Major Averages Rise as Oil Prices Retreat Below $100
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 10 2026
0mins
Should l Buy META?
The major averages were higher near noon as markets are trading with a more constructive tone. Investors are reacting to a reversal in the energy shock that dominated markets earlier in the week. Oil prices, which had surged above $100 and briefly approached $120 per barrel during the escalation of the Iran conflict, are now pulling back after comments from Donald Trump suggesting the military operation could conclude sooner than previously expected.Meanwhile, gold prices continue their surge amid market volatility, as the "safe haven" asset rose nearly 2%. Despite having an up-and-down 2026, the commodity is climbing towards record highs once again.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidiaintends to launch an open-source AI agent platform,BioNTechannounced plans forto be established and led by BioNTech co-founders Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., and Prof. Ozlem Tureci, M.D.HP Enterprisereportedand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26Kohl'sreportedbut guided for a decrease in Q1 comp salesVail Resortsreportedand cut its FY26 resort reported EBITDA view2. WALL STREET CALLS:Qualcommat Underperform at BofACrowdStriketo Overweight at Morgan StanleyRivianto Buy at TD Cowen into R2 launchNovo Nordiskto Hold at TD CowenB. RileyStrategywith Buy on "unmatched scale"3. AROUND THE WEB:Exxon Mobilis planning to move its legal home to Texas from New Jersey in a move meant to protect the company from shareholder "abuse," WSJ saysRio Tintois in talks with Mongolia over financial terms at the massive Oyu Tolgoi copper mine, with the government seeking lower loan interest costs and the removal of Rio's annual management fee, WSJ reportsAppleincreased its iPhone production in India by 53% last year and now makes a total of 25% of its devices there, Bloomberg saysAmazon'secommerce business has requested a large group of engineers to meet on Tuesday for a "deep dive" into the influx of outages, with the company stating there has been a "trend of incidents" characterized by a "high blast radius" and "Gen-AI assisted changes," FT reportsA groundstop for all JetBlueflights was canceled within an hour on Tuesday by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, after JetBlue said it resolved a "system outage," Reuters reports4. MOVERS:Zevra Therapeuticsgains after, with EPS and revenue beating consensusCapricorincreases after announcing the establishment of afor dermiocel BLANiohigher in New York afterand providing guidance for Q1Centenefalls afterfor FY26 and announcing its ACA enrollment is "still in line" with expectations"Crispr Therapeuticslower after announcing a5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:ABM, with CEO Scott Salmirs commenting, "ABM is off to a solid start to FY26"Custom Truck One Source, with EPS beating consensusUnited Natural Foodsand provided guidance for FY26UWM Holdingsfor Q1Priority Technologyand provided guidance for FY26INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was up 0.48%, or 229.12, to 47,969.92, the Nasdaq was up 0.58%, or 131.24, to 22,827.19, and the S&P 500 was up 0.39%, or 26.81, to 6,822.80.
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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: 688.550
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 688.550
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.
WhatsApp Tests Subscription Service for Custom Features
- Subscription Service Testing: Meta's WhatsApp is testing a subscription service that allows users to pay for cosmetic customizations such as ringtones, themes, and icons, similar to features offered on Instagram Plus and Snapchat+, aimed at enhancing user experience and diversifying revenue streams.
- Premium Features: The premium features include expanded pinned chats, custom lists, and new chat themes, with a Meta spokesperson stating that the initial phase will involve a small test to gather feedback and ensure the developed features genuinely meet user needs.
- Revenue Growth Potential: The paid messaging service on WhatsApp has proven lucrative for parent company Meta, with a reported 54% increase in revenue from its family of apps in Q4, indicating strong growth potential, and the WhatsApp Business API is expected to generate approximately $2 billion in annual revenue this year.
- Fast-Growing Segment: As one of Meta's fastest-growing segments, WhatsApp is further solidifying its market position by launching new features and services, reflecting the company's strategic focus on enhancing user engagement and increasing revenue.
See More
EssilorLuxottica Faces Investor Pressure on Smart Glasses Strategy
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- Rising Market Competition: With U.S. competitors like Google and Apple entering the smart glasses market, EssilorLuxottica's market capitalization has fallen from €149 billion to €100 billion, highlighting intensified industry competition and investor concerns over future profitability.
- Weak Revenue Growth: Although EssilorLuxottica expects first-quarter revenue of €7.132 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year, its adjusted operating margin stands at only 16%, below the 19-20% target for 2022-2026, indicating challenges in profitability.
- Strategic Technological Shift: EssilorLuxottica is expanding into the medical technology sector with products like Nuance Audio glasses, which feature built-in hearing aids, demonstrating the company's strategy to enhance competitiveness through technology-intensive products to mitigate future competition from China.
