New York, June 15, 2026, 11:02 a.m. ET — Meta shares rose in early trading after investors took in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s latest AI spending plan.
- Meta shares rose a bit Monday, but most of the focus was on how much the company’s AI ambitions are costing.
- The company posted Q1 revenue of $56.31 billion, up 33%. Capex guidance for 2026 increased, now set between $125 billion and $145 billion.
- Bulls point to Meta’s ad reach and valuation. Some skeptics say they still want more proof from Meta’s AI spending.
Meta Platforms rose on Monday, as the market again focused on the AI investments by the Facebook and Instagram owner. Questions remain about whether these AI costs will hurt returns or drive new growth. Shares were last at $594.06, up $27.08 from the previous close, according to market data.
Investors jumped back into the Meta debate after more takes landed this weekend. Seeking Alpha said Meta’s price, trading at about 17 times forward earnings, looks attractive despite new capital spending for AI and the risk of dilution. Motley Fool focused on Meta’s MTIA chip push, raising the question of whether all the spending on infrastructure could pay off with gains in ads, recommendations, and generative AI.
Meta reported another jump in growth. First-quarter revenue came in at $56.31 billion, a 33% increase from last year. Diluted EPS reached $10.44. The Family of Apps saw ad impressions up 19% and the average ad price up 12%. “We’re on track to deliver personal superintelligence to billions of people,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in the earnings release. Meta Meta
Meta raised its 2026 capex outlook, now guiding for $125 billion to $145 billion including finance lease principal payments. That’s $10 billion above the old range of $115 billion to $135 billion. Management blamed pricier components and more expensive data centers for the higher figures. This ramp in spending has reports like TIKR’s 2026 review looking past the revenue beat and focusing on what’s next.
Meta faces more risk. The company warned that lawsuits in the U.S. and Europe, especially those tied to youth, might hit results and lead to big losses. Reuters reported Meta raised its capex forecast in April and shares slid after hours. Investors watch the legal fights and potential AI workforce changes.
Meta splits investors as ad sales climb, but big AI spending raises new questions. Family of Apps is turning out big profits, but Reality Labs showed a $4.03 billion operating loss in Q1. AI spending plans are still unclear, and Wall Street hasn’t made up its mind.
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