Meta Platforms, Inc. engages in the development of products that enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality headsets, and wearables worldwide. It operates in two segments, Family of Apps and Reality Labs. The Family of Apps segment offers Facebook, which enables people to share, discuss, discover, and connect with interests; Instagram, a community for sharing photos, videos, and private messages, as well as feed, stories, reels, video, live, and shops; Messenger, a messaging application for people to connect with friends, family, communities, and businesses across platforms and devices through text, audio, and video calls; and WhatsApp, a messaging application that is used by people and businesses to communicate and transact privately. The Reality Labs segment provides augmented and virtual reality related products comprising consumer hardware, software, and content that help people feel connected, anytime, and anywhere. The company was formerly known as Facebook, Inc. and changed its name to Meta Platforms, Inc. in October 2021. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California

Meta Platforms, Inc.

In trading on Thursday, shares of Meta Platforms Inc (Symbol: META) crossed above their 200 day moving average of $679.51, changing hands as high as $744.00 per share. Meta Platforms Inc shares are currently trading up about 7.6% on the day. The chart below shows the one year performance of META shares, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, META's low point in its 52 week range is $479.80 per share, with $796.25 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $719.95. The META DMA information above was sourced from TechnicalAnalysisChannel.com
Click here to find out which 9 other stocks recently crossed above their 200 day moving average »
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Meta Platforms Shares Cross Above 200 DMA

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (Symbol: IWF) where we have detected an approximate $733.6 million dollar outflow -- that's a 0.6% decrease week over week (from 259,750,000 to 258,200,000). Among the largest underlying components of IWF, in trading today Meta Platforms Inc (Symbol: META) is up about 7.7%, Alphabet Inc (Symbol: GOOG) is down about 2.2%, and Costco Wholesale Corp (Symbol: COST) is lower by about 0.6%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the IWF Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of IWF, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, IWF's low point in its 52 week range is $308.67 per share, with $493 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $465.37. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

