SEC's Action Against Leveraged ETFs Creates Power Shift — Who Benefits When 5X Trading is Halted?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 04 2025
0mins
Should l Buy META?
Source: Benzinga
Regulatory Challenges for Ultra-Leveraged ETFs: The SEC has issued warning letters to nine issuers, including ProShares and Direxion, halting plans for new ultra-leveraged ETFs that promise up to five times the daily return on various assets, including stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Impact on Existing 2× ETFs: The regulatory freeze creates a scarcity advantage for already-approved 2× ETFs, which have performed well this year, as they become the only viable options for traders seeking leveraged exposure.
Uncertain Future for Ultra-Leveraged Funds: The SEC's discomfort with the risk profiles of ultra-leveraged products raises questions about whether this regulatory pause is temporary or indicative of a more fundamental shift in the market.
Shift in the Leveraged ETF Landscape: The current freeze on new product launches signals a new phase of disruption in the leveraged ETF market, potentially leading issuers to explore buffered or thematic ETFs instead.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy META?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on META
Wall Street analysts forecast META stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for META is 824.71 USD with a low forecast of 655.15 USD and a high forecast of 1117 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
44 Analyst Rating
37 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 670.210
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 670.210
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.
Meta Increases AI Investment, Profitability Under Pressure
- AI Budget Surge: Meta plans to increase its capital expenditures to $135 billion in 2026, an 87% rise from last year, aimed at supporting its AI Superintelligence team, which is expected to drive future technological innovation and market competitiveness.
- Profitability Pressure: As capital expenditures rise, Meta's depreciation expenses increased by 20% in 2025 and are expected to rise further in 2026, leading to a decline in operating margin from 48% in Q4 2024 to 41%, although management still anticipates overall operating income growth.
- AI-Driven Revenue Growth: Meta achieved a 24% revenue growth in Q4, driven by increased user engagement and stable ad price hikes, demonstrating its effectiveness in AI applications and market potential.
- Generative AI Potential: Meta is planning to leverage generative AI to attract more advertisers, combining personalized content and shopping agent features, which is expected to generate substantial ad revenue and further solidify its market position.
See More
OpenAI CEO Reports ChatGPT Exceeds 10% Monthly Growth
- User Growth Resurgence: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed in an internal message that ChatGPT's monthly growth rate has exceeded 10%, indicating a recovery in user demand that is expected to further drive the company's market share and revenue growth.
- New Model Launch: Altman stated that OpenAI plans to launch an updated ChatGPT model this week, which will enhance its product competitiveness, especially in the face of pressure from rivals like Anthropic.
- Strong Codex Performance: OpenAI's coding product Codex grew approximately 50% over the past week, demonstrating increased market acceptance and potentially eroding market share from competitors like Claude Code.
- Ad Testing Initiation: OpenAI will begin testing ads within ChatGPT on Monday; although ad revenue is expected to account for less than half of total revenue in the long term, this initiative could provide new revenue streams and enhance the company's financial stability.
See More
New Mexico Sues Meta for Failing to Protect Child Users
- Lawsuit Background: New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez alleges that Meta failed to protect apps like Facebook and Instagram from online predators targeting child users, highlighting significant shortcomings in social media platforms' responsibilities towards youth safety.
- Allegations Details: The lawsuit claims that Meta steered users, including children, towards sexually explicit and exploitative content, even facilitating human trafficking, which underscores the potential dangers social media poses to young users' mental health.
- Legal Implications: This lawsuit is likened to the cases against 'Big Tobacco' in the 1990s, potentially leading to profound repercussions for Meta and the broader social media industry, especially as public concern over youth protection intensifies.
- Upcoming Trials: In addition to the New Mexico case, Meta faces another trial in California involving multiple social media platforms accused of designing defective apps that contribute to unhealthy behaviors in teens, further fueling discussions on social media accountability.
See More
Seattle Seahawks Win Super Bowl with 29-13 Victory
- Market Surge: The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared over 1,200 points on Friday, surpassing the 50,000 mark for the first time, closing the week up 2.5%, indicating strong investor confidence despite a slight dip in futures trading this morning.