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- Strong iPhone Sales: In the latest quarter, Apple's iPhone revenue surged 23% year-over-year to $85.3 billion, primarily driven by robust sales of the iPhone 17 models, indicating strong consumer demand for new products.
- Lagging AI Strategy: Despite Apple's relatively conservative investment in AI, relying on Google's Gemini to enhance Siri features, the market's demand for AI-integrated hardware is growing, and Ternus must accelerate the application of AI technologies.
- Future Product Outlook: Apple plans to accelerate the development of three AI wearables centered around Siri, including smart glasses and AirPods with cameras, indicating potential innovation directions in the AI hardware space.
See More
Tim Cook's Departure Leaves AI Strategy Gap for Apple
- CEO Transition and AI Challenges: Apple announced Tim Cook's departure on September 1, with John Ternus stepping in to address the company's AI strategy gap, as investors anticipate a clear plan to compete with rivals in the AI space.
- Strong iPhone Sales: Despite lagging in AI, Apple's latest quarter saw iPhone revenue surge 23% year-over-year to $85.3 billion, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17, yet Ternus must ensure this growth translates into success in AI.
- AI Hardware Development Focus: Ternus's appointment may signal Apple's commitment to integrating AI with hardware, with potential upcoming products like smart glasses and a foldable phone to meet market demand for AI-enabled devices.
- Privacy vs. Personalization Dilemma: Ternus faces the challenge of balancing user privacy with the push for AI-driven personalization, as analysts highlight the need for Apple to find new growth avenues in a rapidly changing tech landscape, particularly with rising consumer interest in generative AI services.
See More
Comparative Outlook on Microsoft and Meta's Earnings Reports
- Microsoft's Strong Earnings: In Q2 of fiscal 2026, Microsoft reported adjusted earnings per share of $4.14, a 24% year-over-year increase that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting the robust appeal of its cloud computing business despite intense AI competition.
- Intensifying Competitive Challenges: The rapid advancement of generative and agentic AI poses significant challenges to Microsoft's core software business, compelling the company to make substantial investments to maintain its technological edge against giants like Alphabet and Amazon.
- Meta's Vast User Base: Meta boasts nearly 3.6 billion daily active users across its social media platforms, creating a powerful network effect; the application of AI enhances user engagement, leading to a nearly 24% year-over-year revenue growth in the latest quarter.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Meta anticipates capital expenditures between $115 billion and $135 billion for 2026, and despite the hefty spending, CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains optimistic about the long-term returns from investments in personal superintelligence and infrastructure development.
See More
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- Microsoft's Strong Earnings: In its second quarter of fiscal 2026, Microsoft reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $4.14, a 24% year-over-year increase that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting the robust appeal of its cloud computing business despite intense AI competition.
- Meta's Impressive Revenue Growth: Meta's revenue surged nearly 24% year-over-year to nearly $60 billion in its most recent quarter, indicating the effectiveness of its strategy to leverage AI for optimizing content and advertising algorithms, which enhances user engagement and ad impressions.
- Significant Capital Expenditure Increase: Both companies are signaling a substantial rise in capital expenditures for 2026, with Meta projecting between $115 billion and $135 billion, which may pressure free cash flow, although CEO Zuckerberg remains optimistic about long-term returns.
- Intensifying Market Competition: Microsoft faces competition from giants like Alphabet and Amazon in software sales, while Meta capitalizes on its network effect with 3.6 billion daily active users, using AI to enhance profitability on its social media platforms, showcasing differing investment appeals.
See More
WhatsApp Tests Subscription Service for Custom Features
- Subscription Service Testing: Meta's WhatsApp is testing a subscription service that allows users to pay for cosmetic customizations such as ringtones, themes, and icons, similar to features offered on Instagram Plus and Snapchat+, aimed at enhancing user experience and diversifying revenue streams.
- Premium Features: The premium features include expanded pinned chats, custom lists, and new chat themes, with a Meta spokesperson stating that the initial phase will involve a small test to gather feedback and ensure the developed features genuinely meet user needs.
- Revenue Growth Potential: The paid messaging service on WhatsApp has proven lucrative for parent company Meta, with a reported 54% increase in revenue from its family of apps in Q4, indicating strong growth potential, and the WhatsApp Business API is expected to generate approximately $2 billion in annual revenue this year.
- Fast-Growing Segment: As one of Meta's fastest-growing segments, WhatsApp is further solidifying its market position by launching new features and services, reflecting the company's strategic focus on enhancing user engagement and increasing revenue.
See More
EssilorLuxottica Faces Investor Pressure on Smart Glasses Strategy
- Investor Pressure Intensifies: EssilorLuxottica is under increasing scrutiny from investors regarding its smart glasses strategy, particularly as the profitability of its Ray-Ban smart glasses lags behind core products, resulting in a more than 30% drop in share price since last November.
