New York, Jan 24, 2026, 09:33 (EST) — Market closed.
- On Friday, Meta shares ended the day 1.7% higher, closing at $658.76
- Company stepped in to stop teens from accessing AI characters; UK regulator launched investigation into WhatsApp data
- All eyes shift to Meta’s earnings on Jan. 28 and the Fed’s rate decision next week
Meta Platforms (META.O) shares ended Friday up 1.7%, closing at $658.76. The Facebook parent announced it will block teenagers from using its current AI characters on all its apps globally. This decision comes ahead of a busy week for big tech names.
Investors are bracing for the Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday, alongside a packed earnings calendar featuring Meta. “The earnings bar had better be met,” warned Chris Galipeau, senior market strategist at Franklin Templeton, noting that markets still expect strong profit growth. Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist at PNC Financial Services Group, summed up the recent action as a “short but steep roller-coaster ride.” Reuters
Britain’s communications watchdog Ofcom has launched an investigation into Meta, probing the information it supplied about WhatsApp during a market review. Ofcom indicated the “available evidence” points to the response potentially being “incomplete and inaccurate.” A Meta spokesperson said the company commits “significant resources” to handling information requests and will fully cooperate with the investigation. Reuters
Wells Fargo lowered its price target on Meta to $754 from $795 but maintained an Overweight rating. Analyst Ken Gawrelski highlighted an “evaluation of capacity contracts” and noted a near-term “timing mismatch” between increasing AI compute spending and the rollout of new use cases. A price target reflects where brokers expect the stock to trade within a year. TipRanks
Meta climbed on Friday as big tech held up despite a weaker Dow. The Nasdaq ticked up 0.28%, even as Intel dropped sharply following a gloomy forecast. Reuters noted that Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon all gained between 1.7% and 3.3%, with investors gearing up for next week’s earnings.
Meta is eyeing its next major event: the company plans to report Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings after markets close on Wednesday, Jan. 28. A conference call will follow at 4:30 p.m. ET. Investors can catch the webcast on Meta’s investor relations site, the company confirmed.
Investors want clear links between product shifts and revenue: how ad demand looks heading into early 2026, whether AI tools are boosting engagement and ad results, and what the company hints about this year’s spending. Messaging and short video play a role, but margin trends are still what the market’s watching most closely.
The teen AI pause introduces fresh strain. Meta announced that “starting in the coming weeks,” teens will lose access to AI characters until an updated version with parental controls is rolled out. Such safety measures can backfire: they might ease regulatory scrutiny but also delay product launches and revenue streams.
Risks cut the other way as well. Regulators might expand their focus on WhatsApp data and AI tools aimed at teens. Plus, any unexpected cost hikes could hit a stock already valued for smooth sailing.
Trading picks up again Monday, Jan. 26, with investors watching closely to see if recent regulatory and product news will stick. The key moment comes Wednesday, Jan. 28, when Meta is set to release its earnings after the market closes.
