Major Averages Close Broadly Higher After December Nonfarm Payrolls Report
The major averages closed broadly higher after the December nonfarm payrolls report. Stocks have shown resilience early in 2026 after a strong finish to 2025, but the run of gains had met headwinds earlier this week as investors considered cooling tech momentum and the labor data that could influence expectations for the Federal Reserve's policy path.Employers added 50,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4%, but total job gains last year were the weakest since 2020.Looking to commodities, gold prices were surging past $4,500, with the "safe haven" asset getting closer to its record high. Oil prices also jumped, with the commodity up over 2% as traders listen for more news coming out of Venezuela.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Metaannouncedwith Okloand VistraIntelshares were on the rise after President Trump touted aJohnson & Johnsonreached an agreement with the Trump administration to "improve access to medicines and lower costs" of drugs for American patients, and announcedSoftBankand OpenAI areDecember U.S. nonfarm, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.4%2. WALL STREET CALLS:Wells FargoAirbnbto Equal Weight, citing two years of share underperformanceAdobeto Market Perform at BMO, sees lack of positive catalystsBairdGE Vernovato Neutral from OutperformMizuho alsoZillow Groupto Neutral from OutperformQualcommto Neutral at Mizuho, which sees headwinds to Qualcomm's handset shipments and iPhone content in 20263. AROUND THE WEB:Amazonis planning a big-box retail store in the Chicago suburbs, The Information reportsViswas Raghavan, head of banking at Citigroup, told Nikkei in an interview that the big bank has "significant investment plans for Japan," with particular interest in midsize companies amid an increase in M&ANvidiahas hired Alison Wagonfeld, a Googlemarketing executive, as Chief Marketing Officer, CMO, at the company, WSJ reportsRokuCEO and chairman Anthony Wood believes the first 100% AI-generated "hit movie" will debut within the next three years, Variety reportsNomura Securities reports that Sandiskis on track to double the price of its high-capacity 3D NAND memory devices for enterprise-grade solid-state drives this quarter, Toms Hardware reports4. MOVERS:CG Oncologyincreases after announcing it expects PIVOT-006 Phase 3Allogene Therapeuticsgains after Citizensthe stock to OutperformuniQurehigher in New York after announcing ascheduled with FDAAquestivelower after announcing thein its NDA for AnaphylmBeta Bionicsfalls after BofAthe stock to Neutral5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCELi Auto, with revenue lower year-over-yearCarter'sprovidedand FY25Evolusprovidedand narrowed its outlook for FY25AXT Inc.cut itsChipMOS, with EPS higher year-over-yearINDEXES:The Dow rose 237.96, or 0.48%, to 49,504.07, the Nasdaq gained 222.86, or 0.95%, to 23,702.88, and the S&P 500 advanced 44.82, or 0.65%, to 6,966.28.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on META
About META
About the author
Investment Opportunity Amid Meta Platforms' Stock Pullback
- Advertising Revenue Growth: Meta's revenue in Q4 2025 rose 24% year-over-year to $59.9 billion, driven by an 18% increase in ad impressions, indicating strong user engagement; despite a slowdown in ad price growth, the sheer volume of ads suggests sustained competitiveness in the advertising market.
- Expanding User Base: The company reported 3.58 billion daily active users in December, a 7% increase year-over-year, providing robust support for future revenue growth, with management guiding for Q1 2026 revenue between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, implying approximately 30% year-over-year growth.
- Strong Financial Position: Despite heavy investments in AI infrastructure, Meta generated $43.6 billion in free cash flow in 2025, ending the year with $81.6 billion in cash and equivalents, significantly exceeding $58.7 billion in long-term debt, thus providing ample financial flexibility for ambitious projects.
- Surging Capital Expenditures: Meta's capital expenditures reached $72.2 billion in 2025, with expectations to rise dramatically to $115 billion to $135 billion in 2026, reflecting a 73% year-over-year increase; while this presents growth opportunities, it may also pressure free cash flow and profit margins, necessitating careful risk assessment by investors.
