Meta · Fortune Technology
Meta just bumped its 2026 capex forecast up to as much as $145B for the AI boom—and investors flinched
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 outlet. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
Meta Platforms is splashing some serious cash on AI infrastructure, and investors have flinched.
Key facts
- Operating income rose 30% to $22.9 billion, and profits grew 61% to $26.8 billion
- The company reported first quarter 2026 earnings results on Wednesday and raised its full-year 2026 capital expenditure guidance to $125 billion to $145 billion, up from a previous range of $115
- Last year, Meta spent $72.2 billion on capex, up roughly $30 billion from the year
- Total expenses in the first quarter ballooned 35% to $33.4 billion, driven mostly by infrastructure costs and employee compensation, said chief financial officer Susan Li
Summary
The company reported first quarter 2026 earnings results on Wednesday and raised its full-year 2026 capital expenditure guidance to $125 billion to $145 billion, up from a previous range of $115 billion to $135 billion. Last year, Meta spent $72.2 billion on capex, up roughly $30 billion from the year before. In after-hours trading, the stock tumbled more than 6% because of the jump in capex guidance. Zuckerberg pointed to “memory pricing” as a driver of the higher costs and he attempted to soothe investors by explaining how he expects the spending plan to pan out.