Meta's shares plunged in after-hours trading despite surpassing earnings expectations.
The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, announced plans for increased spending on artificial intelligence (AI), causing a drop of over 15% in its stock price.
Meta's investment in AI aims to enhance its ad-buying products and introduce more AI features on its social media platforms.
Revised spending forecasts for 2024 indicate Meta's intention to allocate between $35 billion and $40 billion, up from the previous estimate of $30 billion to $37 billion.
Despite exceeding earnings forecasts, Meta's shares experienced a significant decline.
Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, described Meta's spending plans as "aggressive" but noted the positive impact of AI investment on user engagement and advertising revenue.
Uncertainty in digital advertising, exacerbated by upcoming elections in over 50 countries, could influence advertisers' decisions.
Meta's fortunes may benefit from uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future in the US amid legal challenges.
Regulatory risks, including fines for data mishandling and criticism from lawmakers, remain a concern for Meta's long-term prospects.
Despite Meta's ample resources for legal challenges, market sentiment may fluctuate due to ongoing regulatory scrutiny.