Investors Focus on Fed Minutes and Walmart Earnings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy META?
Source: stocktwits
- Fed Minutes Analysis: The January FOMC minutes indicate broad support among policymakers for pausing rate cuts despite ongoing inflation risks, which could influence future monetary policy directions and affect market sentiment and investment decisions.
- Walmart Earnings Preview: Walmart is set to report earnings before the bell today, with investors keenly awaiting insights from the new CEO regarding consumer health and demand, which will directly impact retail sector performance and investor confidence.
- Meta Smartwatch Plans Revived: Reports suggest that Meta has revived its smartwatch plans targeting a launch this year, a strategic shift that could enhance its competitiveness in the wearables market and provide new revenue streams for the company.
- Economic Data and Market Reaction: Key economic indicators such as Initial Jobless Claims and the Philly Fed Business Index are scheduled for release today, with investors closely monitoring their impact on the market, especially amid heightened uncertainty regarding Fed policies.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy META?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
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: 639.290
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 639.290
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.
- Investment Scale: Meta is set to invest $65 million in 2023 to support state politicians favorable to the artificial intelligence industry, marking its largest election investment to date and indicating a growing emphasis on political engagement.
- New Super PACs Established: The company is quietly launching two new super PACs, one backing Republicans and the other supporting Democrats, aiming to leverage political influence to counter regulatory threats to the AI sector.
- Funding Flow and Utilization: Last year, Meta allocated $45 million to the American Technology Excellence Project, with expectations that these funds will flow into the newly established PACs, thereby enhancing the company's political clout.
- Initial Spending Plans: Meta's expenditures are set to commence this week in Illinois and Texas, primarily backing incumbent Democratic and Republican candidates, reflecting the company's strategic inclination to maintain the existing political landscape.
See More
- Surge in Shipments: AR glasses shipments are projected to grow over 50% this year, indicating a strong market recovery as smart glasses shed their previous 'science project' image and gain consumer interest.
- Technological Advancements: With Apple reportedly planning AI-focused wearables, including smart glasses, consumer expectations for next-gen features and lighter designs are rising, potentially making these devices must-haves by 2026.
- Market Excitement: At CES, nearly every booth showcased AR glasses, signaling that the technology is on the cusp of widespread adoption, and they are expected to be the top holiday product this year, further driving market growth.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: As major players like Apple and Meta intensify their focus on AR glasses, competition will increase, accelerating technological advancements and driving consumer demand for new features.
See More
- Infrastructure Investment Surge: In 2023, hyperscalers are projected to spend $700 billion on infrastructure, a 70% year-over-year increase, indicating rapid expansion in the AI market and strong demand for semiconductors, which could drive stock prices of related companies higher.
- Market Dominance: Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Oracle control 70% of the AI market, highlighting their critical role in driving the commercialization of AI technologies, which may influence investment directions across the industry.
- ROI Concerns: Despite the ongoing increase in infrastructure spending by hyperscalers, concerns about return on investment (ROI) remain a focal point, with analysts noting that the lack of clear business models could negatively impact future investment decisions.
- Technological Innovation and Competition: As AI technology rapidly evolves, companies like Nvidia are leading the market with gross margins as high as 70%, demonstrating strong pricing power and competitive advantage, which may attract more investor interest in their future growth potential.
See More
- Price Surge Trend: Samsung Electronics is negotiating a price of about $700 per unit for its next-generation High Bandwidth Memory HBM4, which is 20%-30% higher than the previous generation, indicating a regained pricing power in the scarce AI memory market that could enhance semiconductor profits.
- Production Milestone: Samsung has commenced mass production of HBM4 and shipped commercial products to customers, aiming to recover its market position after initially trailing SK Hynix in early AI memory momentum, signaling a resurgence in its competitive edge in the high-end AI memory sector.
- Smartphone Cost Impact: The rising memory prices are prompting Samsung to consider a price increase of 100,000 to 200,000 won for the Galaxy S26 series, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB potentially exceeding 2 million won, which will directly affect the bill of materials for its smartphones.
- Market Competition Dynamics: Analysts expect SK Hynix to supply about 70% of HBM4, while Samsung will provide roughly 30%, suggesting that Samsung may narrow the pricing gap with SK Hynix in the coming years, especially if it supplies more premium-priced HBM to Nvidia.
See More
- Stock Market Outlook: Stock futures are indicating a downward trend on Thursday.
- Investor Concerns: Investors are closely monitoring the rise in oil prices.
- Geopolitical Tensions: The increase in oil prices is linked to ongoing tensions with Iran.
- Market Reactions: The combination of these factors is influencing investor sentiment and market performance.
See More
- Fed Minutes Analysis: The January FOMC minutes indicate broad support among policymakers for pausing rate cuts despite ongoing inflation risks, which could influence future monetary policy directions and affect market sentiment and investment decisions.
- Walmart Earnings Preview: Walmart is set to report earnings before the bell today, with investors keenly awaiting insights from the new CEO regarding consumer health and demand, which will directly impact retail sector performance and investor confidence.
- Meta Smartwatch Plans Revived: Reports suggest that Meta has revived its smartwatch plans targeting a launch this year, a strategic shift that could enhance its competitiveness in the wearables market and provide new revenue streams for the company.
- Economic Data and Market Reaction: Key economic indicators such as Initial Jobless Claims and the Philly Fed Business Index are scheduled for release today, with investors closely monitoring their impact on the market, especially amid heightened uncertainty regarding Fed policies.
See More











