Following the Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) earnings report after the close on Wednesday, analysts have weighed in with their views of the company's stock.
Meta's Q1 EPS of $4.71 was $0.39 better than the analyst estimate of $4.32. The company's revenue for the quarter, $36.46 billion, also exceeded the consensus estimate of $36.14 billion, further highlighting its strong financial standing.
Here's what Wall Street analysts said:
Wolfe Research: "META's 1Q results came in above street estimates on both top and bottom line. 2Q guide implies slight top-line decel with increased FY24 Opex/Capex expects. However, we believe bull case remains in-tact."
Bernstein: "Revenue growth was always going to decelerate. Revenues were up +27% Y/Y, right at the top-end of guidance. The 2Q guide was fine at $36.5-39B (14-22% Y/Y growth) with a tougher compare as we start to lap China ad buyer spending, though came in below the elevated $40B 'bogey.'"
Barclays: "If there is anything META has proven over the years, it's extremely good at executing during big platform shifts in tech, arguably the best. We would let the dust settle on the tone shift here before adding to positions, but we didn't hear anything from Zuckerberg that causes major concern."
Evercore ISI: "We view META's results as a positive read-through to the rest of the 'Net Ad sector. Growth rate accelerated more than the comp, with stronger Q/Q seasonality vs. last Q1."
Stifel: "Meta reported a solid 1Q, but the 2Q revenue outlook was slightly below consensus at the midpoint. Despite the 2Q rev miss, we believe shares are mostly under pressure as a result on upward revisions to '24 expenses and Capex, with incremental AI infrastructure costs weighing on both (Opex also seeing incremental legal expenses)."
Morgan Stanley: "1Q results/2Q guidance were largely in line but META is stepping up capex/opex. But '25 EBIT/FCF only fall ~2%/3% and we see engagement/monetization trends and pipeline still trending in the right direction. We are buyers on weakness"
Citi: "While quarterly results were better-than-expected, lower 2Q revenue guidance relative to consensus and slightly higher opex and capex expectations are likely to lead to shares trading lower in after-hours trading."
Goldman Sachs: "Meta Platforms (META) entered 2024 with a solid Q1 operating report that was punctuated by strong revenue trends (despite facing a tougher YoY comp in Q1), solid operating margin performance in its core Family of Apps segment and executing a total of ~$16bn of capital returns (between share buybacks and dividends). However, the company's forward commentary was framed around decelerating revenue in Q2 (albeit against increasingly tough YoY comps throughout the year) and a stepped-up investment cycle which caused both FY24 total GAAP expense and capex guided ranges to be moved higher with this report."
BofA: "[The] momentum cycle [is] likely over, but investing in the right places," said analysts. "1Q had some 1x revenue growth benefits, there were higher legal expense accruals, and AI optimism (plus supply opening) is driving a higher capex outlook, which may drive an EPS upside expectation reset."
JMP Securities: "While we acknowledge the difficulties of buying a stock in the early stages of an investment cycle, we believe Meta continues to be well positioned to benefit from AI increasing engagement and advertising efficiency."