] - The integration of AI in advertising is expected to unify various models into simpler frameworks, improving performance and efficiency, which is beneficial for top-line growth [2] - The company is investing heavily in AI research and infrastructure, with capital spending projected between $70 billion and $72 billion for 2025, and even higher for 2026 [3][10] Competitive Landscape - META, along with Alphabet and Amazon, is projected to capture over 50% of global ad spending this year, increasing to 56.2% by 2026 [3] - Competitors like Alphabet are also enhancing their advertising capabilities through AI, which is driving revenue growth in their search business [6] - Amazon's advertising revenue grew by 24% year-over-year to $17.7 billion in Q3 2025, aided by successful AI optimizations and partnerships to expand ad reach [7] Financial Performance - META's stock has increased by 11.3% over the past 12 months, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, which returned 24.6% [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for META's earnings in Q4 2025 is $8.16 per share, indicating a 1.75% year-over-year growth [14] - META's stock is trading at a premium with a forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 7.22X compared to the sector's 6.62X [11]
2 Stocks I'd Happily Hold Through Any Stock Market Crash
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-26 16:35
Key Points Artificial intelligence (AI) competition has brought out the best in Alphabet. The company has a big structural cost advantage that should continue to widen. Amazon, meanwhile, does not get enough credit for its leadership in robotics or its own custom AI chips. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › With the market near all-time highs and murmurs of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and even a potential market crash, there are some stocks I still wouldn't sell. While I'm not ...
Alphabet Under $330: Your Last Chance to Buy?
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-26 11:41
Core Viewpoint - Alphabet's recent stock performance, despite a slight decline from its November high, presents an investment opportunity rather than a warning sign [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Alphabet shares have increased by 2,084% since their initial purchase, highlighting the company's strong growth trajectory [2]. - The stock is currently priced at $313.96, with a market capitalization of $3.8 trillion [3]. - Over the past year, Alphabet's stock has risen by 66%, outperforming other members of the "Magnificent Seven" [3]. Group 2: Business Strengths - Alphabet is a dominant player in online search and advertising, artificial intelligence platforms, quantum computing research, and driverless taxi services, indicating its diverse growth avenues [4]. - The company's ability to continue growing from a substantial market cap is evidenced by its consistent performance and innovation [4]. Group 3: Investment Outlook - The article suggests that it is not too late to invest in Alphabet, with potential future gains expected to outweigh the benefits of selling now [6]. - The long-term outlook for Alphabet remains positive, with expectations of significant appreciation in stock value by 2030 or 2040 [6].
From gold to the world’s largest company, 5 predictions for 2026. Plus, see how we did on 2025 forecasts
Financialpost· 2025-12-26 11:00
Article contentWe are not calling for the demise of Nvidia Corp., the current AI star. However Alphabet Inc. has exposure to AI, but also to many other high-growth areas such as cloud computing, quantum computing, YouTube, Waymo, SpaceX and so on. Nvidia, despite its attractions, is still essentially tied completely to AI. Alphabet shares rose about 60 per cent so far this year and Nvidia is up about 25-30 per cent. Nvidia’s market cap is about US$4.3 trillion, and Alphabet is at about US$3.7 trillion. Alph ...
Google is rolling out a new feature allowing users to change their Gmail address
CNBC· 2025-12-26 08:58
Core Viewpoint - Google has introduced a new feature allowing Gmail users to change their email addresses while retaining all data and services, addressing a long-standing user request [1][4]. Group 1: Feature Details - Users can replace their existing @gmail.com address with a new one, and the original address will remain as an alias, ensuring emails sent to the old address still arrive in the inbox [4]. - The feature is gradually rolling out, with initial indications suggesting it may first be available in India or Hindi-speaking markets [2]. - Existing data, including photos, messages, and emails, will remain unchanged after the address update [5]. Group 2: Limitations and Conditions - Users who change their Gmail address will not be able to create another new Gmail address for the next 12 months and cannot delete the newly chosen address [5]. - The English-language support page still states that @gmail.com addresses "usually cannot be changed," indicating a potential discrepancy in communication [3]. - The change was first noted in user forums and tech communities, with no formal announcement from Google [6].
