New York, Jan 22, 2026, 16:14 EST — After-hours
Shares of Meta Platforms (META.O) climbed 5.7%, closing near $647.71 on Thursday, having peaked earlier at $648.18.
Investors are eager to see if Meta’s big bet on artificial intelligence—software that learns from data—will continue driving growth in ads and new products. With earnings set for next week, the spotlight is on spending guidance once again.
The rally came as U.S. stocks climbed, boosted by President Donald Trump pulling back tariff threats against European allies and new data showing the economy remains resilient. “It’s weird to wake up every day as a money manager and not know whether it is Christmas morning or Friday the 13th,” said Gregg Abella, CEO at Investment Partners Asset Management. 1
Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth revealed that the new Meta Superintelligence Labs team rolled out its first major AI models internally this month. “They’re basically six months into the work, not quite even,” Bosworth noted, describing the models as “very good” but cautioning they’re unfinished and require further training before they can be put to use. 2
Meta is ramping up its focus on Threads as a revenue driver. “Starting next week, we will expand ads on Threads to users worldwide,” the company announced, noting the rollout will be gradual and could take months to complete. Ads will be managed through the same AI-driven system that powers Facebook and Instagram. 3
Jefferies reaffirmed its buy rating on Meta and held firm on a $910 price target, saying worries over margins and capital spending are already baked into the stock. Analyst Brent Thill pointed out that Meta trades at an “8-turn NTM PE discount to GOOGL,” using the next-twelve-month price-to-earnings gap as a valuation benchmark. He sees “meaningful upside” if the company can overcome these challenges. The firm also warned that investors shouldn’t be surprised if Meta’s 2026 capital expenditures and operating costs exceed Street estimates. 4
Regulatory scrutiny remains a factor. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced it will appeal a November ruling that dismissed its antitrust case aiming to reverse Meta’s Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions. “Our position has not changed,” FTC spokesperson Joe Simonson said. Meta’s spokesperson Andy Stone insisted the court’s decision was right and acknowledged “the fierce competition we face.” 5
Yet the rebound doesn’t ease investors’ biggest question: how much Meta plans to pour into AI, and the hit that could take on margins if ad growth wanes. If the company adopts a stricter cost stance next week, the stock could quickly come under pressure again.
Traders will zero in on what drives growth this year — ad demand, pricing strength, and if Threads can ramp up ads without hurting engagement. Clear timelines for new consumer AI products will also be key.
Meta plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings after the market closes on Jan. 28. The company will follow up with a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET. 6
