Meta Negotiates with Google and OpenAI to Incorporate AI Models Amid $5 Billion Cost Controversy at Hyperion Data Center: Report
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Source: Benzinga
Updated: Aug 30 20250mins
Meta's AI Integration Efforts
- Partnerships with Google and OpenAI: Meta Platforms Inc. is in discussions with Alphabet Inc. and OpenAI to incorporate their AI models, specifically Google's Gemini and OpenAI's GPT, into its applications. This move aims to enhance the capabilities of Meta AI, the company's primary chatbot, as it prepares to launch its next-generation model, Llama 5.
- Temporary Collaborations: The partnerships with Google and OpenAI are expected to be temporary, as Meta seeks to develop its own competitive AI models. The company has also begun using Anthropic models internally for coding support.
Hyperion Data Center Controversy
- Investment in Infrastructure: Meta is investing $50 billion in the Hyperion data center project in Louisiana, which includes $29 billion in financing from Pacific Investment Management and Blue Owl Capital. This project is part of Meta's strategy to bolster its AI capabilities.
- Public Backlash: The Hyperion project has faced criticism due to Entergy Louisiana's proposal to pass $5 billion in power plant construction costs onto 1.1 million customers. Consumer advocates and climate groups, including Walmart, have urged regulators to block this plan, citing potential financial burdens on residents.
Financial Performance and Market Outlook
- Strong Financial Position: For the quarter ending June 30, 2025, Meta reported impressive financial metrics, including $25.56 billion in operating cash flow, $8.55 billion in free cash flow, and $47.07 billion in cash and marketable securities.
- Analyst Confidence: Despite the controversies surrounding its projects, analysts remain optimistic about Meta's future. Bank of America's Justin Post highlighted Meta as a compelling AI investment, noting its $14 billion stake in Scale AI and growth in ad revenue.
Stock Performance
- Recent Stock Movement: Meta's shares experienced a decline of 1.65% in the latest trading session. However, Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that META maintains an upward trend across various time frames, suggesting potential for recovery and growth in the future.
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Analyst Views on WMT
Wall Street analysts forecast WMT stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for WMT is 121.92 USD with a low forecast of 108.00 USD and a high forecast of 130.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
26 Analyst Rating
26 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 115.520
Low
108.00
Averages
121.92
High
130.00
Current: 115.520
Low
108.00
Averages
121.92
High
130.00
Evercore ISI
Outperform
maintain
$115 -> $117
2025-12-09
New
Reason
Evercore ISI
Price Target
$115 -> $117
2025-12-09
New
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Evercore ISI raised the firm's price target on Walmart to $117 from $115 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares as part of adjusting estimates and targets among the firm's retail broadlines and hardlines coverage.
TD Cowen
Buy
maintain
$125 -> $136
2025-12-09
New
Reason
TD Cowen
Price Target
$125 -> $136
2025-12-09
New
maintain
Buy
Reason
TD Cowen raised the firm's price target on Walmart to $136 from $125 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm said they like the company's store footprint and moat of fast/convenient delivery, attractive to all-income customers. The copany is building a powerful ecosystem nexus, which will yield profit growth faster than sales growth with profitable eComm; adaptive and early consumer and supply chain A.I.; and growth in marketplace, retail media, and membership.
Jefferies
Buy
maintain
$125
2025-12-09
New
Reason
Jefferies
Price Target
$125
2025-12-09
New
maintain
Buy
Reason
As Walmart officially transitions it listing from the NYSE to the Nasdaq, Jefferies contends that the move is "more than symbolic" as it positions Walmart for Nasdaq 100 inclusion, which the firm believes could drive incremental passive inflows from index-tracking funds and "reinforce its narrative as a tech-powered omnichannel retailer." The firm, which also argues that the company's recent "beat & raise" report has already shifted investor sentiment toward Walmart's "tech-forward growth story," keeps a Buy rating and $125 price target on the shares.
Tigress Financial
Buy
maintain
$125 -> $130
2025-12-03
Reason
Tigress Financial
Price Target
$125 -> $130
2025-12-03
maintain
Buy
Reason
Tigress Financial raised the firm's price target on Walmart to $130 from $125 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm said that technology-driven scale and AI acceleration increasingly position the retail giant to deliver greater customer value, drive significant revenue and profitability growth, and create long-term shareholder value. The company also continues to strategically reinvest its substantial cash flow to accelerate innovation in cutting-edge technologies, including generative AI, advanced robotics, and real-time automation, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
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About WMT
Walmart Inc. is a technology-powered omnichannel retailer. The Company is engaged in the operation of retail and wholesale stores and clubs, as well as eCommerce Websites and mobile applications, located throughout the United States (U.S.), Africa, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India and Mexico. It operates in three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club U.S. The Walmart U.S. segment includes the Company's mass merchandising concept in the U.S., as well as eCommerce, which includes omni-channel initiatives and certain other business offerings such as advertising services. The Walmart International segment consists of the Company's operations outside of the U.S. through its subsidiaries, as well as eCommerce and omni-channel initiatives. The Sam's Club U.S. segment includes the warehouse membership clubs in the U.S., as well as samsclub.com and omni-channel initiatives.
About the author
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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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