- Super Bowl Advertising Boom: NBC's 30-second ad spots averaged $8 million, with some exceeding $10 million, showcasing fierce competition in the advertising market as AI companies heavily invested in the event, highlighting the importance of brand visibility.
- Legal Action Intensifies: Novo Nordisk is suing Hims & Hers over its copycat weight-loss pills, leading Hims to announce the withdrawal of its product, resulting in a pre-market stock drop of over 20%, reflecting market sensitivity to legal risks.
- Meta Faces Major Trials: Meta is set to face two significant lawsuits in New Mexico and Los Angeles regarding the protection of child users and the mental health impacts on young users, which could have profound implications for its business and the social media industry.
See More
Big Tech Stocks Under Market Pressure
- Market Volatility Intensifies: Last week, Big Tech stocks saw over $1 trillion wiped from their market caps, creating a tense market atmosphere, with Oracle and Microsoft rising 1.6% and 0.8% respectively, while Meta and Amazon struggled, reflecting investor concerns over future expenditures.
- Surge in Capital Expenditures: Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta reported a combined capital expenditure of approximately $120 billion in Q4, with projections nearing $700 billion by 2026, surpassing the GDP of countries like the UAE, Singapore, and Israel, highlighting a strong investment demand for AI infrastructure.
- Cloud Growth Potential: Despite negative market reactions to Amazon and Alphabet's capex guidance exceeding expectations, analysts believe robust cloud growth will continue to drive stock prices, especially amid accelerating data center demand.
- Increased Management Confidence: In the face of macroeconomic pressures, Bank of America analysts noted that management teams are increasingly confident in their demand forecasts, anticipating full capacity utilization by 2026, indicating a positive outlook for the industry.
See More
Big Tech Stocks Experience Market Volatility
- Market Volatility Impact: Following a week where over $1 trillion was wiped from market caps, Big Tech stocks showed flat performance in premarket trading on Monday, indicating market uncertainty, particularly with rising capital expenditure plans in the AI sector.
- Surge in Capital Expenditure: Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta reported a combined capital expenditure of approximately $120 billion in Q4, with projections soaring to $660 billion by 2026, surpassing the GDP of countries like the UAE, Singapore, and Israel, reflecting strong industry confidence in AI investments.
- Divergent Stock Performance: As of 6:12 a.m. ET, Oracle rose 1.5% and Microsoft edged up 0.8%, while Meta and Amazon fell 0.3% and 0.1% respectively, showcasing varied performances among stocks amidst overall market weakness, which could influence investor decisions.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Despite growing margins for cloud companies, analysts warn of potential stock volatility due to macroeconomic pressures; however, management's confidence in demand forecasting may lead to full capacity utilization by 2026, providing some reassurance to investors.
See More
Meta Increases AI Investment, Profitability Under Pressure
- AI Budget Surge: Meta plans to increase its capital expenditures to $135 billion in 2026, an 87% rise from last year, aimed at supporting its AI Superintelligence team, which is expected to drive future technological innovation and market competitiveness.
- Profitability Pressure: As capital expenditures rise, Meta's depreciation expenses increased by 20% in 2025 and are expected to rise further in 2026, leading to a decline in operating margin from 48% in Q4 2024 to 41%, although management still anticipates overall operating income growth.
- AI-Driven Revenue Growth: Meta achieved a 24% revenue growth in Q4, driven by increased user engagement and stable ad price hikes, demonstrating its effectiveness in AI applications and market potential.
- Generative AI Potential: Meta is planning to leverage generative AI to attract more advertisers, combining personalized content and shopping agent features, which is expected to generate substantial ad revenue and further solidify its market position.
See More
OpenAI CEO Reports ChatGPT Exceeds 10% Monthly Growth
- User Growth Resurgence: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed in an internal message that ChatGPT's monthly growth rate has exceeded 10%, indicating a recovery in user demand that is expected to further drive the company's market share and revenue growth.
- New Model Launch: Altman stated that OpenAI plans to launch an updated ChatGPT model this week, which will enhance its product competitiveness, especially in the face of pressure from rivals like Anthropic.
- Strong Codex Performance: OpenAI's coding product Codex grew approximately 50% over the past week, demonstrating increased market acceptance and potentially eroding market share from competitors like Claude Code.
