Date: December 25, 2025 (U.S. Christmas holiday)
Company: Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META)
Meta stock doesn’t have a “closing bell” print today — because U.S. stock markets are closed for Christmas Day. The next full trading session is Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, which means investors are heading into tomorrow’s open with one fresh catalyst breaking while the tape was dark: an Italian antitrust order tied to WhatsApp and rival AI chatbots. [1]
Below is what META investors should know after the last available after-hours update — and what’s most likely to matter when the market reopens Friday morning.
Meta stock price after hours: the latest available read (because markets are closed today)
Since Thursday, Dec. 25 is a market holiday, the most recent official pricing comes from the shortened Christmas Eve session and the after-hours quotes that followed:
- Last regular-session close (early close):$667.55 (Dec. 24, 2025)
- After-hours quote shown:$666.31 (down about 0.19% after hours, as of 4:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 24)
- Christmas Eve range: roughly $662.20–$668.18
- Volume (holiday-shortened): about 5.37 million shares [2]
Important context for tomorrow: holiday week trading tends to be thinner, and thin liquidity can exaggerate price swings, especially on headlines. Reuters highlighted “thin” volumes into the holiday and confirmed markets were shut on Christmas Day. [3]
The headline moving the story into Dec. 26: Italy orders Meta to halt WhatsApp terms that could block rival AI chatbots
The most significant Meta-specific development breaking into the holiday is regulatory:
Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) ordered Meta to suspend certain WhatsApp contractual terms that could shut rival AI chatbots out of WhatsApp, as it investigates Meta for suspected abuse of dominance. Meta has called the decision “fundamentally flawed” and said it will appeal. [4]
Why this matters for META stock (even before any fines or final ruling)
For investors, this isn’t just “another Europe headline.” It hits an emerging strategic battleground:
- WhatsApp as a distribution channel for AI
If WhatsApp becomes a preferred place to access AI assistants, controlling access to that channel can shape who wins usage, data, and monetization. Regulators are signaling they don’t want Meta to be gatekeeper in a way that blocks competition. [5] - Meta AI vs. third-party assistants
The watchdog’s concern (as reported by Reuters) is that Meta’s conduct could restrict output, market access, or technical development in the AI chatbot services market — potentially harming consumers. [6] - The EU angle is already in motion
Reuters reports EU antitrust regulators launched a parallel investigation last month and that the Italian regulator is coordinating with the European Commission. In other words, this is not a single-country flare-up; it can become a broader European pressure point on Meta’s AI distribution rules. [7]
Meta’s core defense
Meta’s stated argument (via Reuters and TechCrunch reporting) is that the WhatsApp Business Platform wasn’t designed to support the surge of general-purpose chatbot distribution, and that alternative “routes to market” exist outside WhatsApp. [8]
Market backdrop: why tomorrow’s open may amplify headline sensitivity
META doesn’t trade in a vacuum, and tomorrow’s session follows a strong broader-market setup:
- On Wednesday, Dec. 24, U.S. stocks closed higher in the holiday-shortened session, with the Dow and S&P 500 at record closing highs, according to Reuters. [9]
- Reuters also notes markets were pricing in roughly 50 basis points of Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2026 (while seeing low odds of a January cut), which has supported risk sentiment into year-end. [10]
- The so-called “Santa Claus rally” window began on Dec. 24, Reuters reported, which is part of why investors are watching for follow-through after the holiday. [11]
What this means for META into Friday:
When the index tape is constructive, single-stock regulatory headlines often show up more as relative performance (META vs. the Nasdaq/S&P 500) than as outright risk-off dumping — unless the news implies a material hit to strategy or monetization. Friday will be a first real test of how seriously traders are treating the WhatsApp AI access fight.