Baidu Valuation Lags as Investors Wait for AI Cloud to Offset Ad Decline
Investing· 2025-12-25 20:03
Market Analysis by covering: Baidu Inc. Read 's Market Analysis on Investing.com ...
Rothschild & Co LongRun Equity Fund’s Views on Alphabet (GOOG)
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-25 15:20
Core Insights - Rothschild & Co Wealth Management's LongRun Equity strategy reported a return of +3.9% in Q3 2025, underperforming its benchmark which returned 7.5% [1] - Since inception, the strategy has achieved an annualized return of 10%, compared to 11% for global equities [1] - The market has favored riskier, growth-oriented, and often unprofitable companies over the firm's focus on high-quality, profitable companies [1][3] Company Highlights - Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was highlighted in the investor letter, with a one-month return of -1.44% and a 52-week gain of 59.78% [2] - As of December 24, 2025, Alphabet Inc. closed at $315.67 per share, with a market capitalization of $3.811 trillion [2] - The favorable outcome of the US Department of Justice's antitrust case against Alphabet Inc. is expected to maintain the status quo, providing clarity for the company [3] - Google's partnerships and data-sharing agreements are likely to remain stable, with potential for slight reductions in payments to partners like Apple [3] - The focus for Alphabet Inc. will be on continued product investment and the rollout of new AI capabilities across its various platforms [3]
META's $75B AI Bet: Patience and Metrics for 2026 Investors
Youtube· 2025-12-24 17:20
Core Insights - Meta's capital expenditure (capex) in 2025 is approaching $75 billion, raising questions about the return on investment (ROI) expected in 2026 [2][4] - The company has shown strong advertising performance and topline growth in 2025, but concerns remain about the sustainability of this growth given the high capex [3][5] - Analysts predict a significant reduction in free cash flow, potentially down by 60% in the coming year, which could lead to margin compression [4][6] Capex and Financial Performance - Meta's aggressive capex spending is seen as excessive by some analysts, with future estimates exceeding $100 billion [4] - The company historically known for strong cash flow is facing challenges due to its heavy investments in AI, necessitating a near-term ROI rather than a long-term payoff [5] - Q3 2025 numbers indicate solid topline growth and increased user engagement, aided by AI-generated content [5] Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - 2026 is viewed as a critical year for Meta to demonstrate the effectiveness of its AI investments, with investors closely monitoring ROI metrics [8][19] - The concept of "incognito capex" or off-balance sheet spending, particularly related to the Hyperion data center, raises concerns about financial transparency [9][11] - Analysts suggest that if Meta fails to deliver on ROI, significant portfolio adjustments may occur by Q3 2026 [8] Competitive Landscape - Meta's position in the AI space is contrasted with Alphabet, which is perceived to have a more effective monetization strategy for its AI technologies [12][13] - The competition in AI is intensifying, and Meta's leadership in open-source AI with Llama is being challenged [15][16] - The company is seen as being caught between consumer and enterprise AI services, facing pressure from both tech giants and traditional enterprise providers [18]
Alphabet’s Pullback After a Big Year—Is This the Dip to Buy?
Investing· 2025-12-24 12:56
Market Analysis by covering: Alphabet Inc Class A. Read 's Market Analysis on Investing.com ...
Alphabet (GOOG): AI Loser To a Potential Winner
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-24 12:20
Janus Henderson Investors, an investment management company, released its third-quarter 2025 investor letter for its “Janus Henderson Global Technology and Innovation Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The technology sector generated strong results in the quarter, driven by the semiconductor complex and hardware makers, which outpaced the broader equities. The fund returned 9.19% in the quarter, compared to the S&P 500 Index’s 8.12% return and the MSCI All Country World Information Technol ...