Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) could highlight user growth and monetization efforts when the company reports fourth-quarter financial results after market close on Wednesday.Here are the key earnings estimates, what experts are saying ahead of the report and the key items to watch.Meta Q4 Earnings EstimatesAnalysts expect Meta to report fourth-quarter revenue of $58.41 billion, up from $48.30 billion in last year's fourth quarter, according to data from Benzinga Pro.The company has beaten analyst revenue esti ...

Core Insights - Meta is expected to report its fourth-quarter results, with analysts predicting increased profits and revenues driven by its advertising business [1] - Options pricing indicates that traders anticipate a potential 6% movement in Meta's stock following the earnings report [1] - Analysts at Bank of America suggest that Meta's expense forecast for 2026 will be a key focus, with concerns about overspending on AI [1] Financial Expectations - Meta is projected to report earnings per share of $8.17, reflecting a nearly 21% year-over-year revenue increase to a record $58.43 billion [1] - All 21 analysts surveyed have issued "buy" recommendations for Meta's stock, with a mean target price of around $841, indicating a potential 25% upside from recent trading levels [1] Market Reactions - The anticipated earnings report could influence investor sentiment regarding Big Tech's willingness to support significant AI expenditures [1] - A milder-than-expected expense forecast could lead to stock gains, while a higher spending outlook may raise investor concerns [1]

Pinterest Is Cutting Its Workforce, Prioritizing AI. The Stock Falls. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# Pinterest Is Cutting 'Less Than 15%' of Workforce, Prioritizing AI. The Stock Plummets.By [Nate Wolf]ShareResize---Reprint ...

Core Viewpoint - Reddit's stock (RDDT) is experiencing a significant decline, attributed to YouTube surpassing it as the primary data source for AI models, leading to concerns about Reddit's revenue growth in 2026 [1] Group 1: Impact of YouTube on Reddit - YouTube has overtaken Reddit as the main source for AI training data, negatively impacting Reddit's perceived value among investors [1] - The shift in AI model preferences from Reddit to YouTube is seen as a seismic change, devaluing Reddit's data which was previously considered a "goldmine" for AI firms [1] Group 2: Analyst Insights - Cleveland Research analyst Ross Walthall has indicated a slowdown in revenue growth for Reddit, shifting the narrative from "unlimited growth" to "moderating growth" for 2026 [1] - Walthall noted a decrease in new advertisers on Reddit, with larger US clients reducing their spending forecasts, which adds to the bearish sentiment around RDDT shares [1] Group 3: Stock Valuation Concerns - Despite a recent decline, Reddit's stock is still trading at approximately 57 times forward earnings, making it more expensive than leading AI companies like Nvidia, which has a forward P/E of about 42 [1] - The stock is currently trading slightly above its 100-day moving average at the $184 level, and a decisive break below this price could lead to further downward momentum [1]

Core Insights - Pinterest plans to reduce its workforce by less than 15%, translating to fewer than 780 positions, to focus on artificial intelligence roles and strategy [1][3] - The company's stock fell nearly 10% following its AI strategy announcement, indicating a lack of investor enthusiasm amid competition from TikTok and Meta-owned platforms [1][5] - Analysts suggest that the layoffs appear more defensive than strategic, lacking clear cost savings or a defined path to AI-driven revenue growth [2][7] Company Actions - Pinterest had 5,205 full-time employees as of September last year, and the job cuts will also involve closing smaller office spaces related to acquisitions [3] - The company expects pre-tax restructuring charges between $35 million and $45 million and aims to complete the restructuring plan by the end of the third quarter [7] Industry Context - Other companies, such as Autodesk, are also cutting jobs (7% of its workforce) to redirect investments towards AI initiatives, reflecting a broader trend in the tech industry [4] - The job cuts in the tech sector are part of a larger pattern, with over 123,000 employees laid off from 269 companies in 2025, as tracked by Layoffs.fyi [8]

Key Points Under the new agreement, TikTok will form a new U.S. entity with new U.S. investors and existing investors. The new venture will have a seven-member board of directors, with the majority of board members from America. One large U.S. cloud stock is a major investor in the new venture and a key company hoping to drive the artificial intelligence revolution. 10 stocks we like better than Oracle › To the relief of over 200 million American users, the popular social media platform TikTok ha ...

TikTok says it’s still working to recover its U.S. infrastructure https://t.co/VB5QYNBAq8 ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta is planning to introduce premium subscription tiers for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, allowing users to access additional features beyond the free versions currently available [1][2]. Group 1: Subscription Plans - Meta has confirmed the testing of premium subscription tiers for its three main services, which will provide users with "special features and more control" over their sharing and connectivity [1]. - The specifics of the subscription plans have not been detailed, but they are expected to differ from the existing Meta Verified badge aimed at businesses and content creators, which starts at $15 [2]. - The new subscriptions will likely include AI-related features, such as access to AI image generators or agents, with the offerings potentially evolving based on customer feedback [3]. Group 2: Industry Context - The trend of introducing subscriptions for previously free social media services is becoming common, with platforms like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat already offering paid options for enhanced features [4].

Core Viewpoint - TikTok has settled with a plaintiff and will not participate in a significant social media trial, which will continue against Meta and YouTube [1] Group 1: Legal Developments - The trial is set to take place in Los Angeles Superior Court and is the first of several major legal cases against social media companies in 2026, drawing parallels to the lawsuits against 'Big Tobacco' in the 1990s [1] - An attorney for the plaintiff expressed satisfaction with the settlement and indicated that the focus has shifted to Meta and YouTube for the ongoing trial [2] - Last week, Snapchat also reached a settlement with the plaintiff, indicating a trend among social media companies to resolve legal disputes [2]

Meta Platforms (META) will release its fourth-quarter financial results on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Over the past three months, Meta shares have fallen about 10%, trailing the broader market and reflecting growing concerns about the company’s near-term profit outlook. Operationally, Meta’s core business continues to perform well. The company is seeing steady growth in active users and engagement across its family of apps, and advertising revenue remains resilient. These fundamentals reflect the durability of M ...