Meta plans $135 billion to $145 billion in capital expenditures (capex) for 2026 on AI, while its Q3 2026 operating margin fell to 20% from 40% a year earlier and free cash flow was negative $2.1 billion. The article highlights three metrics: advertising revenue, which rose 25.9% year over year on 10% higher impressions and 14% higher pricing; the Muse AI agent, which reached 10 million monthly users in the U.S. and Canada about a month and a half after its September 8 launch, with 25% using it daily; and operating cash flow, which rose 21.7% over the first nine months of 2026 but lagged the 72% rise in capex. The author notes Meta plans to raise almost $100 billion in equity capital to fund its AI build-out, and says investors will need patience for the payoff.
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Related tickers and likely impact
META
• NeutralMeta Platforms
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | Communication Services |
| Industry | Interactive Media & Services |
| Market cap | $1.7T |
| Close on 10/30/2026 | 614.98 |
| Change that session | -1.53% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
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