Meta Surges 9% as AI-Driven Earnings Beat Fuels Analyst Upgrades, Target Tops $1,000

Meta Platforms (META) shares jumped over 9% on January 29, 2026, hitting year-to-date highs after Q4 earnings surpassed estimates, validating its AI investments. Revenue hit $59.9B vs. $58.4B expected; EPS of $8.88 beat $8.24 forecasts. All 24 tracked analysts maintain Buy ratings, with mean target at $868 (20% upside). Wedbush raised its target to $900, Jefferies to $1,000, and Morgan Stanley to $825, citing accelerating engagement and monetization via AI tools like Meta AI, now reaching 1B+ monthly users. Capex guidance of $162B–$169B for 2026 exceeded Street’s $151B estimate but drew investor approval. Meta is the sole “Magnificent 7” stock rising today.