TD Cowen Analyst Says Meta and Google Face Legal Challenges
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 26 2026
0mins
Should l Buy META?
TD Cowen policy analyst Paul Gallant says the juries in Los Angeles and New Mexico finding Meta Platforms (META) and Google (GOOG, GOOGL) liable for harming children through addictive product design are notable. However, the "linchpin case" is 30 state attorneys general versus Meta, which goes to trial in August, the analyst tells investors in a research note. TD believes the companies' best hope may be getting the San Francisco case dismissed under Section 230 or getting Congress to limit their lawsuit exposure in exchange for new regulations.
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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: 579.230
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 579.230
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.
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- Company Performance Comparison: As of the afternoon prices on April 2, 2026, while both companies demonstrate strong performance, only one shows a superior investment return potential, indicating market confidence in its future growth.
- Market Reaction Analysis: The video published on April 4, 2026, highlights investor interest in both companies, particularly in the current economic climate where investors are inclined to favor companies with stronger growth potential.
- Investor Decision Factors: When selecting investment targets, investors must consider factors such as financial health, market share, and future growth potential, as these will directly impact investment returns.
- Future Outlook: Although both companies exhibit solid market performance, investors should closely monitor their financial reports and market dynamics to make informed investment decisions.
See More
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- Market Performance Analysis: Stock Advisor's total average return of 926% significantly outperforms the S&P 500's 185%, reflecting the effectiveness of its stock selection strategy and market outperformance.
- Caution on Meta Platforms: Despite being considered an excellent company, Meta Platforms did not make the latest list of top 10 recommended stocks, signaling investors to carefully assess its future investment value.
See More
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- Capital Expenditure Potential: With AI capital expenditures projected to reach $700 billion in 2023, Arm is poised to capture a significant share of this spending through its efficient CPU designs, driving revenue growth for the company.
- Technological Advantage: The AGI CPU from Arm is seen as a highly efficient chip tailored for specific inference tasks, which may attract more companies to adopt it, further solidifying its position in the AI chip market.
- Industry Trend Shift: As firms shift focus from energy-intensive GPU training to efficient CPU inference, Arm's market positioning is likely to enable it to capture more market share over the next decade, particularly within the capital expenditures of major tech companies.
See More
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- Capital Expenditure Plans: In 2026, Alphabet plans to invest $175 billion to $185 billion, while Amazon and Meta are set to spend $200 billion and $115 billion to $135 billion on AI-related investments, demonstrating their commitment to technological innovation.
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See More
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- Spotify Investment Opportunity: With Spotify's stock down almost 16% this year, Bank of America's $750 price target indicates a 53% upside, as analysts highlight multiple growth drivers in media and entertainment, making it an attractive investment choice.
- Citigroup Performance Expectations: Citigroup is also featured on Bank of America's list, with a $140 price target implying a 21% upside, as analysts believe the bank is well-positioned for strong performance ahead of its first-quarter earnings and investor day on May 7.
See More
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- Portfolio Concentration: As of December 31, 2025, Pershing Square's investments in Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms totaled $5.9 billion, representing nearly 40% of its portfolio, reflecting Ackman's strong confidence in these high-quality companies.
- Valuation Strategy: Ackman entered these positions during periods of weak market sentiment, initiating his investment in Alphabet in Q1 2023 at a forward P/E ratio of 16, followed by Amazon in April 2025 at 25, and Meta in Q4 2025 at 20, demonstrating his commitment to value investing.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: In 2026, Alphabet plans to spend $175 billion to $185 billion, while Amazon and Meta are set to invest $200 billion and $115 billion to $135 billion respectively; Ackman believes these investments will drive future earnings growth despite ongoing concerns about returns.
- AI Progress and Market Demand: Ackman praised the AI advancements of these companies, noting that Alphabet's AI Overviews has over 2 billion users, Amazon's cloud services thrive on strong AI demand, and Meta leverages AI to enhance user engagement and advertising effectiveness, showcasing their leadership in technological innovation.
See More
