Meta Hikes 2026 Capex to $125-145B for AI Push, Shares Drop 5%

Meta Platforms raised its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to $125–$145 billion from $115–$135 billion, underscoring an aggressive AI infrastructure bet amid layoffs and cost controls. Shares fell around 5% in extended trading on the update, reflecting investor concerns over spending. The ad platform, enhanced by AI like Andromeda, Lattice, and GEM, drives revenue resilience, with Emarketer forecasting Meta to top Alphabet's $239.54 billion in global ad revenue this year at $243.46 billion. China-ordered unwind of the $2bn+ Manus deal adds regulatory risk to AI growth conviction.