A consensus of 44 analysts compiled by TipRanks assigns Meta Platforms a ‘Strong Buy’ rating, reflecting 37 Buy recommendations, six Holds and one Sell. The average 12-month price target stands at $820.21, implying roughly 24.5% upside from current levels. Forecasts range from a low of $655.15 to a high of $1,117, with recent target trims—from institutions such as Wells Fargo and Stifel—cited as responses to near-term operating and capital expenditure increases tied to AI infrastructure investments.

Analysts expect fourth-quarter earnings per share of $8.19, up about 2% year-over-year, on revenues near $58.3 billion, a gain of roughly 20.6%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year EPS of $26.70 represents a 21% improvement versus 2024, while revenue forecasts call for a mid-teens percentage advance. Investor attention centers on advertising revenue growth—driven by automation improvements and Reels monetization exceeding half of Instagram ad load—daily active user trends across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, and the impact of rising AI-related capital spending on free cash flow.

Meta announced it will temporarily disable AI character chat features for users identified as minors across all of its apps. The pause is slated to begin in the coming weeks and applies to accounts with birthday data or age-prediction flags indicating teenage status. The move precedes the rollout of an updated experience with built-in parental controls and age-appropriate content filters, a response to parental feedback seeking greater visibility and supervision over their children’s AI interactions.