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Meta Platforms
- Sector: TechnologyTechnology Media and Telecommunications
- Sub Sector: Technology
- Country: US
- Bond: META 4.95 33
- Indicative Yield-to-Maturity (YTM): 4.95%
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Fundamental View
AS OF 13 Aug 2025While Meta is executing strongly from a product perspective, we are concerned by its surging AI investments and regulatory risks. Meta acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14 bn in 2Q25. The company expects capex to have “similarly significant” dollar growth in 2026; this implies it could be ~$100 bn or ~45% of sales in 2026.
There are also concerns on the regulatory front. We could potentially see a ruling in the next several months from the FTC suit which is seeking to unwind prior acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. In addition, the EC’s DMA decision could require modifications that impact its European revenue. Gross leverage is 0.3x although net cash declined sharply to $18.2 bn in 2Q25. We also think Meta could be in the market fairly soon with a jumbo bond deal.
Business Description
AS OF 13 Aug 2025- Meta Platforms is the largest social networking company in the world. Meta's advertising revenue is primiarly from Facebook and Instagram, although also on Messenger, Whatsapp, Threads, and third-party affiliated websites and apps.
- In 2Q25, Family of Apps was 99% of revenue (98.0% from advertising and 1.2% from other) and Reality Labs was 1% of revenue. Reality Labs generated $18.1 bn in operating losses during LTM 2Q25.
- There are 3.48 bn Family Daily Active People (DAP) as of 2Q25, and the Family Average Revenue per Person (ARPP) was $13.65 quarterly in 2Q25.
- Meta is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Employee headcount was >75.9k at 2Q25.
Risk & Catalysts
AS OF 13 Aug 2025In December 2020, the FTC filed a lawsuit against Meta seeking to unwind prior acquisitions of Instagram and Whatsapp.
Meta’s business model relies almost entirely on user-generated content, exposing it to customer privacy concerns and regulatory changes (e.g., Section 230 protections).
Surging capex for AI and continued investments in Reality Labs could weaken the balance sheet although Meta has reportedly raised $29 bn in external financing from PIMCO and Blue Owl for its Louisiana data center project.
We continue to expect Meta to be a regular/annual issuer to fund its shareholder returns and massive investments.
A potential ban of TikTok (extended through 9/17/2025) would positively impact Meta and others with short-form video products.
Key Metric
AS OF 13 Aug 2025| $ mn | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | LTM 2Q25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue YoY % | 37.2% | (1.1%) | 15.7% | 21.9% | 19.4% |
| EBITDA | 63,882 | 49,622 | 71,955 | 101,568 | 112,933 |
| EBITDA Margin | 54.2% | 42.6% | 53.3% | 61.7% | 63.2% |
| CapEx % of Sales | 16.3% | 27.5% | 20.8% | 23.8% | 30.6% |
| Sh. Ret. % of CFO-CapEx | 116% | 152% | 46% | 68% | 78% |
| Net Debt | (47,998) | (30,815) | (47,018) | (48,989) | (18,239) |
| Gross Leverage | 0.0x | 0.2x | 0.3x | 0.3x | 0.3x |
| EV / EBITDA | 14.0x | 5.8x | 12.3x | 14.5x | 16.6x |
CreditSight View Comment
AS OF 31 Jul 2025While Meta is executing strongly from a product perspective, we are concerned by its surging AI investments and regulatory risks. Meta acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14 bn in 2Q25. The company expects capex to have “similarly significant” dollar growth in 2026; this implies it could be ~$100 bn or ~45% of sales in 2026. There are also concerns on the regulatory front. We could potentially see a ruling in the next several months from the FTC suit which is seeking to unwind prior acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. In addition, the EC’s DMA decision could require modifications that impact its European revenue. Gross leverage is 0.3x although net cash declined sharply to $18.2 bn in 2Q25. We also think Meta could be in the market fairly soon with a jumbo bond deal.
Recommendation Reviewed: July 31, 2025
Recommendation Changed: July 31, 2025
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