Tech ETF XLK Poised for Its Longest Rally Since 2020: Here's What You Need to Know
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 09 2025
0mins
Should l Buy META?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
ETF Performance: The SPDR S&P Information Technology ETF (XLK) has achieved a 10-day winning streak, gaining 3.5% last week, driven by stocks like NVIDIA and other chipmakers, rather than mega-cap tech companies like Meta and Alphabet.
Semiconductor Market Growth: The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) forecasts a 25% growth in the global semiconductor market for 2026, reaching $975 billion, with memory and logic sectors leading the growth.
Software Market Expansion: The global software market is projected to grow from $823.9 billion in 2025 to approximately $2.25 trillion by 2034, fueled by advancements in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
Investment Opportunities: The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) and State Street SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF (XSW) are highlighted as strong investment options, with SMH rated as a "Strong Buy" and XSW as a "Buy" according to Zacks.
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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: 592.920
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 592.920
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.
Meta Platforms' AI-Driven Revenue Growth
- User Engagement Surge: Meta's use of AI technology to enhance user engagement on Facebook and Instagram has resulted in a 30% year-over-year increase in time spent on Instagram Reels, significantly driving advertising revenue and strengthening the company's competitive position in the social media market.
- Record Revenue Achievement: In 2025, Meta achieved a record revenue of $200.9 billion, a 22% increase from the previous year; despite a slight 3% decline in net income due to a one-off tax provision, excluding this provision would have resulted in a 20% profit growth, showcasing the company's robust profitability.
- Soaring Capital Expenditures: Meta's AI-related capital expenditures reached $72.2 billion, an 84% increase, which, while not immediately impacting profits, poses long-term profitability challenges, especially with Reality Labs facing a staggering $19.2 billion loss.
- Market Valuation Potential: With a current market capitalization of $1.5 trillion, Meta is projected to reach $3 trillion within three years; if Wall Street's earnings forecasts hold true, Meta's stock would need to rise 82% by the end of 2027 to match the Nasdaq-100's P/E ratio, indicating significant investment potential.
See More
ZELESTRA OBTAINS $600 MILLION IN GREEN FINANCING FOR 440 MW SOLAR PORTFOLIO IN TEXAS SUPPORTED BY META PPAS
- Funding Announcement: Zelestra has secured $600 million in green financing.
- Project Details: The funding will support a 440 MW Texas solar portfolio backed by Meta.
See More
China Evaluates $2 Billion Manus Sale to Meta Amid Founders' Travel Restrictions - FT
China Review: A $2 billion sale involving Meta has been reported, highlighting significant financial movements in the tech industry.
Founders Barred: The founders of the company involved in the sale have been restricted from leaving the country, indicating potential legal or regulatory issues.
See More
Facebook Launches Creator Fast Track Program for Influencers
- Incentive Program: Facebook's newly launched Creator Fast Track program offers guaranteed payments of $1,000 per month for influencers with at least 100,000 followers, increasing to $3,000 for those with over 1 million followers, aiming to attract more content creators to boost user engagement on the platform.
- User Time Comparison: Despite having a significant male user base aged 18-24, Facebook users spend an average of just 19 hours per month on the platform, significantly lower than TikTok's 33 hours and YouTube's 27 hours, highlighting Facebook's struggle to attract video content engagement.
- Video View Increase: Meta's management reported a 7% lift in Facebook video views due to optimization efforts, indicating that the company is enhancing video content appeal through internal adjustments rather than relying solely on organic growth from user-generated content.
- Strategic Implications: By incentivizing influencers, Facebook aims to enhance engagement among younger users and maintain relevance in a competitive social media landscape, although the long-term effectiveness of such short-term incentives remains questionable.
See More
Bill Ackman Sells Hilton Stake, Shifts to AI Giants
- Hilton's Strong Performance: Bill Ackman invested in Hilton in 2018, during which time global hotel rooms increased from 913,000 to 1.3 million, and membership grew from 85 million to 243 million, driving revenue up 35% from $8.9 billion to over $12 billion and operating income up 88%, showcasing the success of its asset-light business model.
- Rising Market Valuation: Ackman initially purchased Hilton shares at a P/E ratio of 23, but the current ratio exceeds 32, indicating a significant increase in market expectations for future earnings, prompting Ackman to sell his stake in search of more attractive investment opportunities.
- New AI Investment Opportunities: Ackman has shifted his focus to Amazon and Meta Platforms, believing these tech giants have long-term growth potential in generative AI, particularly as Amazon's cloud services and Meta's advertising business benefit from advancements in AI technology.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Despite both Amazon and Meta planning substantial increases in capital expenditures, Ackman believes these investments will yield strong future returns, especially as Amazon's cloud services have achieved triple-digit revenue growth amid a surge in AI spending.
See More
Tech Stocks Rise on Wednesday Afternoon
- Tech Stock Recovery: On Wednesday afternoon, tech stocks broadly rose, indicating a gradual recovery in market confidence towards the tech sector, likely driven by optimistic investor expectations for future growth potential.
