New York, Jan 21, 2026, 10:13 EST — Regular session underway.
- Meta shares slipped slightly in morning action, lagging behind the broader U.S. stock rally.
- The FTC said it will appeal following a court’s dismissal of its bid to undo Meta’s purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp.
- Just ahead of Meta’s earnings report on Jan. 28, CTO Andrew Bosworth unveiled a new AI update.
Shares of Meta Platforms (META.O) ticked higher by 31 cents to $604.43 in early Wednesday action. The stock swung within a range from $600.24 to $608.60. On the broader market front, the S&P 500-tracking SPDR fund climbed around 0.7%, while the Invesco QQQ Trust, which follows the Nasdaq 100, gained about the same.
The tape stayed flat after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it will appeal a judge’s dismissal of its antitrust suit seeking to force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp. “Our position has not changed,” FTC spokesperson Joe Simonson said following the November ruling, which concluded Meta is not a monopoly due to competition from TikTok. 1
Legal clouds have reappeared just days before Meta’s earnings announcement. The company is set to release its Q4 and full-year results after markets close on Jan. 28, with a conference call scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET. 2
UK regulators have intensified scrutiny on Meta after the UK Gambling Commission accused the firm of turning a blind eye to illegal online casino ads on Facebook and Instagram. Executive director Tim Miller called Meta’s denial of awareness “simply false.” Meta pushed back, saying it enforces strict rules on gambling ads and takes down any that breach its policies when identified. 3
Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth told reporters in Davos that its new Meta Superintelligence Labs team launched its first major AI models internally this month, calling the outcomes “very good.” He highlighted that Meta is starting to see returns from infrastructure investments made in 2025. Bosworth also revealed the company paused international rollout of its AI-powered Ray-Ban Display glasses earlier this month, opting to prioritize U.S. orders instead. 4
Investors are zeroed in on Meta’s speed in turning AI models into ad tools and consumer products, not merely on expanding data centers or grappling with rising energy expenses. The real stock movers are those AI-driven updates.
Sentiment around the stock has turned cautious. With appeals dragging on, any renewed lawsuit stokes a distant yet significant threat: the potential forced sale of crucial assets that drive Meta’s ad business.
There’s a simpler risk at play. Tighter ad regulations, sluggish consumer demand, or a fresh spike in costs could pinch margins in 2026 guidance—especially if revenue gains from AI-driven growth don’t ramp up as fast as bulls expect.
Traders are zeroing in on the Jan. 28 report along with management’s guidance on spending and upcoming product launches. News on the appeals process could shake a market already braced for impact.