IWF, META, GOOG, COST: Large Outflows Detected at ETF

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.41%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.02%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.80%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are down -0.39%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are down -0.88%.
Stock indexes are under pressure today on some mixed megacap technology earnings results. Meta Platforms is up more than +7% after giving a revenue outlook that was much stronger than expected. Also, International Business Machines is up more than +7% after reporting Q4 results that beat expectations. However, Microsoft is sinking more than -10% after reporting underwhelming growth in its cloud business and higher-than-expected expenses.
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WTI crude oil (CLH26) prices are up more than +4% to a 4.25-month high today to lift energy producers after President Trump on Wednesday said that he wants Iran to come to the table and negotiate a nuclear deal that is “a fair and equitable deal with No Nuclear Weapons.” He warned Iran that time is running out to make a deal with the US, noting that a fleet of US warships entering the region is ready to complete their mission “with speed and violence.”
Precious metals are soaring today, with gold (GCG26) and silver (SIH26) up more than +3% to new record highs and copper (HGH26) up more than +8% to an all-time high. Concerns over dollar weakness and uncertain US policies are fueling investor flight from dollar assets into precious metals as the debasement trade picks up steam.
US weekly initial unemployment claims fell -1,000 to 209,000, showing a slightly weaker labor market than expectations of 205,000. However, continuing claims fell -38,000 to a 6-month low of 1.827 million, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of 1.850 million.
The US Nov trade deficit was -$56.8 billion, wider than expectations of -$44.0 billion and the largest deficit in 4 months.
Threats to stocks and the dollar remain. President Trump has threatened new 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada, the possibility of a US government shutdown over ICE funding, and lingering concerns about Greenland. In addition, there is the risk of another partial government shutdown. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure expires this Friday.
The market’s focus this week will be on new tariff news and the prospects for a continued resolution (CR) to fund the government. Later today, Nov factory offers are expected to increase by +1.6% m/m. On Friday, Dec PPI final demand is expected to ease to +2.8% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov, and Dec PPI ex-food and energy is expected to ease to +2.9% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov. Also, the Jan MNI Chicago PMI is expected to climb by +0.8 to 43.5.
Q4 earnings season is in full swing, with 102 of the S&P 500 companies scheduled to report earnings this week. Apple reports after the close today. Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 81% of the 106 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.6% in Q4. Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.
The markets are discounting a 14% chance for a -25 bp rate cut at the next policy meeting on March 17-18.
Overseas stock markets are higher today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up by +0.59%. China’s Shanghai Composite climbed to a 2-week high and closed up +0.16%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +0.03%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) today are down -2 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +2.2 bp to 4.265%. T-notes are under pressure today amid rising inflation expectations, as the 10-year breakeven inflation rate rose to a 4-month high of 2.378%. Also, supply pressures are undercutting T-notes, as the Treasury will auction $44 billion of 7-year T-notes later today. Losses in T-notes are limited after weekly jobless claims were higher than expected.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield slid to a 1-week low of 2.839% is down -0.6 bp to 2.851%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell from a 2.25-month high of 4.566% and is down by -1.6 bp at 4.527%.
The Eurozone Jan economic confidence indicator rose +2.2 to a 3-year high of 99.4, stronger than expectations of 97.1.
Eurozone Dec M3 money supply rose +2.8% y/y, weaker than expectations of +3.0% y/y.
Swaps are discounting a 0% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Energy producers and energy service providers are rallying today with WTI crude up more than +4% at a 4.25-month high. APA Corp (APA) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) are up more than +4%, and ConocoPhillips (COP), Diamondback Energy (FANG), Marathon Petroleum (MPC), Halliburton (HAL), and Valero Energy (VLO) are up more than +3%. Also, Chevron (CVX), Exxon Mobil (XOM), and Phillips 66 (PSX) are up more than +2%.
Microsoft (MSFT) is down more than -11% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials on disappointment that Q2 Azure and other cloud services revenue ex-forex could not beat expectations, up +38% y/y, right on consensus.
Las Vegas Sands (LVS) is down more than -11% after reporting its Q4 Macau operations adjusted property Ebitda of $608 million, weaker than the consensus of $626.1 million.
ServiceNow (NOW) is down more than -11% after reporting Q4 adjusted gross margin of 80.5%, weaker than the consensus of 81.2%.
HubSpot (HUBS) is down more than -10% after BMO Capital Markets cut its price target on the stock to $385 from $465.
Whirlpool (WHR) is down more than -9% after reporting Q4 net sales of $4.10 billion, below the consensus of $4.26 billion, and forecasting full-year ongoing EPS of about $7.00, weaker than the consensus of $7.23.
Tractor Supply Co (TSCO) is down more than -5% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.90 billion, weaker than the consensus of $3.99 billion, and forecasting full-year comparable sales up +1% to +3%, the midpoint below the consensus of +2.96%.
Dow Inc. (DOW) is down more than -5% after reporting Q4 net sales of $9.46 billion, below the consensus of $9.50 billion.
Meta Platforms (META) is up more than +7% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q4 revenue of $59.89 billion, better than the consensus of $58.42 billion, and forecasting Q1 revenue of $53.5 billion-$56.5 billion, well above the consensus of $51.27 billion.
International Business Machines (IBM) is up more than +7% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q4 revenue of $19.69 billion, stronger than the consensus of $19.21 billion.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) is up more than +15% to lead cruise stocks higher and gainers in the S&P 500 after forecasting full-year adjusted EPS of $17.70 to $18.10, stronger than the consensus of $17.67. Also, Carnival (CCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) are up more than +6%.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) is up more than +8% after reporting Q4 adjusted diluted EPS of $1.23, better than the consensus of $1.13.
Lockheed Martin (LMT) is up more than +7% after forecasting full-year EPS of $29.35 to $30.25, well above the consensus of $29.09.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) is up more than +6% after forecasting Q1 adjusted EPS of at least 45 cents, well above the consensus of 28 cents.
Earnings Reports(1/29/2026)
A O Smith Corp (AOS), Altria Group Inc (MO), Ameriprise Financial Inc (AMP), Apple Inc (AAPL), Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG), Blackstone Inc (BX), Caterpillar Inc (CAT), Comcast Corp (CMCSA), Deckers Outdoor Corp (DECK), Dover Corp (DOV), Dow Inc (DOW), Hartford Insurance Group Inc/The (HIG), Hologic Inc (HOLX), Honeywell International Inc (HON), International Paper Co (IP), KLA Corp (KLAC), L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX), Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT), Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc (MRSH), Mastercard Inc (MA), Nasdaq Inc (NDAQ), Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC), Parker-Hannifin Corp (PH), PulteGroup Inc (PHM), ResMed Inc (RMD), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL), Sandisk Corp/DE (SNDK), Sherwin-Williams Co/The (SHW), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), Stryker Corp (SYK), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (TMO), Tractor Supply Co (TSCO), Trane Technologies PLC (TT), Valero Energy Corp (VLO), Visa Inc (V), Western Digital Corp (WDC), Weyerhaeuser Co (WY).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Pressured by Mixed Big Tech Earnings