Wall Street forecasts and analyst tone: still bullish on average, but debate centers on AI spending and margins
Despite regulatory pressure points, the Street’s aggregated view remains supportive:
- According to StockAnalysis’ compiled analyst data, 43 analysts covering Meta show a consensus rating of “Strong Buy” with an average price target around $819.40, implying roughly ~23% upside from recent levels (with a wide target range). [12]
What bulls are leaning on
The optimistic case tends to cluster around:
- Meta’s scale in digital advertising
- AI-driven ad performance improvements (and continued product iteration)
- Optionality in messaging monetization (including WhatsApp) and wearables/AI devices
What skeptics are focused on
The pushback isn’t “Meta can’t build AI.” It’s how much it costs and whether returns arrive fast enough:
A MarketWatch analysis this week pointed to investor unease that Meta’s AI investment cycle is pushing expenses ahead of revenue growth, with depreciation and infrastructure costs a key worry (and without a cloud business to monetize spare capacity the way hyperscalers can). [13]
And separately (from earlier company guidance reported by Reuters), Meta has signaled very large capex needs, including a higher 2025 capex range and expectations that 2026 capex would be significantly higher — the kind of trajectory that can tighten margins if monetization lags. [14]
What to know before the market opens tomorrow: a practical META checklist for Dec. 26
Here are the most actionable things to track between now and the opening print on Friday.
1) Watch for follow-up reporting or formal filings on the Italy order
The market often reacts twice:
- first to the headline (“Italy orders Meta to halt…”),
- then to details (scope, timeline, whether a suspension is immediate/temporary, and whether Meta changes terms voluntarily while appealing).
Even without new filings today, any credible follow-up could shape premarket sentiment. [15]
2) Track whether the EU investigation narrative escalates
Because Reuters says Italy is coordinating with the European Commission — and the EU already launched a parallel probe — traders may treat this as a European regulatory theme rather than a one-off. [16]
3) Expect thinner liquidity — which can widen spreads and sharpen moves
Holiday-week trading is often choppy. Reuters explicitly flagged thin volumes into the holiday. Thin liquidity can magnify both:
- gap moves at the open, and
- intraday whipsaws on little incremental news. [17]
4) Use key price zones from the last session as a “map,” not a prediction
From the Dec. 24 session:
- The upper area near $668 was the recent high zone.
- The lower area near $662 was the session low zone. [18]
In holiday conditions, breaks of these levels can trigger momentum-driven flows. But remember: levels don’t “cause” moves — they’re just where traders tend to react.
5) Know what “after-hours” really means today
Because the market is closed on Dec. 25, you’re not seeing a new normal after-hours session. The latest after-hours quote investors are referencing is from Dec. 24, and even then, after-hours can be thin and less reliable than regular-session pricing. [19]
6) Keep the next major scheduled catalyst on your radar: earnings timing
Meta’s next earnings date is still shown as estimated/unconfirmed on some calendars (algorithm-derived), but multiple market calendars point to early February 2026 as the likely window. The exact date matters because it’s when Meta can clarify 2026 spending and AI monetization priorities — the core debate behind many forecasts. [20]
Additional “current” item investors may see in the headlines: new AI copyright litigation naming Meta
This is not a same-day stock mover in most cases, but it is part of the broader AI risk backdrop:
Reuters reported that New York Times reporter and “Bad Blood” author John Carreyrou and other writers filed a lawsuit accusing multiple AI companies — including Meta — of using copyrighted books without permission to train AI systems. [21]
For Meta shareholders, this sits in the category of ongoing AI legal overhang (headline risk + potential litigation cost), rather than a near-term driver like earnings or a major product launch — but it can contribute to narrative volatility during slow-liquidity sessions.
Bottom line for META stock heading into Friday, Dec. 26
With the market shut on Christmas Day, Meta’s “after the bell” picture is really the Dec. 24 close and the last after-hours quote. The stock ended the shortened session near $667.55 and traded modestly lower in after-hours around $666.31. [22]
The key new development investors will be digesting into Friday’s open is the Italian antitrust order targeting WhatsApp terms that could exclude rival AI chatbots, plus the implication that European scrutiny of Meta’s AI distribution strategy is intensifying.
Meanwhile, the broader tape has been supportive (records into the holiday), and analyst consensus remains bullish — but the central tug-of-war remains unchanged: AI opportunity vs. AI cost, and how quickly Meta can turn heavy infrastructure spending into durable profit growth. [23]
This article is for informational purposes and reflects publicly reported developments and consensus forecasts, not individualized investment advice.
References
1. www.nasdaq.com, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. www.reuters.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. stockanalysis.com, 13. www.marketwatch.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. stockanalysis.com, 19. stockanalysis.com, 20. www.nasdaq.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. stockanalysis.com, 23. www.reuters.com