Meta Acquires AI Networking Platform Moltbook
- Acquisition Deal: Meta has acquired the social networking platform Moltbook for an undisclosed amount, with the deal expected to close in mid-March, which will further enhance Meta's positioning in the AI sector.
- Founders Joining: Moltbook's founders, Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr, will join Meta's Superintelligence Labs, likely bringing new perspectives and innovations to Meta's AI initiatives.
- Platform Background: Launched in late January 2023, Moltbook aims to provide an experimental 'third space' for AI agents, developed significantly with the help of Schlicht's personal AI assistant, Clawd Clawderberg.
- Customer Service Continuity: Meta has stated that existing Moltbook customers can temporarily continue using the platform, ensuring user experience remains unaffected while preparing for future integration.
Meta Acquires Moltbook and Welcomes Two Founders to the MSL Team
Meta's Acquisition: Meta has acquired Moltbook, a social network specifically designed for AI agents, which has been highly anticipated in the tech community.
Founders Joining Meta: The founders of Moltbook, Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr, will be joining Meta's Superintelligence Labs (MSL) as part of the acquisition.
Leadership: The acquisition and integration of Moltbook into Meta's operations will be led by former Scale AI CEO, Alexandr Wang.
Focus on AI Development: This move reflects Meta's ongoing commitment to advancing AI technologies and enhancing its capabilities in the field.
META PURCHASES MOLTBOOK - AXIOS
Meta's Acquisition: Meta has acquired the company Moltbook, enhancing its capabilities in the digital space.
Strategic Move: This acquisition is part of Meta's strategy to expand its offerings and strengthen its position in the market.
Billionaires Bet on AI's Future Wealth Potential
- Investor Moves: Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller's investment strategy in the AI sector is noteworthy, having gained over 1,300% and 500% from investments in Nvidia and Palantir Technologies over the past five years, reflecting strong confidence in the AI industry.
- Portfolio Adjustments: In the recent quarter, Druckenmiller closed his position in Meta Platforms, which accounted for only 1.3% of his portfolio, while increasing his stakes in Alphabet and Amazon to 2.6% and 3.7%, respectively, indicating recognition of their AI growth potential.
- Revenue Growth: Alphabet's Google Cloud saw a 48% revenue increase to over $17 billion in the latest quarter, highlighting strong demand for AI infrastructure, while Amazon's AWS achieved a $142 billion annual revenue run rate, showcasing robust performance in the AI business.
- Strategic Choices: Druckenmiller's investment choices suggest that Alphabet and Amazon are core players in the AI space for investors seeking immediate returns, while Meta may attract those looking for long-term AI innovation opportunities.
Stanley Druckenmiller Doubles Down on AI Investments
- Significant Returns: Stanley Druckenmiller's past investments in Nvidia and Palantir have surged 1,300% and over 500% respectively in the last five years, highlighting the immense wealth-building potential in the AI sector that has drawn the attention of many billionaires.
- Recent Investment Moves: In the latest quarter, Druckenmiller closed his position in a company known for aggressive AI spending while increasing stakes in two other AI firms generating billion-dollar revenues, indicating his confidence and strategic positioning in the AI future.
- Industry Leaders' Performance: Alphabet's Google Cloud saw a 48% revenue increase to over $17 billion amid soaring demand for AI infrastructure, while AWS reported a $142 billion annual revenue run rate, showcasing the robust market potential of cloud computing combined with AI.
- Investment Strategy Recommendations: For investors looking to profit in AI, Alphabet and Amazon are currently excellent choices, while Meta represents future innovation; investors should select companies based on their individual investment strategies.
Investment Opportunity Amid Meta Platforms' Stock Pullback
- Advertising Revenue Growth: Meta's revenue in Q4 2025 rose 24% year-over-year to $59.9 billion, driven by an 18% increase in ad impressions, indicating strong user engagement; despite a slowdown in ad price growth, the sheer volume of ads suggests sustained competitiveness in the advertising market.
- Expanding User Base: The company reported 3.58 billion daily active users in December, a 7% increase year-over-year, providing robust support for future revenue growth, with management guiding for Q1 2026 revenue between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, implying approximately 30% year-over-year growth.
