Last Trading Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Meta shares slipped in the last trading session as investors weighed concerns over heavy AI spending against long-term growth prospects, with modest stabilization seen after hours.
- Analyst sentiment remains broadly bullish despite near-term volatility, with several firms maintaining Buy ratings and raising or reaffirming price targets well above current levels.
- Traders are now watching upcoming earnings updates, management commentary on AI capex discipline, and broader macro data as the next potential catalysts for the stock.
In a trading session driven by heightened investor scrutiny of Big Tech’s AI spending, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) closed lower on Friday, with shares retreating amid news that aggressive capital expenditures in AI infrastructure and initiatives could weigh on near-term profitability. The stock finished the regular session at $661.46, down 1.31% from the prior day’s close, as traders reacted to the latest developments and broader market dynamics influenced by tech sector narratives. After the bell, shares ticked modestly higher, trading around $664.00, up approximately 0.38% in after-hours action as investors digested the headlines and prepared for the week ahead.(Yahoo Finance)
Meta’s move came against a backdrop of mounting concerns about the scale and timing of capital expenditures across the technology sector. Shares of Meta and its peers have languished as analysts and market participants reevaluate the balance between long-term innovation — particularly in artificial intelligence — and short-term returns. News reports highlighted that Big Tech companies are collectively planning to deploy hundreds of billions of dollars in AI capital spending this year, a factor that has contributed to volatility in the group.(Reuters)
Wall Street’s response to these developments has been mixed, with pricing targets and ratings reflecting divergent views on Meta’s prospects. In recent weeks, several brokerages have issued updates on the stock. TD Cowen raised its price target to $820 from $810, maintaining a Buy rating and pointing to strength in core digital advertising and AI-related growth drivers. Jefferies reiterated a Buy rating with an unchanged target of $910, underscoring confidence in Meta’s competitive positioning despite market headwinds. Meanwhile, Baird trimmed its target modestly from $820 to $815, reflecting measured expectations as analysts weigh capex pressures against fundamentals. Other long-range forecasts compiled by data aggregators show an average 12-month target north of the current trading level, with broad Strong Buy consensus across coverage.(stockanalysis)
Analyst commentary has also underscored the importance of Meta’s execution on both advertising monetization and cost discipline. Some Street strategists point to AI-powered ad tools and engagement metrics that underpin revenue growth potential, while others caution that elevated expenses could compress operating margins and challenge short-term valuations. Reports from TipRanks and Investing.com highlight how price targets have oscillated as Wall Street digests Meta’s strategic capital allocation choices.(TipRanks)