Wall Street analysts forecast that Snap (SNAP) will report quarterly earnings of $0.15 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year decline of 6.3%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $1.7 billion, exhibiting an increase of 9.1% compared to the year-ago quarter.The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.Prior to a co ...

Truist analyst Youssef Squali raised the firm’s price target on Meta Platforms (META) to $900 from $875 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm is citing the company’s stronger Q4 results and impressive Q1 guide reflecting robust ad demand fueled by AI improvements across ad recommendations, monetization and user engagement, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See today’s bes ...

Core Insights - Both Meta and Microsoft emphasize the need for significant capital spending in the AI sector, which is seen as disciplined and demand-driven rather than reckless [1][8]. Meta - Meta's CFO highlighted a trade-off between increased infrastructure investment and profitability, expecting 2026 operating income to exceed 2025 levels despite potential pressure on operating margins [2]. - The company projects 2026 capital expenditures of approximately $115–$135 billion, a significant increase from $72 billion in 2025, positioning it among the largest capex spenders in the AI and hyperscaler sectors [3]. - Meta's confidence is primarily based on its advertising business, which generated $59.89 billion in revenue for Q4, surpassing estimates and contributing to over $200 billion in annual revenue [4]. Microsoft - Microsoft reported a capital expenditure of about $37.5 billion in Q2 FY26, an increase from $34.9 billion in the previous quarter, reflecting a focus on AI and data-center build-outs [5][6]. - The investment strategy is centered on meeting sustained demand and optimizing asset capacity, with a strong cloud demand indicated by Microsoft Cloud exceeding $50 billion in quarterly revenue and Azure growing approximately 39% year-over-year [6][7]. - Microsoft achieved $81.3 billion in revenue for the quarter, a 17% year-over-year increase, although there were concerns about Azure's growth rate compared to previous quarters [7]. Overall Industry Perspective - The combined messages from Meta and Microsoft suggest that while AI-driven capital expenditures are increasing, a disciplined investment approach focused on monetization is expected to support sustainable growth and profitability [8].

Its planned capital spending of up to $135 billion represents a significant acceleration, but the company's ad business is keeping pace. ...

Economic Indicators - The number of Americans filing for initial jobless claims fell by 1,000 to 209,000, compared to the expected 206,000 [1] - U.S. Q3 nonfarm productivity was reported at +4.9% quarter-over-quarter, while unit labor costs remained unchanged at -1.9% quarter-over-quarter, both in line with expectations [1] - The U.S. trade deficit for November widened to -$56.8 billion, worse than the expected -$43.4 billion [1] - Factory orders in the U.S. rose by +2.7% month-over-month in November, exceeding expectations of +1.7% [1] Stock Market Performance - Wall Street's major indices closed mixed, with Microsoft (MSFT) dropping about -10% due to record high spending and slowing cloud sales growth [2] - Las Vegas Sands (LVS) fell over -13% after reporting weaker-than-expected Q4 Macau profit [2] - United Rentals (URI) slumped over -12% following disappointing Q4 results [2] - Conversely, Meta Platforms (META) surged over +10% after posting strong Q4 results and issuing optimistic Q1 revenue guidance [2] Corporate News - Notable companies such as Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), and American Express (AXP) are set to release quarterly results today, with S&P 500 companies expected to see an average earnings increase of +8.4% for Q4 compared to the previous year [8] - Casio Computer's stock surged over +16% after announcing a potential doubling of its full-year net profit [15] - Fujitsu's stock climbed over +5% after raising its full-year net profit guidance [15] International Economic Data - The Eurozone economy expanded by +1.5% last year, marking its fastest growth since 2022, with preliminary data showing a Q4 GDP growth of +0.3% quarter-over-quarter and +1.3% year-over-year [10][12] - Spain's annual inflation rate eased to a 7-month low in January, while the Eurozone's unemployment rate fell to 6.2%, better than expected [10][11]

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms is facing a trial initiated by the state of New Mexico, which accuses the company of exposing children and teenagers to sexual exploitation on its platforms and profiting from such activities [1] Group 1 - The lawsuit claims that Meta Platforms has knowingly allowed harmful content to proliferate, thereby endangering minors [1] - The state of New Mexico is seeking accountability for the alleged exploitation and is pushing for changes in how Meta operates its platforms [1] - This legal challenge highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of social media platforms for younger users [1]

