My Favorite 10 Investments for 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 19 2025
0mins
Should l Buy META?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Market Performance: Wall Street has seen significant gains in 2025, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq up 14%, 16%, and 20% year-to-date, respectively, while the author remains focused on long-term investments despite being a net seller of stocks.
Top Holdings and Strategies: The author emphasizes the strength of their top 10 holdings, which account for over 81% of their portfolio, and highlights companies like SSR Mining and Teva Pharmaceutical as key players benefiting from market trends and strategic shifts.
Investment in ETFs and Cash Management: The author utilizes the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF for cash management, achieving a better yield compared to traditional brokerage cash accounts, while maintaining a long-term investment strategy.
Growth Potential in Digital Advertising: Companies like Meta Platforms, PubMatic, Pinterest, and PayPal are noted for their strong positions in digital advertising, with potential for growth despite current market challenges, showcasing the importance of advertising revenue in their business models.
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Analyst Views on META
Wall Street analysts forecast META stock price to rise
44 Analyst Rating
37 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 649.810
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 649.810
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
About META
Meta Platforms, Inc. is building human connections, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. The Company's products enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets, augmented reality (AR), and wearables. It also helps people discover and learn about what is going on in the world around them, enabling people to share their experiences, ideas, photos, videos, and other content with audiences ranging from their closest family members and friends to the public at large. The Company's segments include Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL). FoA segment includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads. RL segment includes its virtual, augmented, and mixed reality related consumer hardware, software and content. Its product offerings in VR include its Meta Quest devices, as well as software and content available through the Meta Horizon Store.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Surge in Capex: The capital expenditure forecast for 2026 has been raised to between $115 billion and $135 billion, nearly doubling the $72.2 billion spent in 2025, leading to a divide among investors regarding the sustainability of this spending plan.
- Robust User Growth: Meta's Family of Apps now boasts 3.58 billion daily active users, representing 43% of the global population, showcasing effective AI application in its advertising business with an 18% increase in ad impressions.
- Strong Profitability: Meta anticipates Q1 2026 revenues between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, implying growth rates as high as 34%, and despite spending pressures, the company maintains strong cash flow and profitability metrics.
See More
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- Global AI Summit: The Web Summit in Doha attracted over 30,000 founders, investors, and experts, establishing itself as a global hub for AI discussions and showcasing the Middle East's rise in the global AI landscape.
- Innovation Sandbox: Qatar Foundation Chairperson Sheikha Moza bint Nasser described the event as a 'sandbox of innovation,' highlighting AI's potential to empower small businesses and drive economic growth, particularly as large enterprises face implementation challenges.
- Energy and Data Infrastructure: Attendees discussed the resilience of supply chains, energy systems, and data infrastructure amid rising geopolitical tensions, emphasizing the need for governments to ensure supply and diversification of computing capabilities to meet the demands of the information age.
- Investment Opportunities: Qatar's Prime Minister announced an additional $2 billion for the Qatar Investment Authority's Fund of Funds program, bringing total committed capital to $3 billion, supporting 12 regional and international fund managers, reflecting the country's ambition and potential in global AI investments.
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- Reaffirmation of U.S.-Europe Relations: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized at the Munich Security Conference that “we want Europe to be strong,” indicating a commitment to repairing relations and enhancing cooperation on security and economic fronts.
- Inflation Data Decline: The U.S. consumer price index rose 2.4% year-on-year in January, down from 2.7% in December, with core CPI at 2.5%, the lowest since April 2021, suggesting that if this trend continues, it could pave the way for lower interest rates and positively impact markets.
- Japan's Economic Recovery: Japan's GDP grew by 0.1% in the fourth quarter, missing the expected 0.4% but reversing a 0.7% contraction in the previous quarter, indicating potential for economic recovery and avoiding a technical recession.
- Surge in Cryptocurrency Crime: Cryptocurrency payments linked to suspected human trafficking surged by 85% in 2025, highlighting the expansion of a criminal ecosystem in Southeast Asia, which may prompt regulatory scrutiny and responses.
See More
UK Government Pushes for Internet Regulation
- Expanded Regulatory Powers: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the government will seek broader authority to regulate internet access, allowing for policy reviews within months instead of years, thereby accelerating the response to emerging digital risks.
- Social Media Ban Review: The government is considering a ban on social media access for children under 16, similar to Australia's policy, with Spain, Greece, and Slovenia also evaluating similar proposals, highlighting a global focus on online safety for children.
- AI and Age Verification: The UK government plans to widen laws banning the creation of sexualized images without consent to include more AI chatbots, reflecting concerns over ethical and legal challenges posed by new technologies in the digital landscape.
- International Cooperation and Security: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed America's commitment to the transatlantic alliance at the Munich Security Conference, warning that Europe must take greater responsibility for its security, underscoring the urgency of international cooperation in security matters.
See More
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- Blockchain Dating Vision: Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson stated at Consensus Hong Kong that blockchain dating apps like Tinder could attract 2-3 billion users by allowing users to verify attributes like height, income, and location, thereby enhancing trust and potentially transforming social platforms.
- Importance of Seamless Integration: Hoskinson emphasized that consumers shouldn't need to understand blockchain complexities for widespread adoption, akin to how electricity is used, suggesting that simplifying user experience is crucial for mainstream acceptance of blockchain technology.
- Privacy and Data Ownership: Blockchain dating apps are expected to offer enhanced privacy and data ownership, appealing to users disillusioned with centralized platforms, which Hoskinson believes will be a significant factor in attracting new users and driving industry change.
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See More
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- Core CPI Insights: The core CPI registered at 2.5%, marking the lowest level since April 2021, aligning with economists' expectations, suggesting that inflation may be gradually coming under control, which is favorable for market sentiment.
- Cautious Market Reaction: Despite the positive inflation data, major U.S. indexes experienced slight declines on Friday, reflecting ongoing investor uncertainty regarding the impacts of artificial intelligence, leading to a cautious market atmosphere.
- International Relations Improvement: Signs of easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran emerged as both sides prepare for a second round of talks in Geneva, with Iran expressing readiness to discuss nuclear program restrictions in exchange for economic benefits, potentially creating a positive market impact.
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