5 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Right Now

3. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 256

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) engages in the development of products that enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and AI glasses. Its core business includes platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

On April 2, Erste Group downgraded its rating on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) from ‘Buy’ to ‘Hold’.

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) has forecasted total expenses of $162 billion to $169 billion for FY 2026, driven primarily by infrastructure, compute, and cloud capacity needs. CapEx for the year is guided between $115 billion and $135 billion, with operating income expected to be above 2025 levels. While the company’s Q1 2026 revenue is projected to come between $53.5 billion and $56.5 billion, Erste Group expects the tech giant’s free cash flow to feel the weight of high investment levels and remain below historical averages in 2027.

Similarly, earlier on March 30, Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak also reduced the firm’s price target on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by $50, but maintained its ‘Overweight’ rating (read the details here).