Core Insights - Meta Platforms (META) shares increased by 10.4% following better-than-expected Q4 2025 results, with positive sales and capital expenditure guidance contributing to investor optimism [1][11] Financial Performance - META reported earnings of $8.88 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.21, and revenues of $59.89 billion, exceeding the consensus by $1.3 million, with both metrics showing double-digit year-over-year growth [7][11] - The company experienced a 6% year-over-year growth in employees, focusing on monetization, infrastructure, and compliance [7] Innovation and Growth - META launched a new run-time model for Instagram Feed stories and reels, resulting in a 3% increase in conversion rates, and doubled the number of GPUs for its GEM model, leading to a 3.5% increase in ad clicks on Facebook and over 1% gain in conversions on Instagram [8] - The company projects Q1 2026 revenues between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, significantly higher than the consensus estimate of $51.38 billion, with capital expenditure projected between $115 billion and $135 billion [9][10] Challenges and Concerns - The Reality Labs unit reported an operating loss of $6.02 billion, exceeding analysts' expectations, and is expected to incur similar losses in the upcoming year, raising concerns among investors [2][3] - Regulatory challenges in the EU and the US may pose risks to META's business, leading to skepticism among some investors [3] Investment Strategies - For investors seeking exposure to META without the associated risks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with significant META holdings are recommended, allowing for potential upside while mitigating company-specific risks [5][11] ETF Options - iShares Global Comm Services ETF (IXP) holds 22.65% of its assets in META, with net assets of $739.8 million and a 21.8% increase over the past year [12][13] - Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) has 23.12% of its assets in META, with net assets of $6.3 billion and a 20.7% increase over the past year [14] - Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLC) holds 20.26% of its assets in META, with assets under management of $27.74 billion and a 17.5% increase over the past year [15][16] - Global X PureCap MSCI Communication Services ETF (GXPC) has 23.21% of its assets in META, with net assets of $88.9 million and a 25.8% increase over the past year [17]

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR S&P Telecom ETF (XTL) debuted on January 26, 2011, providing broad exposure to the Communication Services ETFs category [1] - XTL is managed by State Street Investment Management and has accumulated over $202.69 million in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the S&P Telecom Select Industry Index, which is a modified equal weight index [6] Fund Characteristics - XTL has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, which is competitive within its peer group [7] - The ETF's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.12% [7] - The fund's top holdings include Ast Spacemobile Inc (7.32% of total assets), Ondas Holdings Inc, and Ciena Corp, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 42.55% of total assets [9] Performance Metrics - As of November 11, 2025, XTL has returned approximately 38.23% year-to-date and 37.48% over the past year [10] - The ETF has traded between $86.93 and $155.49 in the past 52 weeks [10] - XTL has a beta of 1.13 and a standard deviation of 23.08% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives and Comparisons - Other ETFs in the Communication Services space include Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) with $5.69 billion in assets and Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLC) with $25.84 billion [12] - VOX has a lower expense ratio of 0.09%, while XLC charges 0.08% [12] - Investors seeking lower-cost options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Communication Services ETFs [13]