@LikeFolio's Landon Swan shows a divided social media picture in Meta Platforms (META). Where Instagram has grown in momentum, Facebook lagged.
Meta Platforms, Inc. is down nearly 20% after its Q3 FY2025 results, as the market is concerned about the overspending outlook for FY2026, which will pressure margins, earnings, and FCF. Excluding the $16 billion one-time, non-cash expense, Q3 FY2025 would have delivered a strong beat on both revenue and GAAP EPS. Q3 capex jumped 110.5% YoY, with nearly 38% of total revenue going to AI investments. Management expects even higher capex and operating costs in FY2026.
Meta is overhauling Facebook Marketplace with new collaborative tools, social features, an improved checkout experience, and Meta AI integrations, the company announced Thursday.
Wedbush analyst Scott Devitt shrugs off concerns about rising capital expenditures, noting that artificial intelligence is already boosting Meta's advertising engine.
META's stock recently dipped 20%+ post Q3 earnings. I see this as an overreaction to rising CapEx guidance, creating an attractive entry for long-term holders. The company's digital ad moat remains robust, fueled by innovations like Reels ($50B annual run rate) and AI-driven ad efficiency, sustaining mid-20% growth. My valuation model sees a base case target of $1,081 (55% upside) assuming stable ad growth, bull case $3,530 with AI monetization, and bear case $409 (35% downside) on slowdowns.
This year, one of the better performers among the Magnificent 7 had been Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta Platforms, Inc. is building a world-class AI team, attracting top talent from leading tech firms to drive innovation in AI, VR, and AR. META's aggressive investment in VR/AR, including META Glasses, positions the company for future dominance in immersive social media and targeted advertising. Products like GEM, Andromeda, and Advantage+ are already boosting ad effectiveness, engagement, and revenue, demonstrating META's competitive edge.
Meta Platforms (META) offers an attractive risk-reward profile, trading at a 24x P/E and underperforming the S&P 500 post-earnings. META's robust ad business, resilient user growth, and open-source AI strategy position it for significant upside if AI execution improves. Key risks include high CapEx, reliance on ad revenue, and competition, but strong financials and global diversification mitigate these concerns.
Shares of Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) lost 0.78% over the past five trading sessions after losing 16.91% the five prior.
Meta Platforms experienced a sharp share price drop post-Q3, despite robust digital advertising growth and a strong revenue beat. META's Q3 earnings were impacted by a one-time $15.9B tax charge and rising CapEx for AI infrastructure, pressuring margins and EPS. Core business fundamentals remain strong: ad prices and impressions are up, and AI-driven engagement continues to fuel revenue growth.
Yann LeCun, the company's chief AI scientist, has recruited associates and discussed funding options for startup idea.
Meta Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun is preparing to leave the company to launch a new venture focused on foundational artificial intelligence architectures, the Financial Times reported Tuesday (Nov. 11). Meta's Turbulence Sets the Stage LeCun's decision comes as Meta faces turbulence in its AI operations.