Core Insights - Meta Platforms, Inc. is shifting focus from traditional video content to interactive and immersive formats, aiming to enhance user engagement through platforms like Horizon Worlds and AI integration [1][3][5] Group 1: Content Evolution - CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that video is not the final stage of digital expression, as communication methods have evolved from text to photos and now to video, driven by technological advancements [2][3] - The company envisions a future where users can actively participate in content, moving beyond passive viewing to immersive experiences [4][5] Group 2: Financial Performance - Meta reported fourth-quarter revenue of $59.89 billion, exceeding analysts' expectations of $58.30 billion, with adjusted earnings of $8.88 per share, surpassing the consensus estimate of $8.16 [7]

Group 1: Amazon - Amazon announced another round of layoffs as part of a cultural reset, eliminating tens of thousands of roles over the past two years, primarily in white-collar developer positions [2] - The company is restructuring around cloud infrastructure, AI services, and operational efficiency [2] - Amazon will close its Amazon Go and Fresh stores, citing a failure to create a distinctive customer experience with the right economic model [2] Group 2: Snap Inc. - Snap is spinning out its Specs AR glasses business into a standalone entity, separating hardware development from its core social media operations [3] - The launch of Spectacles at $99/month for developers will soon be available to the public, but the effort is considered doomed to fail [3] - Snap has struggled against competitors like Google's Android XR, Meta's AI smartglasses, and Apple's upcoming wearable AI devices [3] Group 3: Apple - Apple is developing an AI wearable, a small pin-sized device comparable to an AirTag, designed to work with a future LLM-powered version of Siri [4] - The device is still considered experimental, with a possible launch window in 2027, and aims to be an ambient companion integrated into Apple's ecosystem [4] - Apple's approach reflects a strategy of entering categories only after they have proven successful, focusing on vertically integrated hardware, silicon, and software [4] Group 4: OpenAI - OpenAI is preparing to debut its own consumer AI hardware later this year, following the acquisition of former Apple design leader Jony Ive's company for $6 billion [5] - The effort aims to establish a new category of AI-native devices centered around conversation and perception [5] - The convergence of Apple, OpenAI, and Google around AI hardware suggests a new device cycle centered on continuous AI presence may begin in 2026 [5] Group 5: VR Industry - Mighty Coconut, developer of Walkabout Mini Golf, cut roughly a quarter of its staff despite having a successful title on Quest, raising prices on new content due to rising costs [7] - Atlas V raised $6 million to diversify from narrative VR toward free-to-play gaming and location-based experiences, acknowledging that premium narrative VR has failed to reach sufficient audience scale [8] - The studio plans to focus on experiences with clearer revenue models, including ticketed VR attractions and live installations [8]

We recently published 10 Big Names With Explosive Gains.  Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) was one of the top performers on Thursday. Facebook operator Meta Platforms jumped by 10.40 percent on Thursday to close at $738.31 apiece as investors took heart from an investment firm’s 9 percent price target upgrade for its stock despite reporting lower profits in full-year 2025. In its market report, BofA Securities raised its price target for the stock to $885 from $810 previously, while reaffirming its “buy ...

Core Insights - Meta Platforms reported strong earnings, exceeding estimates with a revenue increase of 24% to $59.9 billion for the quarter and over $200 billion for the full year, marking a 22% year-over-year growth [2][4] - The company forecasted capital expenditures (capex) for 2026 to reach between $115 billion and $135 billion, indicating a significant investment in AI and its core business [3][4] - This capex forecast represents a 73% increase from the previous year, with infrastructure spending expected to triple over two years, signaling a robust acceleration in AI investments [4] Industry Implications - Meta's substantial capex forecast is expected to benefit various sectors within the AI industry, particularly companies involved in data center operations [6] - CoreWeave, a key player in the AI sector, is likely to gain significantly from Meta's spending, having established a $14 billion agreement with Meta for cloud computing capacity through 2031 [7][8] - The partnership with CoreWeave positions it to capitalize on Meta's investments in AI infrastructure, potentially enhancing its market performance [6][7]