- ETF Performance: The rise of the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF reflects sustained investor interest in tech stocks, suggesting that market enthusiasm for the tech sector remains strong, potentially attracting more capital inflows.
- Improved Market Sentiment: The increase in tech stocks may be linked to an overall improvement in market sentiment, as investors begin to reassess the long-term value of tech companies after recent volatility, driving stock prices higher.
- Investor Focus on Future: With the rebound in tech stocks, investors may pay closer attention to upcoming earnings reports and market dynamics to seize potential investment opportunities, further propelling positive market trends.
See More
Meta Platforms' AI-Driven Revenue Growth
- User Engagement Surge: Meta's use of AI technology to enhance user engagement on Facebook and Instagram has resulted in a 30% year-over-year increase in time spent on Instagram Reels, significantly driving advertising revenue and strengthening the company's competitive position in the social media market.
- Record Revenue Achievement: In 2025, Meta achieved a record revenue of $200.9 billion, a 22% increase from the previous year; despite a slight 3% decline in net income due to a one-off tax provision, excluding this provision would have resulted in a 20% profit growth, showcasing the company's robust profitability.
- Soaring Capital Expenditures: Meta's AI-related capital expenditures reached $72.2 billion, an 84% increase, which, while not immediately impacting profits, poses long-term profitability challenges, especially with Reality Labs facing a staggering $19.2 billion loss.
- Market Valuation Potential: With a current market capitalization of $1.5 trillion, Meta is projected to reach $3 trillion within three years; if Wall Street's earnings forecasts hold true, Meta's stock would need to rise 82% by the end of 2027 to match the Nasdaq-100's P/E ratio, indicating significant investment potential.
See More
ZELESTRA OBTAINS $600 MILLION IN GREEN FINANCING FOR 440 MW SOLAR PORTFOLIO IN TEXAS SUPPORTED BY META PPAS
- Funding Announcement: Zelestra has secured $600 million in green financing.
- Project Details: The funding will support a 440 MW Texas solar portfolio backed by Meta.
See More
China Evaluates $2 Billion Manus Sale to Meta Amid Founders' Travel Restrictions - FT
China Review: A $2 billion sale involving Meta has been reported, highlighting significant financial movements in the tech industry.
Founders Barred: The founders of the company involved in the sale have been restricted from leaving the country, indicating potential legal or regulatory issues.
See More
Facebook Launches Creator Fast Track Program for Influencers
- Incentive Program: Facebook's newly launched Creator Fast Track program offers guaranteed payments of $1,000 per month for influencers with at least 100,000 followers, increasing to $3,000 for those with over 1 million followers, aiming to attract more content creators to boost user engagement on the platform.
- User Time Comparison: Despite having a significant male user base aged 18-24, Facebook users spend an average of just 19 hours per month on the platform, significantly lower than TikTok's 33 hours and YouTube's 27 hours, highlighting Facebook's struggle to attract video content engagement.
- Video View Increase: Meta's management reported a 7% lift in Facebook video views due to optimization efforts, indicating that the company is enhancing video content appeal through internal adjustments rather than relying solely on organic growth from user-generated content.
- Strategic Implications: By incentivizing influencers, Facebook aims to enhance engagement among younger users and maintain relevance in a competitive social media landscape, although the long-term effectiveness of such short-term incentives remains questionable.
See More
Bill Ackman Sells Hilton Stake, Shifts to AI Giants
- Hilton's Strong Performance: Bill Ackman invested in Hilton in 2018, during which time global hotel rooms increased from 913,000 to 1.3 million, and membership grew from 85 million to 243 million, driving revenue up 35% from $8.9 billion to over $12 billion and operating income up 88%, showcasing the success of its asset-light business model.
- Rising Market Valuation: Ackman initially purchased Hilton shares at a P/E ratio of 23, but the current ratio exceeds 32, indicating a significant increase in market expectations for future earnings, prompting Ackman to sell his stake in search of more attractive investment opportunities.
- New AI Investment Opportunities: Ackman has shifted his focus to Amazon and Meta Platforms, believing these tech giants have long-term growth potential in generative AI, particularly as Amazon's cloud services and Meta's advertising business benefit from advancements in AI technology.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Despite both Amazon and Meta planning substantial increases in capital expenditures, Ackman believes these investments will yield strong future returns, especially as Amazon's cloud services have achieved triple-digit revenue growth amid a surge in AI spending.
See More
Tech Stocks Rise on Wednesday Afternoon
- Tech Stock Recovery: On Wednesday afternoon, tech stocks broadly rose, indicating a gradual recovery in market confidence towards the tech sector, likely driven by optimistic investor expectations for future growth potential.
- ETF Performance: The rise of the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF reflects sustained investor interest in tech stocks, suggesting that market enthusiasm for the tech sector remains strong, potentially attracting more capital inflows.
- Improved Market Sentiment: The increase in tech stocks may be linked to an overall improvement in market sentiment, as investors begin to reassess the long-term value of tech companies after recent volatility, driving stock prices higher.
- Investor Focus on Future: With the rebound in tech stocks, investors may pay closer attention to upcoming earnings reports and market dynamics to seize potential investment opportunities, further propelling positive market trends.
See More