- Strong Financial Position: Despite heavy investments in AI infrastructure, Meta generated $43.6 billion in free cash flow in 2025, ending the year with $81.6 billion in cash and equivalents, significantly exceeding $58.7 billion in long-term debt, thus providing ample financial flexibility for ambitious projects.
- Surging Capital Expenditures: Meta's capital expenditures reached $72.2 billion in 2025, with expectations to rise dramatically to $115 billion to $135 billion in 2026, reflecting a 73% year-over-year increase; while this presents growth opportunities, it may also pressure free cash flow and profit margins, necessitating careful risk assessment by investors.
Meta Acquires AI Networking Platform Moltbook
- Acquisition Deal: Meta has acquired the social networking platform Moltbook for an undisclosed amount, with the deal expected to close in mid-March, which will further enhance Meta's positioning in the AI sector.
- Founders Joining: Moltbook's founders, Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr, will join Meta's Superintelligence Labs, likely bringing new perspectives and innovations to Meta's AI initiatives.
- Platform Background: Launched in late January 2023, Moltbook aims to provide an experimental 'third space' for AI agents, developed significantly with the help of Schlicht's personal AI assistant, Clawd Clawderberg.
- Customer Service Continuity: Meta has stated that existing Moltbook customers can temporarily continue using the platform, ensuring user experience remains unaffected while preparing for future integration.
Meta Acquires Moltbook and Welcomes Two Founders to the MSL Team
Meta's Acquisition: Meta has acquired Moltbook, a social network specifically designed for AI agents, which has been highly anticipated in the tech community.
Founders Joining Meta: The founders of Moltbook, Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr, will be joining Meta's Superintelligence Labs (MSL) as part of the acquisition.
Leadership: The acquisition and integration of Moltbook into Meta's operations will be led by former Scale AI CEO, Alexandr Wang.
Focus on AI Development: This move reflects Meta's ongoing commitment to advancing AI technologies and enhancing its capabilities in the field.
META PURCHASES MOLTBOOK - AXIOS
Meta's Acquisition: Meta has acquired the company Moltbook, enhancing its capabilities in the digital space.
Strategic Move: This acquisition is part of Meta's strategy to expand its offerings and strengthen its position in the market.
Billionaires Bet on AI's Future Wealth Potential
- Investor Moves: Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller's investment strategy in the AI sector is noteworthy, having gained over 1,300% and 500% from investments in Nvidia and Palantir Technologies over the past five years, reflecting strong confidence in the AI industry.
- Portfolio Adjustments: In the recent quarter, Druckenmiller closed his position in Meta Platforms, which accounted for only 1.3% of his portfolio, while increasing his stakes in Alphabet and Amazon to 2.6% and 3.7%, respectively, indicating recognition of their AI growth potential.
- Revenue Growth: Alphabet's Google Cloud saw a 48% revenue increase to over $17 billion in the latest quarter, highlighting strong demand for AI infrastructure, while Amazon's AWS achieved a $142 billion annual revenue run rate, showcasing robust performance in the AI business.
- Strategic Choices: Druckenmiller's investment choices suggest that Alphabet and Amazon are core players in the AI space for investors seeking immediate returns, while Meta may attract those looking for long-term AI innovation opportunities.
Stanley Druckenmiller Doubles Down on AI Investments
- Significant Returns: Stanley Druckenmiller's past investments in Nvidia and Palantir have surged 1,300% and over 500% respectively in the last five years, highlighting the immense wealth-building potential in the AI sector that has drawn the attention of many billionaires.
- Recent Investment Moves: In the latest quarter, Druckenmiller closed his position in a company known for aggressive AI spending while increasing stakes in two other AI firms generating billion-dollar revenues, indicating his confidence and strategic positioning in the AI future.
- Industry Leaders' Performance: Alphabet's Google Cloud saw a 48% revenue increase to over $17 billion amid soaring demand for AI infrastructure, while AWS reported a $142 billion annual revenue run rate, showcasing the robust market potential of cloud computing combined with AI.
- Investment Strategy Recommendations: For investors looking to profit in AI, Alphabet and Amazon are currently excellent choices, while Meta represents future innovation; investors should select companies based on their individual investment strategies.