In early trading on Thursday, shares of Meta Platforms topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 7.7%. Year to date, Meta Platforms registers a 9.1% gain.
And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is Atlassian, trading down 13.3%. Atlassian is lower by about 28.0% looking at the year to date performance.
Two other components making moves today are Microsoft, trading down 10.1%, and Diamondback Energy, trading up 4.8% on the day.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Nasdaq 100 Movers: TEAM, META

Key Points
Nvidia's new $2 billion investment in CoreWeave adds to its existing stake.
It helps funnel GPU demand to Nvidia, and protects its market share.
It's a wise strategy, even if it's not a game changer for Nvidia.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is a key cog in the ongoing data center investment cycle. Most AI hyperscalers use Nvidia's GPUs to train and run artificial intelligence (AI) in massive data centers.
Recently, the company announced a new $2 billion investment in CoreWeave, which specializes in building AI factories, specialized data centers. It then rents that computing capacity to AI companies, including OpenAI, Meta Platforms, and others.
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What could this new investment mean for Nvidia stock?
It gives Nvidia direct exposure to CoreWeave's growth and strengthens its partnership with the company
Nvidia's investment adds to its approximate 6.6% stake in CoreWeave. CoreWeave's data centers are designed and built specifically for AI. It's like a shortcut for AI hyperscalers, who can access computing resources more quickly by renting from CoreWeave than building their own data centers from the ground up.
Since CoreWeave's data centers use Nvidia GPUs, any business the company does with AI hyperscalers also means it is doing business with Nvidia. In other words, it helps protect Nvidia's AI market share.
The ongoing data center boom feels like a technological arms race. The immense investment is driving remarkable growth for CoreWeave. Analysts estimate that CoreWeave's revenue will skyrocket from $4.3 billion over the past 12 months to $12.0 billion this fiscal year and $19.5 billion the following year.
Setting the stage for Nvidia's Rubin launch
Another layer to this is Nvidia's upcoming Rubin chip. CoreWeave prides itself on its data center engineering, which it builds with future hardware in mind. Nvidia recently entered full production for the Rubin AI chip architecture, and as CoreWeave grows, it could help Nvidia launch Rubin and future chips more effectively.
It could still be extremely early in what appears to be a generational investment boom. AI is still becoming more intelligent, and real-world adoption is only just beginning. These two trends both translate to more energy and chips to make it all work.
That's why experts believe global data center spending could reach the trillions of dollars over the coming years. As explosive as the AI era has been, it could still be in its early innings. The U.S. government only recently launched the Genesis Mission to build out its AI.
Is the CoreWeave investment a game changer for Nvidia?
All of that said, it's a stretch to call this a game changer for Nvidia. CoreWeave and Nvidia's stake in the company are both relatively tiny compared to Nvidia as a whole. Nvidia's core business is still selling its GPU chips directly to the hyperscalers who have gone to CoreWeave for some capacity, but are still pouring billions of dollars into their own data centers.
Investors should applaud Nvidia for proactively making moves, game changing or not, to maintain its position as the leader in AI GPU chips. It should help Nvidia continue to grow throughout 2026 and beyond.
Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $456,457!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,174,057!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 29, 2026.
Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

This Company Just Made a Big Move. Here's What It Means for Investors.

