Meta Boosts 2026 Capex to $145B as CEO Eyes Selling Excess Compute
META•Meta raised its 2026 capital expenditure guidance from $125 billion to $145 billion after spending $72 billion in 2025 on AI infrastructure, with DRAM prices forecast to climb 125%. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta could sell excess compute capacity, pitting it against Amazon and Microsoft in cloud AI.
1. Capex Increase Details
Meta raised its 2026 capital expenditure plan from $125 billion to $145 billion, after spending $72 billion in 2025 on AI and data center infrastructure. The CFO cited high component pricing and rising data center costs, with DRAM prices expected to rise around 125%.
2. Proposal to Sell Excess Compute
At the annual shareholder meeting, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta will explore selling unused data center capacity. The proposal aims to monetize idle hardware but lacks specifics on pricing, timing or target markets.
3. Competitive and Profitability Outlook
Entering compute sales positions Meta against Amazon and Microsoft in the cloud AI market. External profitability models project Meta could see returns as low as -29% on its AI infrastructure investments compared with a modest 7.2% return for Amazon.
