Meta (META) Shares Rise 4.7% on Ad Expansion and AI Progress

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) shares rose 4.7% on January 22, 2026, after the company announced it would launch ads on Threads, which has surpassed 400 million monthly active users, and following positive analyst commentary on its AI-driven ad tools reaching a $60 billion annual revenue run rate. Jefferies analysts noted Meta trades at a discount to Alphabet and said AI investment costs are likely already priced in. The firm also highlighted internal progress from Meta’s new AI lab, with promising early models. The ad rollout on Threads marks a new monetization stream, boosting investor sentiment. Despite the gain, Meta’s stock remains 18.2% below its 52-week high of $790 set in August 2025. The stock has been relatively stable, with only seven moves exceeding 5% over the past year. In October 2025, META dropped 12.2% after reporting a one-time $15.93 billion tax charge that reduced EPS to $1.05, missing estimates by 84.3%. Excluding the charge, adjusted EPS was $7.25, above consensus. Revenue rose 26.2% to $51.24 billion, but forward guidance was in line, and margins declined, signaling cost pressures.