Summary: Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) heads into Monday’s U.S. session with investors weighing blockbuster AI infrastructure plans, a record debt raise and fresh regulatory and reputational risks. The stock closed Friday at $621.71, down about 17% since the Oct. 29 earnings day selloff, as the market digests higher 2026 spending and a Reuters investigation into ad quality. [1]
Key takeaways at a glance
• Last close (Fri, Nov 7): $621.71; META has fallen ~17.3% since its Oct. 29 close of $751.67 (earnings day), tracking a broader post-report pullback in AI-heavy megacaps. [2]
• 3Q25 headline: Revenue rose 26% to $51.24B, but a one‑time, non‑cash U.S. tax charge of $15.93B pushed GAAP EPS to $1.05; ex‑charge EPS would have been $7.25. Q4 revenue guidance: $56–$59B. [3]
• AI capex: 2025 capital expenditures guided to $70–$72B; management said 2026 capex growth will be “notably larger.” [4]
• Financing: Meta launched its biggest bond deal ever—up to $30B—to help fund AI build‑out, and set a ~$27B private financing JV with Blue Owl for a Louisiana data center. [5]
• Mega‑pledge: Reuters reported Meta told U.S. officials it plans to invest “at least $600B” in U.S. infrastructure and jobs over the next three years, centered on AI data centers. [6]
• Brand‑safety overhang: A Reuters Investigations report says internal documents projected ~10% of 2024 revenue from ads tied to scams or banned goods; Meta disputes the characterization and says it has reduced scam‑ad reports 58% in 18 months. [7]
• Dividend & buybacks: Q3 included $1.33B in dividends and $3.16B of buybacks; the latest declared quarterly dividend is $0.525 per share (ex‑div. Sep 22). [8]
Where the stock stands
META finished Friday at $621.71. Since the Oct. 29 print, when shares closed at $751.67 before sliding 11% the next day, the stock is off roughly 17% amid a reassessment of 2026 spending needs and higher capex intensity across Big Tech. That makes any new datapoint on capex pacing, financing costs or regulatory exposure especially market‑sensitive before today’s open. [9]
Earnings and guidance snapshot (from Oct. 29)
• Revenue: $51.24B (+26% y/y).
• Ad engine: Ad impressions +14% y/y; average price per ad +10% y/y.
• Users: Family DAP 3.54B (+8% y/y).
• Profit mechanics: A one‑time, non‑cash U.S. tax item cut GAAP EPS to $1.05; ex‑item EPS would have been $7.25.
• Q4 revenue outlook: $56–$59B.
• Free cash flow (Q3): $10.62B; cash & marketable securities: $44.45B.
All figures above are from Meta’s investor release. [10]
AI build‑out, capex path and financing
Meta reiterated that AI compute is the strategic priority, lifting 2025 capex guidance to $70–$72B and signaling “notably larger” capex again in 2026. To help fund the build, Meta executed its biggest bond sale to date—up to $30B across multiple maturities. Separately, it arranged roughly $27B in private financing with Blue Owl for its Hyperion data center campus in Louisiana, underscoring a shift toward capital‑efficient structures for mega‑projects. [11]
A weekend headline that matters
On Friday, Reuters reported Meta plans to invest “at least $600B” in U.S. infrastructure and jobs over the next three years, including several large AI data centers. That headline keeps the market’s focus on the scale and timing of AI spend, the company’s cost of capital, and the expected revenue lift from AI‑enhanced ads, commerce and devices. [12]
Reputational and regulatory watch‑list
• Scam‑ad exposure: A Reuters Investigations piece said internal Meta documents projected about 10% of 2024 revenue from ads tied to scams or banned goods and estimated 15B “higher‑risk” scam ads shown per day. Meta called the estimate “rough and overly‑inclusive” and says it removed 134M pieces of scam‑ad content so far in 2025. Expect more scrutiny of ad‑integrity metrics and potential policy changes. [13]
• EU compliance: Brussels has pressed Meta over its “pay‑or‑consent” approach and related DMA obligations; regulators have warned of potential fines if revised models don’t comply. Any updates on Europe’s “Less Personalized Ads” framework, pricing, or enforcement could move the stock. [14]
• U.S. litigation calendar: Meta’s own guidance highlighted youth‑related trials scheduled for 2026 among ongoing legal risks—a timeline investors should keep in view. [15]
Shareholder returns and balance sheet
Meta paid a $0.525 quarterly cash dividend (ex‑date Sep 22) and continued buybacks in Q3. With debt issuance ramping and private‑credit partnerships funding data centers, watch for management commentary on the balance between capex, debt service, buybacks and dividends through 2026. [16]
Street positioning
Consensus remains constructive long‑term even after the post‑earnings drawdown. Zacks’ roll‑up of 52 analysts pegs the average 12‑month target near $846 (range ~$560–$1,117), though some firms have trimmed targets or ratings after the guidance update—underscoring that near‑term direction hinges on spending discipline and evidence of AI monetization. [17]
What could move META today
- Any follow‑through or regulatory response to the Reuters investigations reporting on scam ads. [18]
- Fresh details on U.S. AI data center plans, financing terms or timing after the $600B pledge headline. [19]
- Broader appetite for high‑capex AI plays following October’s bond sale and private‑credit deal. [20]
- Macro/market tone: With megacaps under scrutiny for 2026 opex/capex inflation, risk‑on vs. risk‑off flows can amplify moves in META.
Bottom line
Before the bell on Monday, META sits at the intersection of two powerful forces: (1) an ad business that is growing briskly and throwing off cash, and (2) an unprecedented AI capex cycle that requires deft financing and visible returns. Near‑term trading likely hinges on updates to spending cadence, regulatory headlines—especially in the EU—and investor comfort that AI‑driven product and ad improvements can keep revenue outgrowing expenses. [21]
Disclosure: This article is for information only and is not investment advice.
References
1. stockanalysis.com, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. investor.atmeta.com, 4. investor.atmeta.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. investor.atmeta.com, 9. stockanalysis.com, 10. investor.atmeta.com, 11. investor.atmeta.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. investor.atmeta.com, 16. investor.atmeta.com, 17. www.zacks.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.reuters.com, 21. investor.atmeta.com
