Crossroads
Retail Investor, YouTube Investing Creator
Meta looks very attractive after settling for $16.7 billion, far below the roughly $50 billion worst case and merely a slap on the wrist. The $1.4 trillion figure was never going to happen, and other lawsuits are even smaller. The more material concern is whether required changes to its algorithm or platform for young users hurt the product, and its Q2 explanation of capex strategy and ROI was the weakest among hyperscalers. It remains one not to own personally. x.com x.comÂ
Meta's child-safety lawsuit will not damage the business, so the stock is very attractive for long-term investors even if it stays depressed for now. The $1.4T headline will not happen; the likely worst case resembles the 1998 Big Tobacco settlement, perhaps $50B over 10 years, a drop in the bucket for Meta. Limits on adolescents would mainly hit Instagram, since Meta has shifted toward adults. It would still be its largest fine ever, and with AI-strategy questions it can keep shares lower. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Meta's AI infrastructure financing raises the risk that a long wait for revenue and profit will keep its shares volatile. It disclosed plans to raise up to $95 billion. @amitisinvesting warns that further dilution could keep the stock stuck even if the buildout eventually pays off. Meta's selloff is still a massive buying opportunity. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Meta's early AI monetization in its core business makes the long-term upside potentially far greater than the short-term pain from its planned $95B capital raise and possible dilution. Its fair value is $1,100, and the shares are worth holding for years despite short-term moves. If Meta monetizes the infrastructure, upside is massive; even if it does not, the assets still have value. x.comÂ
Meta's expected $700 billion share raise would dilute investors while a non-voting class preserves Zuckerberg's control. With AI bond financing effectively closed, that is how it plans to fund its needs. X's growing ad inventory should lower ad prices enough to pull small advertisers' budgets away from Meta. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Meta's advertising is less vulnerable to AI agents and LLMs because users must scroll Instagram themselves. AI may even give them more time to do so, while Meta retains other mega-caps' AI tailwinds; it remains the best AI stock. CapEx is still a problem. As @diyinvestor1 noted, Meta also has no exposure to OpenAI or Anthropic. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Meta's core advertising business is significantly outgrowing its biggest competitors even before factoring in the newer businesses it is building. Q3 ad revenue rose 26% year over year, versus 10.6% at Alphabet and 10.9% at Amazon. Back at 19x forward earnings, Meta is the most undervalued Magnificent Seven stock. x.com x.comÂ
Meta looks unattractive because its fines, capital raises and AI capex make the math ugly. The stock could trade back to the $500s, while hyperscalers probably have to make those raises with equity down 15-25%. Muse looks like a fad and average users may not need AI agents, matching LogicalThesis's view. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Meta looks attractive for its highly profitable, sticky Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp business, AI momentum and valuation. Muse already has 2.5 million daily active users, and shares trade at 24.4 times trailing earnings. Founder-CEO Mark Zuckerberg retains voting control; his big wins easily outweigh his mistakes, and at 42 he could have another 30 years of execution ahead. x.com x.comÂ
Meta's growth and earnings make its valuation appealing. It trades at 17x 2027 estimates with 17% EPS and 22% revenue growth. Its $140 billion EBITDA should make it worth more than Anthropic, which has none, though that comparison could be wrong. If distribution is king, Meta Muse could benefit from Meta's 3.64 billion daily active users, according to GuruFocus News. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Meta's planned stock offerings to finance AI growth merit a selloff in its shares. The Wall Street Journal reports up to $95 billion in financing and a potential at-the-market offering of up to $60 billion, possibly beginning in Q1 2027. Send Meta to zero. x.comÂ
Meta's ad pricing and impressions still support its AI monetization case, but heavy spending has pushed free cash flow negative. Impressions rose about 10% and prices 14% as revenue reached $64.6 billion; FCF was negative $2.12 billion and a $9.89 billion state AG charge hit earnings. Scale only on weakness if comfortable with founder control under the planned non-voting Class C shares. Sustained cash burn would weaken the buyback and valuation case. x.comÂ
