Meta Platforms Stock Forecast: Trending Bullish Among Analysts

Meta Platforms’ (META) stock has risen 3.3% over the past week, edged up 0.4% over the past month, but is still down 0.8% over the last 12 months. Despite that mixed performance, Wall Street’s analysts are firmly bullish, with a StrongBuy consensus and a 12‑month average price target of $829.78 versus a last close of $668.73. That implies meaningful upside as experts increasingly view Meta’s heavy artificial intelligence (AI) spending as a key driver of faster revenue and profit growth rather than a drag on results.

Analysts point to Meta’s recent quarterly report as a turning point. Jeffrey Wlodarczak of Pivotal Research Group reiterated his Buy rating with a $910 price target, still offering considerable upside even after trimming it by $20 following the earnings release. He highlights an “unquestionably strong” fourth quarter and first‑quarter revenue guidance that beat both his and the Street’s expectations, driven by early payoffs from Meta’s AI investments. While Meta’s 2026 capex and operating expense guidance are much higher than previously forecast, Wlodarczak argues that the much stronger revenue outlook de‑risks that spend. This 3‑star analyst ranks 2968 out of 11,984 on TipRanks, with a 51.36% success rate and a 3.4% average return per rating.

Another bullish voice is Shweta Khajuria of Wolfe Research, who also reiterates Buy with an $850 price target and keeps Meta as one of her top picks for 2026. She sees “material revenue acceleration” as improving ad model relevance and new products kick in, while Meta continues to trade at a noticeable P/E discount to Alphabet. Khajuria expects revenue growth in the mid‑20% range for 2026, well above prior Street assumptions, and believes elevated capex and Reality Labs losses are manageable as long as revenue continues to accelerate and returns on investment trend higher. She frames key investor questions around the durability of revenue growth, the payback on heavy AI and capex, and the path for 2027 earnings, where she forecasts solid EPS growth. On TipRanks, this 4‑star analyst ranks 743 out of 11,984, with a 49.70% success rate but an impressive 22% average return per rating.

Citi’s Ronald Josey adds to the optimism, reiterating a Buy rating and an $850 price target as well. He emphasizes that while 2026 expenses and capex are running above Street expectations, Meta’s better‑than‑expected first‑quarter revenue guidance and strong engagement trends underscore that its AI‑driven ranking and recommendation (R&R) upgrades are already delivering. Josey is particularly encouraged by growth in Instagram Reels watch time and strong video engagement on Facebook, alongside new monetization products like Business AI, WhatsApp paid messaging and Agentic Shopping, which he sees as emerging growth catalysts. This 5‑star analyst ranks 266 out of 11,984 on TipRanks, with a 58.35% success rate and a 19.9% average return per rating.

Rounding out the bullish camp, Bank of America’s Justin Post reiterates Buy with an $885 price objective, citing a “big step forward in AI proof points” and a surprise acceleration in ad growth. He notes that Meta’s fourth‑quarter revenue and EPS beat Street estimates, and that its first‑quarter outlook suggests a sharp acceleration in growth helped by multiple AI models driving usage and ad efficiency. Post acknowledges Meta’s aggressive 2026 expense and capex guidance but stresses that management still expects profit growth in 2026 and appears willing to moderate spending if revenue slows. He has raised his 2026 revenue and EPS estimates and sees Meta’s ads business as attractively valued even after factoring in sizable AI and Reality Labs spending. Across these views, the message to investors is consistent: Meta’s big AI bet is increasingly being treated not as a risk, but as the main reason analysts see substantial upside in the stock.

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