Key Points
Meta Platforms' core social media business remains strong thanks to a deep ecosystem that drives significant ad sales.
The company's valuation looks reasonable compared to its similarly sized peers.
Many investors are worried that the artificial intelligence (AI) sector is in a bubble. Whether or not there is merit to these fears, if you're concerned about the prospect of a bursting bubble but still want to invest in the trend, one approach would be to buy AI stocks that appear relatively undervalued. One great company that fits that description is Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). Its stock has lagged the market over the past six months, but it remains a top pick for buy-and-hold investors.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Meta Platforms' strong core business
Meta Platforms owns some of the most popular social media services, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. Its ecosystem attracts about 3.5 billion daily active users. Unsurprisingly, its apps are popular among advertisers, and not just because of the sheer size of the company's user base. The volume of activity and engagement on the tech leader's platforms gives it access to plenty of data that helps enhance companies' ability to target potential customers.
The ability to track everything from the posts people like, the videos they watch, the celebrities they follow, and the discussions they engage in grants Meta Platforms a rich set of data to use toward that end. Further, the company has in recent years improved its ad platform through AI-powered algorithms that boost user engagement. More time spent on Meta Platforms' social media sites means higher ad demand, which in turn means more revenue and earnings, all other things being equal. Meta's AI offerings for marketers have also helped advertisers simplify their ad launches. These initiatives are having a meaningful impact on its financial results.
Why the stock is still a buy
The market, though, has become worried about the massive sums that Meta is spending to fund its AI ambitions. If the returns on those hundreds of billions of dollars in spending don't pan out as the company hopes, its margins and profits will be squeezed. It's a reasonable fear. However, it's worth noting that Meta Platforms seems to be trading at a more reasonable valuation than its fellow "Magnificent Seven" tech giants. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio is the lowest in this group (by a solid margin), even though its revenue growth and earnings growth have been competitive in recent quarters.
Could the company's ambitious AI plans fail to deliver results in line with management's expectations? Sure. But even if that happens, my view is that Meta Platforms could quickly cut its costs, pivot its strategy, and recover. That's precisely what it did after its expensive metaverse efforts failed to gain traction. The company altered its strategy and turned toward AI -- so far, successfully so. Meta Platforms' deep ecosystem and network effects -- which should help it retain most of its users -- position it for a host of new monetization opportunities. And that's a great reason to buy the stock -- especially at its current levels -- and hold it forever.
Should you buy stock in Meta Platforms right now?
Before you buy stock in Meta Platforms, consider this:
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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $461,527!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,155,666!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 197% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of January 29, 2026.
Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

