Ackman Takes 10% Stake in Meta Platforms
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy META?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Portfolio Restructuring: Ackman's Pershing Square exited its position in Chipotle to allocate approximately $2 billion into Meta Platforms, constituting nearly 10% of its portfolio, reflecting strong conviction in the AI sector.
- Market Reaction Analysis: Following Meta's Q3 earnings report, the stock plummeted from $750 to below $600, yet Ackman's cost basis is around $625, indicating his firm belief in Meta's future growth potential despite volatility.
- AI Investment Outlook: Meta plans to significantly ramp up AI investments by 2026, which may strain cash flow in the short term; however, Ackman argues that the core social media business will benefit, enhancing ad effectiveness and driving revenue growth.
- Valuation Advantage: While Meta trades in line with the market, its core business has a P/E ratio of only 18 times earnings, suggesting that with over 3.5 billion daily active users, Meta still presents an attractive opportunity for long-term value for investors.
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Analyst Views on META
Wall Street analysts forecast META stock price to rise
44 Analyst Rating
37 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 649.810
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 649.810
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
About META
Meta Platforms, Inc. is building human connections, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. The Company's products enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets, augmented reality (AR), and wearables. It also helps people discover and learn about what is going on in the world around them, enabling people to share their experiences, ideas, photos, videos, and other content with audiences ranging from their closest family members and friends to the public at large. The Company's segments include Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL). FoA segment includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads. RL segment includes its virtual, augmented, and mixed reality related consumer hardware, software and content. Its product offerings in VR include its Meta Quest devices, as well as software and content available through the Meta Horizon Store.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Surge in Capex: The capital expenditure forecast for 2026 has been raised to between $115 billion and $135 billion, nearly doubling the $72.2 billion spent in 2025, leading to a divide among investors regarding the sustainability of this spending plan.
- Robust User Growth: Meta's Family of Apps now boasts 3.58 billion daily active users, representing 43% of the global population, showcasing effective AI application in its advertising business with an 18% increase in ad impressions.
- Strong Profitability: Meta anticipates Q1 2026 revenues between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, implying growth rates as high as 34%, and despite spending pressures, the company maintains strong cash flow and profitability metrics.
See More
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- Innovation Sandbox: Qatar Foundation Chairperson Sheikha Moza bint Nasser described the event as a 'sandbox of innovation,' highlighting AI's potential to empower small businesses and drive economic growth, particularly as large enterprises face implementation challenges.
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- Rising Electricity Prices: With electricity prices spiking 6.9% year-over-year in 2025, public anxiety about the economy is increasing, as Navarro attempts to blame former President Biden, indicating the current administration's challenges in addressing inflation.
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- Intensified Market Competition: The rapid advancement of AI technology raises questions about the value of enterprise software, leading investors to adopt a pessimistic view on the future of traditional software companies, especially in labor-intensive areas that may face workforce reductions due to AI adoption.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: Despite significant advancements by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI in the AI space, market confidence in traditional software companies is waning, resulting in poor stock performance over the past six months and raising concerns about future profitability.
See More
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- Market Reaction: Shares of CBRE, JLL, and Cushman & Wakefield fell on Thursday as investors reassessed the potential impact of AI tools on the commercial real estate services model, heightening concerns about these companies' future profitability.
- AI Impact Assessment: As AI technology rapidly evolves, investors are questioning whether it will reduce the labor embedded in commercial real estate brokerage and advisory work, potentially leading to greater cost pressures and downward pricing risks for these firms.
- CBRE Earnings Highlights: CBRE Group reported a fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.73, exceeding the market expectation of $2.67, although its revenue of approximately $11.63 billion fell slightly short of the anticipated $11.71 billion, demonstrating the company's resilience in profitability.
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See More
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- Financial Performance Analysis: These companies report strong revenue growth in their financial statements; however, market uncertainties could impact future profitability, necessitating investor attention to shifts in macroeconomic indicators.
- Investor Strategy Adjustments: In light of market risks, investors may need to reassess their portfolios, considering a more balanced allocation between tech stocks and other sectors to mitigate potential losses.
- Industry Outlook: Although the performance of tech giants may mask underlying market issues, the long-term growth of the sector still relies on innovation and the stability of market demand.
See More
