Meta Platforms is down 1% to $681.47 at present. Bank of America has just cut its price target from $885 to $820. The reason? Soaring AI infrastructure costs and massive layoffs planned for May. 📉
🔍 What's going on?
BofA remains long Meta but significantly lowers expectations. The target is down from $885 to $820, which still leaves 19.1% upside potential from the last close. The problem? Macroeconomic uncertainty will plague second-quarter earnings forecasts.
Second cause for concern: Meta could raise the low end of its 2026 investment range. The focus on artificial intelligence and inflation in infrastructure costs are pushing spending upwards. Recent capacity agreements and rumors of major layoffs in May reinforce this scenario.
💡 Why does it matter?
For those of us who follow big tech, Meta is becoming a textbook case. The company is betting everything on generative AI and the metaverse, but these massive investments are beginning to weigh on margins. Analysts remain mostly buyers, with an average rating of 66 positive analysts and a median target of $850.
.The stock is still up 4.3% since the start of 2026. But the timing of likely layoffs in May and BofA's downward revision show that the market is beginning to question the return on investment of this AI race. Costs are exploding faster than expected and advertising revenues remain under macro pressure.
📊 Our opinion
We see Meta caught in the crossfire. On the one hand, the company needs to invest heavily in AI to avoid falling behind. On the other, this spending is taking a toll on short-term profitability.
For us, BofA's signal is clear: watch out for the second quarter. The target revision from $885 to $820 is not insignificant. It reflects heightened caution about Meta's ability to meet its revenue forecasts in a deteriorated macro environment. The May layoffs will certainly reduce the payroll, but they also reflect the need to tighten costs in the face of runaway AI investments. The consensus remains positive, with a median target of $850, but the gap with the current price of $681 shows that the market is waiting for concrete proof. In Europe, tech stocks exposed to AI are under similar pressure: the ECB is keeping a close eye on massive investments that could weaken balance sheets.
Our preferred scenario: consolidation around $680 while awaiting Q2 results. For the French trader: keep an eye on the $650 support level and wait for real visibility on revenues before positioning yourself.
Our preferred scenario: consolidation around $650 while awaiting Q2 results.
✅ To remember
- Meta falls 1% to $681.47 currently
- BofA cuts its target from $885 to $820
- Massive layoffs expected in May according to Reuters
- AI costs and infrastructure in high inflation
- Consensus remains bid with median target $850
What do you thinkCan Meta justify these AI investments despite pressure on margins, or is it better to wait for evidence of profitability?
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