1 Beaten-Down AI Stock to Buy and Hold Forever

Corning Inc. GLW – a giant communication components manufacturer – reported strong fourth-quarter 2025 earnings results. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.72 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.70 and the year-ago EPS of $0.57. Quarterly revenues of $4.41 billion outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.1% and the year-ago revenues of $3.87 billion.
In the reported quarter, net sales of the core optical communications business climbed 24.3% year over year. Total operating margin increased 1.7% from the year-ago quarter to 20.2%. Free cash flow nearly doubled in 2025 to $1.72 billion from $880 million in 2024.
After benefiting the semiconductor industry immensely, the astonishing growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) technology globally is going to boost the communication components segment, especially the optical technology.
AI-powered data centers need very high speed and efficiency to deliver outputs. As a result, the demand for optical communication components is expected to skyrocket in the near future. Coring is all set to tap this growth trajectory.
Extensive AI-Focused Portfolio
GLW offers several products focused on data centers, with a portfolio consisting of optical fiber, hardware, cables and connectors, enabling it to create optical solutions to meet evolving customer needs. This augurs well for its long-term growth.
The growing adoption of innovative optical connectivity products for generative AI applications is expected to be a key growth driver for GLW in the upcoming quarters. Since both consumers and enterprises are using networks more extensively and the data thus generated is increasingly being used to train AI models, there is tremendous demand for quality networking.
Additionally, data consumption patterns are changing, with a growing propensity to consume video content, creating the need for faster data transfer. Since optical networks are more efficient and most existing networks are copper-based, the demand for GLW’s optical solutions is particularly strong.
Major Collaborations
Corning's fiber-optic products are in high demand from technology giants. The company is a technology partner of generative AI-focused semiconductor behemoth NVIDIA Corp. NVDA. GLW supports NVDA’s silicon photonics ecosystem-based AI infrastructure.
Recently, Meta Platforms Inc. META clinched a deal with GLW for a total consideration of $6 billion through 20230. Per the agreement, GLW will supply cabling, optical fiber, and other communication components to META’s data centers.
Strong Guidance
Corning projected that core sales would be in the range of $4.2-$4.3 billion in first-quarter 2026. Adjusted per-share earnings are expected between $0.66 and $0.70. GLW also raised its internal “Springboard” growth plan. The company is expected to generate $6.5 billion in incremental annualized sales by the end of 2026 and $11 billion by the end of 2028. The previous guidance was $6 billion and $8 billion for 2026 and 2028, respectively.
Solid Estimate Revisions
Corning has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 11% and 20.5%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.3% in the last seven days. The stock has a long-term (3-5 years) EPS growth rate of 18.8%, higher than the S&P 500’s growth rate of 16%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Investment Thesis
Corning currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The stock price has soared more than 100% in the past year. However, after the fourth-quarter results, it fell more than 5%. That was primarily due to the fact that the stock reached a 52-week high level the previous day on its META deal.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
GLW is set to capitalize on the AI boom with robust business execution and an industry-leading product portfolio. At this stage, each and every fall in the stock price will open a good entry point.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. Little-known AI firms tackling the world's biggest problems may be more lucrative in the coming months and years.
See
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Buy Corning as a Potential AI Beneficiary in 2026 Amid Robust Outlook

