Truist Securities increased its price target on Meta Platforms Inc. to $900.00 from $875.00 on Thursday while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. Meta, which carries a market capitalization of $1.69 trillion, was trading at about $668.73 at the time of the update.
The firm said the target bump follows Meta’s stronger fourth-quarter performance and a first-quarter outlook that implies approximately 30% growth at the midpoint. If realized, that pace would mark the company’s fastest growth since the third quarter of 2021.
Wall Street’s positioning appears broadly favorable to the company. The analyst consensus recommendation sits at 1.33 - classified as Strong Buy - and the most bullish price target among analysts reaches $1,117.
Truist highlighted that advertising demand is robust across geographies, industry verticals and customer sizes, creating what the firm described as a constructive setup heading into fiscal year 2026. The research note attributed much of that demand to artificial intelligence-driven improvements in advertisement recommendations, monetization and user engagement.
Those dynamics have coincided with strong margin and revenue performance for the company. The firm noted Meta’s gross profit margin at 82.01% and year-over-year revenue growth of 21.27%.
Truist’s research also drew attention to management’s plans for fiscal 2026, stating that the company is significantly increasing both capital expenditure and operating expense guidance. Those higher investment levels exceed sell-side estimates but more closely align with buy-side expectations, according to the note. Truist summed up its view by saying that Meta "continues to earn the right to invest" so long as it delivers faster near-term top-line growth and higher long-term free cash flows.
In separate financial disclosures, Meta reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that exceeded consensus forecasts. The company announced earnings per share of $8.88, above the projected $8.19, and revenue of $59.9 billion versus the anticipated $58.35 billion.
The company’s earnings call did not include any merger announcements, and Truist noted that analysts are watching closely for future developments. The research firm also observed that there have been no recent upgrades or downgrades from major analyst houses, leaving the consensus picture unchanged for now.
Taken together, these items underscore the trajectory that Truist and other market participants are monitoring: sustained advertising demand supported by AI enhancements, healthy margins and revenue expansion, and elevated near-term investment guidance that will be judged against top-line acceleration and future free cash flow outcomes.
What to watch next
- Company updates on fiscal 2026 investment execution and any subsequent revisions to guidance.
- Analyst responses to the elevated capex and operating expense outlook.
- Any material announcements from management regarding strategy or corporate actions.