- Ad Testing Initiation: OpenAI will begin testing ads within ChatGPT on Monday; although ad revenue is expected to account for less than half of total revenue in the long term, this initiative could provide new revenue streams and enhance the company's financial stability.
See More
New Mexico Sues Meta for Failing to Protect Child Users
- Lawsuit Background: New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez alleges that Meta failed to protect apps like Facebook and Instagram from online predators targeting child users, highlighting significant shortcomings in social media platforms' responsibilities towards youth safety.
- Allegations Details: The lawsuit claims that Meta steered users, including children, towards sexually explicit and exploitative content, even facilitating human trafficking, which underscores the potential dangers social media poses to young users' mental health.
- Legal Implications: This lawsuit is likened to the cases against 'Big Tobacco' in the 1990s, potentially leading to profound repercussions for Meta and the broader social media industry, especially as public concern over youth protection intensifies.
- Upcoming Trials: In addition to the New Mexico case, Meta faces another trial in California involving multiple social media platforms accused of designing defective apps that contribute to unhealthy behaviors in teens, further fueling discussions on social media accountability.
See More
Seattle Seahawks Win Super Bowl with 29-13 Victory
- Market Surge: The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared over 1,200 points on Friday, surpassing the 50,000 mark for the first time, closing the week up 2.5%, indicating strong investor confidence despite a slight dip in futures trading this morning.
- Super Bowl Advertising Boom: NBC's 30-second ad spots averaged $8 million, with some exceeding $10 million, showcasing fierce competition in the advertising market as AI companies heavily invested in the event, highlighting the importance of brand visibility.
- Legal Action Intensifies: Novo Nordisk is suing Hims & Hers over its copycat weight-loss pills, leading Hims to announce the withdrawal of its product, resulting in a pre-market stock drop of over 20%, reflecting market sensitivity to legal risks.
- Meta Faces Major Trials: Meta is set to face two significant lawsuits in New Mexico and Los Angeles regarding the protection of child users and the mental health impacts on young users, which could have profound implications for its business and the social media industry.
See More
Big Tech Stocks Under Market Pressure
- Market Volatility Intensifies: Last week, Big Tech stocks saw over $1 trillion wiped from their market caps, creating a tense market atmosphere, with Oracle and Microsoft rising 1.6% and 0.8% respectively, while Meta and Amazon struggled, reflecting investor concerns over future expenditures.
- Surge in Capital Expenditures: Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta reported a combined capital expenditure of approximately $120 billion in Q4, with projections nearing $700 billion by 2026, surpassing the GDP of countries like the UAE, Singapore, and Israel, highlighting a strong investment demand for AI infrastructure.
- Cloud Growth Potential: Despite negative market reactions to Amazon and Alphabet's capex guidance exceeding expectations, analysts believe robust cloud growth will continue to drive stock prices, especially amid accelerating data center demand.
- Increased Management Confidence: In the face of macroeconomic pressures, Bank of America analysts noted that management teams are increasingly confident in their demand forecasts, anticipating full capacity utilization by 2026, indicating a positive outlook for the industry.
See More
Big Tech Stocks Experience Market Volatility
- Market Volatility Impact: Following a week where over $1 trillion was wiped from market caps, Big Tech stocks showed flat performance in premarket trading on Monday, indicating market uncertainty, particularly with rising capital expenditure plans in the AI sector.
- Surge in Capital Expenditure: Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta reported a combined capital expenditure of approximately $120 billion in Q4, with projections soaring to $660 billion by 2026, surpassing the GDP of countries like the UAE, Singapore, and Israel, reflecting strong industry confidence in AI investments.
- Divergent Stock Performance: As of 6:12 a.m. ET, Oracle rose 1.5% and Microsoft edged up 0.8%, while Meta and Amazon fell 0.3% and 0.1% respectively, showcasing varied performances among stocks amidst overall market weakness, which could influence investor decisions.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Despite growing margins for cloud companies, analysts warn of potential stock volatility due to macroeconomic pressures; however, management's confidence in demand forecasting may lead to full capacity utilization by 2026, providing some reassurance to investors.
See More