What Investors Should Know About a Company's Workforce

Key Points
Apple stock is cooling off after a rapid run-up in the second half of last year.
A Gemini-powered Siri upgrade could come in February.
Apple shares are far from cheap.
Less than one month into the new year, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is already down 8.8% year to date at the time of this writing, compared to a 1% gain in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC).
That makes Apple the second-worst-performing component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
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Here's what's driving the sell-off, and if the mega-cap tech stock is a buy now.
Context is key
Always take context into account when evaluating a stock's performance within a specific window, such as year to date or a year.
Apple sold off in the first half of 2025 due to tariff-related fears of eroding margins that never came true. The stock then gained 32.5% in the second half of the year. So heading into 2026, the company had added more than $1 trillion in market cap in a matter of months.
The stock is still up big over the last seven months, even when factoring in its pullback so far this year. It's up to investors to decide how much of the gain is warranted.
Apple is making a splash with AI
On Jan. 12, Alphabet and Apple published a joint statement announcing the integration of Google's Gemini models and cloud technology into the next generation of Apple Foundation Models. Reports indicate that a Gemini-powered version of Siri could come as soon as February.
Having a voice-controlled artificial intelligence (AI) assistant is a brilliant move on Apple's part. Manually-controlled AI functionality may be off-putting to some users, but narrating commands to an assistant could make AI more approachable for users who aren't tech savvy. It's also a good way for the company to gradually phase in AI rather than launching big, overwhelming upgrades.
Apple is known for taking its time with product launches, which is something long-term investors can appreciate. Instead, it aims to maximize the overall impact of a product or a product line's life cycle.
And that was certainly the case last year with the iPhone 17, which featured significant improvements in its camera, processing, and design but lacked the AI showstopper that some investors wanted.
Still, the iPhone 17 came out in September 2025, and investors cheered strong demand and a return to meaningful earnings growth, which Apple had been lacking for years.
Fundamentals are improving
As you can see in the following chart, Apple's earnings soared during the pandemic as consumers shifted purchasing from services to products, but then stagnated. Its recent results have given its earnings and operating margins a much-needed jolt.
Apple's product revenue grew 4.1% in fiscal 2025, and services revenue jumped 13.5%.
For the fiscal year, products raked in a highly impressive 36.8% gross margin, but services were even better at 75.4%. And with services now making up 26.2% of total sales, margins could continue to expand.
Overall, Apple's results have been solid. And that's without factoring in the growth potential of what is likely to be a big calendar year for the company with AI-powered software upgrades and an iPhone purpose-built for AI integration, which may also feature its first-ever foldable design.
Higher-end versions of the iPhone 18 are expected to be powered by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's 2-nanometer chips, which will make it by far the most expensive iPhone ever, but will also drastically improve processing and battery life.
Apple's valuation is elevated
With earnings growth and margins improving, the stock may become more appealing to growth investors. But its valuation is expensive, given that analyst estimates have the company growing earnings by only 10.3% in fiscal 2026 and 10.5% in fiscal 2027.
Even after its recent sell-off, Apple has a 30.9 forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) -- which is more expensive than Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms. Even Broadcom, which is growing at a breakneck pace and is also high-margin, has a 31.6 forward P/E. And Nvidia -- which converts over half of its revenue into after-tax net income and is also growing at a breakneck pace -- has a forward P/E under 40.
I would choose every stock in that chart over Apple because they all have strong competitive moats and more attractive valuations relative to their growth potential. Another distinct difference between Apple and other major tech stocks is its business model.
Apple is heavily dependent on consumer spending. In fiscal 2025, it demonstrated remarkable resilience in its core North American market, and strong growth in Europe and Asia (outside of China).
But China sales declined, and it remains to be seen if U.S. consumers will continue paying higher prices for Apple's AI-integrated devices, especially given that the cost of living continues to outpace wage growth. By comparison, big tech companies that rely mainly on business-to-business sales aren't as sensitive to weakness in consumer spending.
Keep Apple on a watch list (for now)
Apple is a decent stock to buy in 2026, but it's not all that compelling. Investors can buy a high-octane growth stock like Broadcom for a similar valuation, or get far more balanced earnings growth from Microsoft, or high margins and solid earnings from Meta at a far less expensive valuation.
The slower a company's earnings growth, the more critical you should be of its valuation. And in Apple's case, it's somewhere between a tech stock and a consumer-facing company.
In terms of consumer-facing companies, I would much rather buy high-yield dividend stocks like Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble, which are passive-income powerhouses at far more attractive valuations than Apple.
That said, investors who believe in Apple's ability to capitalize on AI may still want to consider buying Apple now. And if there is a sell-off in AI stocks or a pullback in hyperscaler spending on AI, I would expect Apple to hold up far better than companies that have been pouring capital into long-term AI investments. Apple has an impeccable balance sheet and consistently generates gobs of free cash flow, which it uses to buy back stock and invest in long-term projects.
In sum, there are worse ideas than buying Apple after its latest pullback, but it's not a screaming buying opportunity by any means.
Should you buy stock in Apple right now?
Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $461,527!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,155,666!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 29, 2026.
Daniel Foelber has positions in Nvidia and Procter & Gamble and has the following options: short February 2026 $150 calls on Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Salesforce, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Apple Is the Second-Worst-Performing Dow Jones Stock So Far in 2026. Is the Sell-Off a Buying Opportunity?

In today's video, I discuss recent updates affecting Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), and other AI stocks. To learn more, check out the short video, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
*Stock prices used were the after-market prices of Jan. 28, 2026. The video was published on Jan. 28, 2026.
Should you buy stock in Meta Platforms right now?
Before you buy stock in Meta Platforms, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Meta Platforms wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $461,527!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,155,666!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 197% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of January 29, 2026.
Jose Najarro has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Jose Najarro is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Meta Platforms, Inc.

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