- Rising Market Competition: With U.S. competitors like Google and Apple entering the smart glasses market, EssilorLuxottica's market capitalization has fallen from €149 billion to €100 billion, highlighting intensified industry competition and investor concerns over future profitability.
- Weak Revenue Growth: Although EssilorLuxottica expects first-quarter revenue of €7.132 billion, a 4% increase year-over-year, its adjusted operating margin stands at only 16%, below the 19-20% target for 2022-2026, indicating challenges in profitability.
- Strategic Technological Shift: EssilorLuxottica is expanding into the medical technology sector with products like Nuance Audio glasses, which feature built-in hearing aids, demonstrating the company's strategy to enhance competitiveness through technology-intensive products to mitigate future competition from China.
See More
Apple's CEO Transition Raises AI Strategy Questions
- CEO Transition: Apple announced that Tim Cook will step down as CEO on September 1, with John Ternus taking over; Ternus, who has been with the company for 25 years, faces significant challenges in advancing the company's AI strategy.
- Strong iPhone Sales: In the latest quarter, Apple's iPhone revenue surged 23% year-over-year to $85.3 billion, primarily driven by robust sales of the iPhone 17 models, indicating strong consumer demand for new products.
- Lagging AI Strategy: Despite Apple's relatively conservative investment in AI, relying on Google's Gemini to enhance Siri features, the market's demand for AI-integrated hardware is growing, and Ternus must accelerate the application of AI technologies.
- Future Product Outlook: Apple plans to accelerate the development of three AI wearables centered around Siri, including smart glasses and AirPods with cameras, indicating potential innovation directions in the AI hardware space.
See More
Tim Cook's Departure Leaves AI Strategy Gap for Apple
- CEO Transition and AI Challenges: Apple announced Tim Cook's departure on September 1, with John Ternus stepping in to address the company's AI strategy gap, as investors anticipate a clear plan to compete with rivals in the AI space.
- Strong iPhone Sales: Despite lagging in AI, Apple's latest quarter saw iPhone revenue surge 23% year-over-year to $85.3 billion, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17, yet Ternus must ensure this growth translates into success in AI.
- AI Hardware Development Focus: Ternus's appointment may signal Apple's commitment to integrating AI with hardware, with potential upcoming products like smart glasses and a foldable phone to meet market demand for AI-enabled devices.
- Privacy vs. Personalization Dilemma: Ternus faces the challenge of balancing user privacy with the push for AI-driven personalization, as analysts highlight the need for Apple to find new growth avenues in a rapidly changing tech landscape, particularly with rising consumer interest in generative AI services.
See More
Comparative Outlook on Microsoft and Meta's Earnings Reports
- Microsoft's Strong Earnings: In Q2 of fiscal 2026, Microsoft reported adjusted earnings per share of $4.14, a 24% year-over-year increase that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting the robust appeal of its cloud computing business despite intense AI competition.
- Intensifying Competitive Challenges: The rapid advancement of generative and agentic AI poses significant challenges to Microsoft's core software business, compelling the company to make substantial investments to maintain its technological edge against giants like Alphabet and Amazon.
- Meta's Vast User Base: Meta boasts nearly 3.6 billion daily active users across its social media platforms, creating a powerful network effect; the application of AI enhances user engagement, leading to a nearly 24% year-over-year revenue growth in the latest quarter.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Meta anticipates capital expenditures between $115 billion and $135 billion for 2026, and despite the hefty spending, CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains optimistic about the long-term returns from investments in personal superintelligence and infrastructure development.
See More
Microsoft and Meta Earnings Preview: AI-Driven Growth
- Microsoft's Strong Earnings: In its second quarter of fiscal 2026, Microsoft reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $4.14, a 24% year-over-year increase that exceeded analyst expectations, highlighting the robust appeal of its cloud computing business despite intense AI competition.
- Meta's Impressive Revenue Growth: Meta's revenue surged nearly 24% year-over-year to nearly $60 billion in its most recent quarter, indicating the effectiveness of its strategy to leverage AI for optimizing content and advertising algorithms, which enhances user engagement and ad impressions.
- Significant Capital Expenditure Increase: Both companies are signaling a substantial rise in capital expenditures for 2026, with Meta projecting between $115 billion and $135 billion, which may pressure free cash flow, although CEO Zuckerberg remains optimistic about long-term returns.
- Intensifying Market Competition: Microsoft faces competition from giants like Alphabet and Amazon in software sales, while Meta capitalizes on its network effect with 3.6 billion daily active users, using AI to enhance profitability on its social media platforms, showcasing differing investment appeals.
See More
