Last Trading Date: New York Feb 17, 2026
Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. eked out a modest gain in the closing session on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as fresh news of a multiyear strategic partnership with Nvidia lifted sentiment among technology investors. After the closing bell, the stock continued to climb in extended trading following confirmation of the AI infrastructure pact, highlighting a shift in focus toward long-term growth catalysts.
On the regular session, Meta’s stock closed at approximately $639.29, representing a -0.08% slip from Monday’s finish of $639.77, according to market data tracking Nasdaq historical prices — a continuation of subdued trading ahead of the announcement’s official release. However, in after-hours trading on Feb 17, the share price turned positive, gaining between +1.1% and +2.0% as markets reacted to news that the company will purchase millions of AI chips and related technology from Nvidia to bolster its AI training and data-center infrastructure.(benzinga)
The broader U.S. market also provided context for Meta’s movements. Major benchmarks including the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 finished slightly higher on the day — with the Nasdaq Composite climbing modestly — as investors weighed economic data ahead of key inflation and GDP releases.(investopedia)
Several analysts had already been positioning Meta for future gains heading into the last session. Recent research from UBS raised its 12-month price target on Meta to $872 from $830 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing expectations that the company’s enhanced AI revenue pillars and core advertising momentum will drive earnings growth beyond current levels. In a separate update, Monness Crespi & Hardt lifted its price objective to $890, reflecting bullish sentiment after stronger-than-expected Q4 earnings and forward guidance that impressed Wall Street. According to aggregated analyst data, the average price target across Meta’s coverage sits near $835–$857, with a consensus skewed toward a Strong Buy, suggesting material upside from current trading levels.(Barrons)
Market watchers attribute some of the stock’s volatility this week to concerns about the company’s aggressive capital expenditure in AI, which has been a point of debate among equity strategists. Despite solid revenue and EPS beats in its latest quarterly report, investors have grappled with how Meta’s elevated AI and infrastructure spending could pressure near-term free cash flow. Still, reiterated and upgraded analyst ratings have helped temper downside risk and underscore confidence in the company’s long-term prospects.
The expanded alliance with Nvidia — involving the deployment of Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell and Rubin GPUs along with a significant order of Grace CPUs for standalone AI workloads — is seen as a pivotal catalyst for Meta’s technology stack and future competitive positioning. Traders watching the tape now have several events on their radar as potential next catalysts: upcoming earnings previews and guidance updates, the release of key economic data that could steer Fed policy, and further strategic disclosures related to Meta’s AI roadmap and capital allocation strategy.(seekingalpha)