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Meta Platforms (META) is experiencing a leadership shakeup as its head of the fundamental AI research (FAIR) team, Joelle Pineau, revealed she will depart in May. Pineau was instrumental in shaping Meta’s AI innovation, leading initiatives under some of its biggest open-source projects, such as PyTorch, Llama, and SAM. The exit creates questions over continuity in Meta’s AI roadmap when its models are reaching mass adoption.
About Meta Platforms Stock
Meta Platforms (META), based in Menlo Park, California, runs the world’s largest social networking empire encompassing Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. The company also aggressively invests in artificial intelligence infrastructure and augmented reality. It holds a whopping $1.48 trillion market cap.
So far this year, META shares are down nearly 9%. The 52-week range has been $414.50 to $740.91, with its last close coming in at $533.13. The stock has been hit by a broad-based selloff driven by tariffs, among other macroeconomic worries.
Valuation-wise, Meta has a trailing price-earnings multiple of 24.50x and a forward price-earnings multiple of 22.88x. Its price-sales multiple is 9.03, and its price-cash flow multiple is 19.07x. The multiples are a premium when viewed against its internet software peer group, but investors are paying up for Meta’s leading platform economics and scalable AI monetization.
Meta Platforms Beats on Earnings
Meta’s Q4 2024 results shattered estimates, with EPS of $8.02 against a consensus estimate of $6.68. Revenue reached $48.39 billion in the quarter, and net income was $20.84 billion, highlighting Meta’s leverage in its ad and AI-driven recommendation engines.
Looking ahead, Wall Street anticipates Q1 2025 EPS of $5.33, compared to $4.71 in Q1 2024, a 13.16% increase from last year. Meta’s growth rate is anticipated to increase over the next few quarters, with Q2 2025 EPS projected at $5.94, representing 15.12% growth.
For all of 2025, analysts are predicting EPS of $25.61, an increase of 7.33%. More positively still, earnings for 2026 are projected to reach $28.84, a gain of 12.61% on a yearly basis, reflecting ongoing earnings growth in spite of greater capital expenditures on AI infrastructure and computing.markets.
What Do Analysts Expect for Meta Stock?
Meta Platforms has received a consensus estimate of a “Strong Buy” from 54 analysts. The rating has been stable over the last three months as institutional investors continue to show confidence in META shares. The present consensus rating is 4.67 out of 5 based on 46 “Strong Buy,” two “Moderate Buy,” four “Hold,” and two “Strong Sell” ratings.
Meta’s mean price target sits at $744.49, with potential 40% upside from its last closing price. The highest estimate on the Street at $6935 leaves even more room for the company to grow if Meta continues with its AI and ad roadmap plans.
